LiL - life is logistics!

What has happened when you get your meal in front of you?

A factory has produced the food ingredients. These are then transported within the country, and distributed to local depots, and from there the foodstuff is distributed to local supermarkets or hypermarkets. These stores gather basically all of us, driving back and forth between home and the store, almost daily (54 minutes on average per citizen, each day, in Finland). So we're spending 1/16th of our daily waking life in going to the supermarket and looking for stuff there. It's a lot. In addition, we spend a lot of fuel, nerves, and feel sometimes frustrated for doing it. Yet, year after year, we put up with this routine, because... Well, because that's the way things are done. It's the hunter-gatherer tribe history in our anthropologic memory; Man has to fetch food, hunt. It's a condition for living.

We've decreased this proportion significantly in Western countries. From the almost 10h shifts we did back in 5000 B.C., now we're only doing that 54 minutes per day. But could we optimize? Could it be done in a more efficient and pleasant way? Yes.

Enter Tuokko. We're here to create a service that really makes a difference. Stay tuned to find out more.

Tuokko has grown with 2 people - now seven strong

We are now seven people strong. The changes are that we got a software architect, and a consultant interested in the project. It's really great to see that there's a strong, versatile team with complementary skills. There's a general plan regarding what we're doing. Next milestones will be a prototype of the user interface (for ordering the stuff to homes and workplaces), and building the database and algorithmic engine behind the scenes. We're planning to do beta testing at some point in mid spring 2010. Some days have been quite hectic with communication, planning, stemming the features, getting rid of some extra functionality at this point; seeking venture, writing this blog, and discussing all of the above. In a word: lot of work, but also very rewarding.

A Design Moment of Tuokko

 
A session at Maarintalo / Helsinki University of Technology. Most of
the design took place this time in Maarintalo premises, a place at
HUT where you can sip some coffee, make a pizza in the microwave, and
enjoy a beautiful view over to the bay. It's one of my favorite places
to be at, since people going there and doing their stuff inspires me.
I did evaluation of what kinds of fleet possibilities exist; ie. how
can we maintain a lease plan, or what kind of costs and benefits exist
in buying the fleet wholly or partially. The going price for complete
turnkey solutions is around 100 euros / month / vehicle. This would
include repairs caused by ordinary wear, seasonal change of tires,
and in case of emergency we'd get backup vehicle to ensure continual
operation.

Test Driving for fleet vehicle selection has started. Audi is first try.

The first test-driving for Tuokko fleet is now the Sportsback model of Audi A5 automatic, 2.0 liter diesel engine, and the ESP system. I think it does not have DRP, or then I just missed the feature during discussions with car dealer. DRP is a normal ESP -- stability control subsystem, but will specifically make a difference between the other stability control systems, and the Audi one). More about
the technology can be read from this link: DRP / multitronic.

Another case, the Audi TT model can be tested later in the beginning of
2010, maybe more suitable for summer roads. Quantity available for test
driving is currently limited, though I called only one shop so far. Finland
has at least 50 Audi sales and maintenance shops just in Southern region.

I'm forking out economics and the equation for estimating total costs per kilometer
travelled; the durability of these cars, maintenance network coverage, and costs
of maintenance. Also calculating how much it costs to transport an item
that has a known volume and weight. The weight factor is probably quite
negligible, except it has an impact on the physical stress of the job. We can't
assume everyone can lift 40kg just like that. There's different driver physiques.

It's always a good idea to book beforehand the test drives, so
you don't have to drive between different shops and get disappointed
if there's no cars available. And you save time & gasoline.

Fleet management and financing costs

We are looking for currently fleet management solutions for a transportation fleet of 4-5 vehicles in Finland. If you have further interest in providing solutions or links to these kind of resources, kindly asking you to mail me at jukka.paulin(/at/)gmail.com

We will consider all alternatives and will be making decisions in the next 3-6 months. The project is undergoing constant development, our software and command center is main priority and scheduled release is in Q2/2010. We are also looking for partners in venture capital, risk management, and algorithm/programming development in logistics.

Thanks!
/the Tuokko team

Welcome to Tuokko, a new transport method project !

Hi!

You're in the right place, if you like new ventures, and especially the ones
in modern logistics. Tuokko is a project started in 2008, now going four
people strong. We aim to deliver a high-tech, low cost method of transportation,
which is very effective due to the use of new algorithms in congestion
estimation / computation.

Our staff consists of user interface designer, two programmers, and a PR
promoter. The average age of team members is 32 years. We have an accumulated
experience of 35 years in computer science and related fields.

Our current status is development of the web framework, databases, data mining
methods and seeking venture.

We aim to:

• make the best transportation service for private consumers and companies


• grow aggressively


• grow both organically and also via acquisitions


• train the drivers ourselves; I have been driving taxi, and seen some
  of the impact that good training makes


• use modern algorithms in computers to improve delivery speed


• gather data continually from the field vehicles and from drops


• improve national infrastructure as by-product of our needs; like new kinds
  of gas stations - this is a long-range aim in the project


• create good practises for logistics - ie. make it in the text books some day, as an example case! ;)


• have a lot of fun while doing all this

If you have knowledge, interest, funds, and risk-taking capability, please contact
us at jukka.paulin(/at/)gmail.com with the subject line: "Tuokko"

Thanks!
More coming up soon.. Stay tuned!