AI-Powered Logistics Services to Be Tested in the Field... Agreement Signed by Ministry of Land, Korea Post, and Logistics Industry

Field Demonstration of Private Logistics Technology at Postal Distribution Centers

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Korea Post, and the Korea Integrated Logistics Association announced on July 14 that they will sign a business agreement to establish a field demonstration base for private sector logistics technology. As a way to support the artificial intelligence transformation (AX) of the logistics industry, they decided to launch a pilot project utilizing postal distribution centers, which are frontline logistics sites.

Recently, logistics technology has been rapidly evolving, moving from automated equipment to AI-based intelligent operating systems. However, companies developing advanced technologies often face difficulties in further advancing or commercializing their solutions because they lack opportunities to validate performance or safety in actual logistics operations.

This agreement is intended to alleviate such difficulties by opening up real logistics sites and data to the private sector, thereby creating a foundation for freely demonstrating advanced logistics technologies in the field. Under the agreement, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will provide support for relevant systems and policies. Korea Post will offer demonstration environments such as postal distribution centers, while the Korea Integrated Logistics Association will help secure participating companies that wish to take part in the demonstration projects.

This pilot project will be operated in two ways: government-designated tasks and company-initiated open proposals for technologies or ideas that companies wish to demonstrate. The government-designated tasks include automated roll container (wheeled steel basket) transport technology and ultra-small parcel auto-sorting technology, to be conducted at the Busan and Gangneung Postal Distribution Centers, respectively.

Daejeon Mail Processing Center with accumulated mail items

To participate, applicants must submit an application form, including a business plan, to the Logistics Association by email from today until August 21. Proposals will be evaluated based on the demonstration plan and suitability for field operations, and the final demonstration projects will be selected in September and carried out in the second half of this year. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will hold a project briefing session on July 24 and plans to visit demonstration sites in early August, taking into account company participation demand.

Park Jae-soon, Director General for Logistics at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, said, "AI is a core technology that will determine the future competitiveness of the logistics industry, and we will continue to provide the necessary support for the development and rapid field adoption of the technologies needed on the ground." Park In-hwan, Director General of Korea Post, said, "We expect this project to serve as an opportunity to improve not only the efficiency of postal logistics operations but also the service quality for both the private sector and Korea Post."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.