IIT Madras Researchers Innovate App to Offer Zero-Commission Inter-City Goods Transportation

New Delhi: To facilitate the seamless connection between drivers and customers, as well as enhance the efficiency of intra-city goods transportation, IIT Madras has developed a mobile application. This initiative is aimed at addressing current challenges and working towards their comprehensive resolution.

As outlined in an official statement from IIT Madras, faculty members, students, and alumni collaborated to create a mobile application named 'OptRoute.' The inaugural version of the app was brought into commercial use through OptRoute Logistics, a start-up incubated by IIT Madras and co-founded by Prof N S Narayanaswamy from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at IIT Madras, along with Anuj Fulia, an alumnus of IIT Madras.

More About the IIT Madras “OptRoute” App

The OptRoute mobile application operates in two modes – one for drivers and the other for customers seeking goods and transportation services. The app facilitates the connection between drivers and customers, allowing drivers to accept service requests directly through the application. 

Further, the app does not charge any commission or onboarding fee for the ride. Payments made by customers for the service go directly to the driver, eliminating intermediaries, as highlighted in the official press release by IIT Madras.

OptRoute seeks to address connectivity challenges between drivers and customers within the goods logistics and transport sector. The primary issues include the lack of return load options for transporters and the underutilization of vehicle capacity. The current state of this market is notably disorganized, contributing to inefficiency. 

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Professor Narayanaswamy from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at IIT Madras highlighted that the sector is ready for technology-based solutions to align with the objectives outlined in the National Logistics Policy, 2022.

OptRoute distinguishes itself from existing services through features such as zero commission on each transaction between the driver and customer, a subscription-based service model with nominal charges, and a direct payment system without intermediaries. 

Notably, OptRoute uses a single app for both drivers and customers, available for download on Android phones through the Google Play Store.

Anuj Fulia, Co-founder of OptRoute Logistics and an alumnus of IIT Madras, mentioned that they have created a lightweight mobile application connecting customers and drivers. 

Explaining that OptRoute avoids third-party services, minimizing operational costs, and as a result, they offer their service with a zero percent commission, Anuj Fulia highlighted the substantial contribution of IIT Madras alumni and students to the design and development of the application. 

He further stated that they plan to expand their service to over 500 cities by the end of this year.

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The initial concept was introduced at the 2020 Genetic and Evolutionary Computation Conference in Cancun, Mexico. The mobile application is now actively used in various cities across India, such as Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Coimbatore, Delhi, Faridabad, Gurugram, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, Noida, Panchkula, Pune, Mohali, Surat, and Zirakpur, according to IIT Madras.

Read More:

• IIT Madras Ranked 53rd in QS Asia University Rankings 2024
• IIT Madras Board of Directors Appoints Former DGP G. Thilakavathi as ‘Student Ombuds’

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