Autonomous routing is closer than most operations think. ORTEC's George Ninikas maps the essential four steps that move you from where you are today to autonomous, and shows why the self learning layer is what finally makes it stick.
In 2011, a grocery retailer in Greece was already running autonomous routing. Orders arrived by phone, fax and email, and five or six times a day the system optimized them and assigned them straight to vehicles already on the road. No planner intervened, and no AI was involved. So why is nobody operating that system today? This conversation with a host and ORTEC's George Ninikas answers that, and sets out what autonomous routing takes now.
Why attend
What you will take back to your operation
A practical, vendor honest view of what autonomous routing means,
and the framework to get there.
1. A concrete four step framework
The spine of the session, mapped so you can apply it to where your own operation sits today.
2. What autonomous really means
Not robots with nobody at the wheel. A practical definition where planners are pulled in only when a decision needs them.
From a system that worked in 2011
to the self learning layer that makes autonomy hold.
3. Inside the self learning layer
Stop times learned per customer, travel times learned per driver, and driver familiarity handled as soft boundaries.
4. Optimization or AI
A straight answer to the question the host keeps asking, and what has to be true before you let go of the wheel.
Agenda
What the session covers
Autonomous routing was solved in 2011, then it stalled
A grocery retailer running same day delivery from its own stores, with time based triggers firing the optimizer five or six times a day and orders assigned straight to vehicles already on the road. No planner, no AI, and it worked. The one thing missing is the reason it could not keep pace with the business.
Your Speaker
George Ninikas, Senior VP Sales & Accounts Americas, ORTEC
George is the SVP of Sales and Accounts for the Americas at ORTEC, leading growth initiatives, strengthening client relationships, and driving sales excellence across North and South America. Since joining ORTEC in 2010, George has advanced through a series of increasingly senior roles thanks to his ability to translate complex technologies into client-focused strategies that deliver measurable value. Previously serving as Industry Director for Retail & Wholesale, he shaped market strategy and leveraged advanced analytics to improve efficiency, profitability, and customer experience for major clients. His appointment as SVP reflects his exceptional leadership, strategic vision, and proven track record in building and sustaining high-performance teams. In addition to his corporate achievements, George holds a Ph.D. in Operations Research with a focus on vehicle routing problems and has university-level teaching experience, combining academic rigor with practical business impact.