Digital Logistics Award
Create Your Future Digital Business
Cargovibe wins 1st place at the Digital Logistics Award 2026
Seven finalists, five-minute pitches and a joint vote by the audience and expert jury: the Digital Logistics Award 2026 once again brought some of the most promising digital logistics solutions to the stage at the “Zukunftskongress Logistik 2026″. More than 30 start-ups from six countries applied for this year’s Award. Seven of them made it to the final and presented their solutions live in Dortmund. In the end, cargovibe secured first place, followed by SLAPStack in second and HADROS in third.
1st Place: 6.000 Euro
Cargovibe took first place with its digital co-driver for everyday logistics operations. The Dortmund-based start-up provides real-time visibility of forklifts, loads and inventory while combining live tracking, automated 3D load measurement and intelligent route optimization. Its retrofit solution can be integrated into existing forklift fleets without requiring additional warehouse infrastructure, helping companies increase transparency and efficiency in day-to-day operations.
2nd Place: 3.000 Euro
SLAPStack secured second place with its AI-powered approach to warehouse intelligence. The Dortmund-based start-up provides real-time visibility of forklifts, loads and inventory while combining live tracking, automated 3D load measurement and intelligent route optimization. Its retrofit solution can be integrated into existing forklift fleets without requiring additional warehouse infrastructure, helping companies increase transparency and efficiency in day-to-day operations.
3rd Place: 1.000 Euro
Third place went to Swiss intralogistics start-up HADROS and its full-stack robotics platform for automated order picking. HADROS develops autonomous picking robots equipped with tactile grippers for use in existing brownfield warehouses. Its AI-powered Warehouse Action Model (WHAM) enables deep-shelf picking and combines modular microservices to automate manual picking processes – without requiring major structural changes to existing facilities.
Now in its ninth edition, the Digital Logistics Award has become an established platform for start-ups developing new solutions for the logistics industry. In 2026, more than 30 companies from six countries applied, reflecting the Award’s growing international reach. This year’s finalists demonstrated how strongly technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics and intelligent automation are shaping the next generation of logistics solutions. The Award was sponsored by Dortmund Hafen AG, BITO Campus and Dortmund-based business law firm audalis.
Jury
The seven finalists for the Digital Logistics Award were selected by our expert jury: This year’s jury included Sophie Engel (BITO Campus GmbH), Alexander Michel (audalis), Bettina Brennenstuhl (Dortmunder Hafen AG), Christian Prasse (Fraunhofer IML), Markus Hueting (Xpress Ventures) and Boris Jeggle (Rhenus Special Delivery GmbH & Co. KG).
Impressions
Photos Award (3): Fraunhofer IML/Vinzenz Neugebauer