Quantum Startup QC Ware Partners with DHL and Airbus to Explore Freight Optimization
December 3, 2020
Quantum Freight Optimization Takes Off with QC Ware, DHL, and Airbus Pilots
As 2020 closed a turbulent year for global logistics, marked by COVID-19 disruptions and record eCommerce demand, a new technological hope emerged from the intersection of quantum computing and freight optimization. On December 3, 2020, quantum software pioneer QC Ware publicly confirmed separate pilot engagements with logistics giant DHL and aerospace leader Airbus to apply quantum algorithms to route planning, scheduling, and cargo loading problems.
The announcement followed months of increasing momentum in the quantum sector, as enterprise players began to test real-world use cases beyond theoretical simulations. For DHL and Airbus—each grappling with logistical complexity on global scales—the pilot projects represent a step toward next-generation supply chain optimization.
QC Ware’s Growing Role in Enterprise Quantum
Based in Palo Alto, QC Ware focuses on making quantum computing accessible to enterprises by developing algorithms that can run on today’s quantum simulators and nascent quantum processors. The company’s platform, Forge, allows clients to experiment with quantum approaches to problems in optimization, machine learning, and chemistry.
For the logistics sector, QC Ware’s primary value lies in combinatorial optimization. Problems such as last-mile delivery, aircraft loading, intermodal routing, and hub scheduling are classic NP-hard tasks—unsolvable in polynomial time by classical means as they scale. Quantum computers, with their ability to explore multiple possibilities in superposition, hold theoretical promise in tackling these bottlenecks.
DHL: Tackling Last-Mile and Network Optimization
In its collaboration with QC Ware, DHL focused on solving aspects of its global delivery network that are resistant to classical heuristics. The pilot aimed to test quantum optimization for:
Last-mile delivery route planning in high-density urban zones
Load balancing across regional distribution centers
Time-sensitive package prioritization in constrained vehicle fleets
The algorithms developed used a mix of quantum annealing-inspired solvers and variational quantum eigensolvers (VQEs) that could run in hybrid quantum-classical fashion. While current quantum processors lack the scale to outperform classical systems, early results showed promising comparisons in runtime behavior and optimization quality.
“In logistics, even a 2% efficiency gain can yield millions in savings,” said a DHL representative. “QC Ware’s team helped us map key delivery network constraints into quantum-ready formats, enabling faster experimentation on tomorrow’s tools.”
Airbus: Loading and Flight Scheduling
Meanwhile, Airbus worked with QC Ware to study two problem classes:
Cargo loading optimization – matching varying container sizes and weights with aircraft hold layouts while satisfying balance and fuel efficiency requirements.
Flight and crew scheduling – a notoriously complex task that must consider aircraft availability, maintenance windows, time zones, crew rest mandates, and airport constraints.
Airbus engineers provided realistic data sets from past routes, which QC Ware used to simulate scheduling models using quantum circuits. While the current hardware could not handle the full-size industrial problem, subcomponents demonstrated quantum speedups.
“Airlines are on tight margins, and any misalignment in scheduling or loading has ripple effects,” said a technical lead from Airbus’s operations R&D division. “QC Ware’s quantum team translated our constraint models into QUBO (Quadratic Unconstrained Binary Optimization) problems—a critical step toward feasibility on near-term quantum hardware.”
Hardware-Agnostic Approach
A key aspect of QC Ware’s strategy is hardware independence. Rather than commit to one vendor (like D-Wave, IBM, or Google), QC Ware designs its algorithms to be portable across classical simulators, quantum annealers, gate-based devices, and cloud-based hybrid systems.
This modularity allowed both DHL and Airbus to test their logistics use cases on various backends—including simulators and real quantum processors—without getting locked into a single hardware ecosystem. This is critical in an era where quantum processors are still evolving and have yet to reach the necessary scale for commercial logistics deployment.
Global Implications and Industry Signaling
The December 2020 pilot announcements signaled more than just one-off projects. They reflect a growing appetite among logistics and aerospace leaders to get early exposure to quantum tooling—building internal expertise and setting the stage for long-term strategic integration.
Other companies also took notice:
Maersk and UPS reportedly began internal discussions on quantum feasibility studies.
The U.S. Department of Transportation released a white paper on “Post-Quantum Infrastructure Readiness,” citing route planning as a key area of interest.
Volkswagen, which had piloted quantum traffic routing with D-Wave in 2019, began evaluating additional suppliers for air freight scheduling tasks.
Limitations Acknowledged
Despite the enthusiasm, QC Ware was quick to temper expectations. Current quantum hardware remains small, noisy, and difficult to scale. The DHL and Airbus pilots did not result in production deployments, but rather feasibility studies and comparative tests.
Still, both companies confirmed plans to continue collaboration in 2021, including exploration of quantum machine learning for demand prediction and real-time rescheduling.
“We’re playing the long game,” said QC Ware CEO Matt Johnson. “But this month’s projects show that quantum computing is moving from lab to logistics—with real data, real constraints, and real outcomes.”
Conclusion: Laying the Groundwork for Quantum-Enabled Freight
QC Ware’s collaborations with DHL and Airbus in December 2020 marked a turning point for quantum logistics. By demonstrating practical use cases in cargo scheduling, route optimization, and constraint modeling, these pilots paved the way for more systematic enterprise exploration. While the technology is still early, the potential value in complex, global supply chains is immense. As more logistics providers and aerospace manufacturers engage with quantum partners, the industry inches closer to realizing a future where optimization isn’t just digital—it’s quantum-enhanced.