Pitfalls of digitalisation in shipping and freight
Digitisation, Digitalisation, Digital Transformation are some buzz words that have recently taken the shipping and freight industry by storm..
Let’s take a quick look at what these terms mean and what it is all about..
While Digitalisation is inevitable in the industry, there are also some pitfalls and you can read about the pitfalls and how to avoid it here..
FMC publishes TradeLens agreement
TradeLens is a digital alliance among container shipping lines started by the teaming up of Maersk and IBM to offer customers digital freight solutions..
Touted as an open and neutral industry platform underpinned by Blockchain technology, Tradelens is now supported by major industry players such as Maersk, Zim Lines, PIL, CMA CGM, MSC, Hapag Lloyd and ONE..
This platform received a major boost on the 23rd of December 2019 when The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) published “The TradeLens Agreement”..
Trade and Digitalisation
Trade as we know it (or don’t know it) has been around for centuries in various forms across various time-lines..
Starting from trade on the Silk roads around 1st century BC, through the Spice Routes between the 7th and 15th centuries to the current age of globalisation, trade has come a long way indeed..
While the business of trade itself hasn’t changed from the basic concept of buying and selling, the methodology of trade and trade patterns have changed drastically especially over the last few decades..
China to expedite development of Blockchain Technology
When the President of the 2nd largest economy in the world and the world’s factory China urges for the development of blockchain technology to be expedited, you know things are about to get real in the world of technology..
Plans are afoot to make Blockchain technology a key part of China’s innovation program and also to increase investment in the sector..
Hot on the heels of this call by the Chinese President, The Standing Committee of the 13th National People’s Congress in China passed a cryptography law on the 26th October that will be effective on January 1, 2020..
If this is not focus, then I don’t know what is..
Don’t fear Supply Chain visibility – Embrace it to beat the monster
Supply chain visibility remains a hot-button topic for supply chain executives. When executed correctly, it can open the door to new efficiencies, contributes to higher profitability, and reduces risk.
Meanwhile, the premature launch of systems and processes can dramatically add to costs. As Halloween approaches, poor implementation of visibility-gaining systems will reveal a monster.
This monster cannot die; it’s not susceptible to daylight or even the most intense of prayers. Instead, the supply chain visibility monster looks to show exactly every facet of an operation, including those you wish stayed hidden.
How BlockChain is improving Supply Chain Management
A supply chain is defined as an end to end process involving a network of people, resources, activities, organizations, technology, information, etc. that provides a path to the movement and, the flow of goods and services from the supplier to the end-customer.
Now, this doesn’t sound troublesome when it’s carried out at a smaller level. But imagine, what it would be like for the companies and organizations having a business that is spread across multiple countries.
But blockchains can help in improving Supply Chain Management and here’s how..
Reconditioning customers to accept Green, Slow Shipping
Society’s perception of environmentally and socially responsible shipping practices is far from the truth. When Amazon unveiled the promise of free two-day shipping for Prime members, customers were thrilled.
The processes were already in place to enable fast delivery, so what could be the harm in more people benefiting from even shorter delivery windows?
Amazon recognized how this service would impact on sales, and began offering free same-day shipping on millions of products starting in May 2019. It all looks like an Amazon Prime Member benefit.
That is the problem in its entirety.
Global NFC Blockchain shipment tracking solution
Blockchain-based logistics firm ShipChain and GTX Corp (OTCQB: GTXO), a global tech leader offering a suite of GPS and NFC tracking location-based services, have announced a new partnership for a new global NFC blockchain shipment tracking solution.
Blockchain based bills of lading making rapid progress
Another one bites the dust.. By this I mean another company that is moving away from Paper Bill of Lading.. 🙂
It is inevitable that influential shippers and shipping lines are embracing tech one after the other.. Whether it is India’s first blockchain enabled Letter of Credit transaction, the first smart bill of lading issued using blockchain or the first blockchain based coffee exchange, technological innovations are here to stay in the shipping and freight industry..
G2 Ocean and Manuchar became the latest partnership to show that paper Bill of Lading is ready for retirement.. Together, they completed a successful pilot trial of CargoX’s blockchain-based Smart Bill of Lading Solution..
Saudi Customs completes first blockchain based shipment
Blockchain seems to have become a prolific “enabler” of businesses, particularly in the shipping and freight and trade industry..
Whether in its use by Banks and Shippers to create Trade Finance documents; or creating and transmitting smart bills of lading; or setting up a blockchain-based marketplace app for trading in coffee; or making documentation easy for ports; or ensuring prompt delivery of mandarins for the Chinese New Year; Blockchain is making its presence felt quite rapidly in our industry..
Many shipping lines, ports, financial institutions and other private entities are using Blockchain and testing it in many different ways through many pilot projects..
Saudi Customs became the latest entity to successfully test drive its first shipment powered the blockchain technology..