Published on January 2nd, 2018 | by Guest

The New Era of Shipping Tech: Safer, Faster, Simpler, More Personalized

As technology rapidly changes and evolves over time, so do various innovations on the methods of shipping. According to Bloomberg Business, freight transported through ships constitute 90% of the world’s trade movement.

The shipping industry has been quite reluctant to adapt emerging technologies to avoid disruption in their logical systems. After all, they are always known to be amazingly efficient on delivering consumer goods.

But right now, change is coming in the shipping industry, and it is coming quickly.

Shipping companies are currently developing real-time control centers to manage and control the crew. These control centers promote the safety of the crew by having someone oversee the ship to alert the crew whenever issues will arise. This will eventually decrease the number of crew members aboard the ship, significantly reducing labor costs.

With high consumer demands on shipping times, the digital age forces them to adapt and take advantage of the new technologies to sustain operations.

As more and more consumers purchase products online and opt for pickup and delivery services, faster turnaround and handling of shipping items are now crucial. With the loss of the typical brick-and-mortar vendor and customer contact, the burden of order processing now falls in the hands of shipping companies. Due to this new logistical element, modern technologies should adapt now more than ever.

Here are some of the ways that new technology is shaping the world of shipping for consumers.

1. Increased Safety

Ship automation is already being implemented through automated cranes. Automated cranes are used to transfer shipping containers from the ship to the shore, administering safer handling of goods. An automated ship with minimal crew, which is directed from central command, will not just dramatically cut down cost. It will also cut down the rate of human error, which may lay grounds for slow delivery, onboard damage, and loss of profit.

Remote operations of vessels becomes possible due to a new generation of sensor technologies that will collect data independently and relay information in real time. Sensors notify ship owners when a piece of equipment needs maintenance. This encourages the overall safety of the ship through condition-based monitoring.

2. Faster Delivery Processes

The internet is revolutionizing the way we gather data and process information – two essential factors for the shipping industry. Technological advancement streamlines the shipping process through real-time data which can affect everything from tracking goods, to route optimization, and monitoring equipment.

This automation also extends to faster delivery processes. With real-time data collection and improved sensors, route confusion will be reduced, allowing faster deliveries.

3. Simpler processes

Blockchain has just been recently adopted by the shipping industry to eradicate impractical data gathering through log books, individual databases, and spreadsheets. It is known to be used in the financial sector for efficient means of recording data.

This cloud-based application tracks millions of shipping containers, which makes shipping companies become more transparent, and at the same time encourages information-sharing with other trading partners.

The significance of using this technology in shipping is that it can significantly reduce shipping times by simplifying the process. The recording of data spreadsheets, travel logs, and inventory will be done all in one system. Ship owners won’t have to worry as the system cannot be easily altered without the “go” signal from the other parties involved in the transaction.

What used to be a complicated and rigorous method of gathering of data can now be done simply without delays while minimizing fraud and human error.

4. Increased Personalization

Many shipping companies now offer personalized or customized shipments through door-to-door delivery.

If you are purchasing a product online, you surely want it to get delivered right to your doorstep. This makes it evident that the demand for a fast and reliable postal service continues to increase. Although online purchases can be easily done with a click of a button, the downside is the waiting time from purchase to delivery.

In addition, customers now have the option to track their parcels or orders through a ship location app. The app will use phone GPS to locate the exact location of the customer. This will allow the shipping company to deliver the packages faster and more efficiently than ever.

The Right Shipping Partner Works Wonders

If you own an e-commerce site, a store, or a retail brand and you just want to avoid the headaches caused by troublesome shipments, choose a shipping partner that maximizes today’s advanced technology.

Whether it’s a simple document, a pair of shoes, a dress, or anything else that you need to send to someone, the right shipping partner will process the delivery on your behalf — for your convenience.

These are the four things you should look for in your shipping partner:

Easy and flexible – Automated delivery orders that fit your business needs.
Real-time tracking – Complete knowledge of where your shipments are.
Cost-effective – Cost savings as you no longer need to hire staff or buy vehicles and software to manage your business.
Great customer experience – Quick deliveries and professional staff that deliver excellent service all the time.

Three Primary Driving Forces Behind Shipping Companies’ Adoption of New Technologies

a. Growing Omni-channel Sales

More and more customers are demanding seamless integration across different brick-and-mortar and online shopping channels.

b. On-time and Accurate Shipments

Customers are increasingly demanding to receive the right package the first time and every time, and expect it to arrive faster than ever.

c. New Government Regulations

Increasing oversight from the government in different countries around the world will force companies to re-evaluate their compliance programs and increase perceptibility.

Technology: Necessary in Maintaining a Competitive Advantage in the Shipping Industry

Shippers who continually embrace technology will also continue to meet rising expectations from customers. Since it’s only natural for customers to demand better and faster service from shipping companies, those who fail will have to face the consequence of losing a competitive advantage.

It’s time for a change. The evolving wisdom of centuries is changing on its head. There’s a fundamental shift in the experimental practices and basic concepts of the discipline in the shipping industry. And that will be quite an incredible challenge for shippers to embrace.

An industry that has always been known to be conservative and resistant to change, suddenly has to alter the very fabric and fiber of its being. In the following years, due to technology, we can expect and see real change, the likes of which we can barely comprehend. But comprehend it, we must

Author bio:

Naveen Joseph is the Head of Operations – UAE for Fetchr which supports both B2B, B2C and peer2peer deliveries in the Middle East.

Tags: era, faster, new, personalized, safer, shipping, simpler, tech