Should You Have Single or Multiple Shipping Software Providers?

Before heading to the market for liner principal software, it is important, first of all, that you decide on the IT structure of your supply chain. Do you want to stick with a single vendor capable of providing integrated shipping software solutions or consolidate services from multiple ‘best of breed’ providers?

The good thing is that, while both options have their own pros and cons, you won’t go wrong if you choose one or the other. However, when you do choose, you must know the ‘whys’ of whichever option you take. To help you out, here are two main advantages of having a single shipping solutions software provider:

1. Convenience
If you could find everything you need in one store, would you want to go and look somewhere else? Of course, not! In the same sense, why bother dealing with multiple software vendors when you can get all you need from a single provider?

2. Accountability
When you have a single vendor for all your supply chain requirements, that company has full accountability over your entire IT system. This means that in case of system failure, you won’t have a hard time figuring out who’s to blame. Therefore support, fault isolation, and troubleshooting are quicker and more effective.

On the other hand, sourcing liner principal software from multiple providers has its own benefits:

1. Cost
Partnering with two or more shipping software companies is a way to create “competitive tension” between providers to get the best bargain.

2. Specialized services
When you divide your logistics requirements to two or more vendors, you can leverage best-of-breed providers for specific segments of your supply chain system.

While there is no guarantee as to which of these two options is better, you can rest assured that both are capable of delivering results in terms of cost and efficiency. You can always make the right choice by carefully evaluating your supply chain requirements and discussing your options with everyone involved.

Never Lose another Container Again with Liner Shipping Software

What do container carriers do when a container is lost ?

Most, if not all, simply write it off and collect insurance later. At least that is the easiest thing they could do, and perhaps, the most practical of all other options available.

Container Loss has been a common concern for shipping companies and consumers alike for many years. Despite the fact that vessels are safely carrying millions of container each year, it is reported
that every year over ten thousand containers are lost at sea due to myriad reasons – from bad weather condition, to poor handling, to technical problems.

These containers, depending on the type of cargo they contain, either stay afloat or sink deep into the bottom of the ocean. Either way, these huge junks clustered along shipping lanes pose danger to other passing ships, as well as to marine ecosystems below, especially when there are hazardous cargoes such as toxic chemicals on board. In order to avoid this situation, shipping operators must not only find better ways of chaining their containers down, but also upgrade their systems in order to better monitor weather and sea conditions. For both purposes, functional liner principal software can help.

Aside from falling overboard, shippers can also lose track of their containers to competing companies during loading, transshipment, or discharging. Container shipping across international ports is a complex process which involves dozens of different parties, data elements, and business documents.  Without a functional shipping line software system for tracking and managing container movement, vessels and shipping companies can easily lose track of their containers, and once they’re gone, it is virtually impossible to recover them.

However, shipping companies can deal with the problem before it happens and avoid expensive and
irreversible damages not only to the shipments, but also, and perhaps more importantly, to their name. Just the latter should be enough reason for shipping companies to abandon their spreadsheets and whiteboards, and shift to more efficient shipping software solutions.

To address problems involving lost and damaged containers, shipping software companies have developed various types of software solutions designed to streamline aspects of container freight management. Container management software feature several functions which allow port authorities and vessel operators to maximize container efficiency and visibility. Once integrated to existing shipping process, software applications can be accessed through any internet-connected device using leading web browsers. Operators can then generate information they can use to:

1. Identify the current location of all containers. (See Container Tracking Software.)
2. Control and manage multiple container fleets remotely from a central office.
3. Ensure container visibility and generate updates on every stage of the logistics process from ports to distribution centers. 
4. Maximize container space through cargo mix simulation in order to reduce costs and maximize profit.
5. Detect damages and potential problems involving containers. (See Container Repair Software.)
6. Generate forecasts on status and movement of containers to facilitate advance planning and avoid       terminal congestion.

There is no doubt that integrated shipping software is key to success in modern shipping, and all signs indicate that there is a bright future ahead for the industry. The world is moving toward automation and web-based systems. That is where every shipping company is supposed to be heading in order to stay on top of their business.

5 Reasons Why Investing In Maritime Software Solutions Is A Must

The technology industry is the one industry whose developments provide positive improvements for all other industries. Even the maritime shipping industry is a benefactor of the progress achieved by information technology. This can be clearly seen with the evolution of machinery and systems used by everyone from the container ship crew to the dockers who load their cargo.

In comparison to other industries, large shipping lines are the ones who adapt to technological advancements easily, while the smaller operators of marine cargo vessels often need a little more convincing. Smaller maritime shipping companies who have yet to adapt integrated shipping software in their operations will find that it will add profound improvements in their services. These improvements include:

1. Faster and more secure service at ports using port disbursement software, container management software, and feeder shipping software.
2. More profits for each individual voyage using voyage estimation software and voyage calculation software.
3. Effortless communication between logistics partners and cargo recipients with custom ERP solutions and CRM.
4. Safer documentation and adherence to existing maritime policies and regulations using liner principal software and NVOCC software.
5. More reliable cargo container integrity using container repair software.

There are other maritime software available that small shipping companies can greatly benefit from. While these software are available individually, their greatest benefit can be achieved using enterprise-wide software suites for complete streamlined operations. All these business solutions can be easily acquired from shipping software companies. It's all just a matter of choosing which software will provide the best benefit for maritime shipment.