In a decade with technological capabilities, CEO Aleksander Stensby opened with a challenge to conventional practices, posing a question that resonates throughout the industry, “In the year 2023, with such advancements at our fingertips, why do we continue to rely on spreadsheets for managing the complexities of global supply chains?”, his concern extending beyond the tools to a broader reflection on why people, culture and data integration remain the biggest challenges to digital transformation.   

Maximizing today’s efficiency for tomorrow’s rewards  

The conversation then shifted to the environmental implications of operational inefficiencies as the dialogue around shipping emissions is often charged with a ‘wait-and-see' approach, where cargo owners are waiting on shipowners to initiate emissions reduction. Stensby argued however, that the operational inefficiencies that could be solved today will deliver compounded benefits in the future, also for cargo owners. Benefits that are particularly relevant considering the new EU ETS regulations coming into play 1 January 2024, which are expected to surge shipping costs. Stensby’s discourse suggests that by proactively optimizing operational efficiency and reducing waste now, cargo owners can anticipate not just immediate returns, but also a buffer against the impending rise in operational costs driven by environmental compliance.  

The power of immediate action  

He went on to demonstrate and address a topic at the core of our philosophy: optimizing operational efficiency and reducing waste and inefficiencies. Exemplifying this with the outdated ‘race to wait’ approach, he argued that such changes alone could reduce shipping emissions by up to 15% of the global total. This significant potential for reduction underscores the power of immediate action—action that does not depend or wait on future regulations, but on current opportunities to enhance performance and sustainability. 

Embracing efficiency for cost reduction and industry progress 

Together, these points forge a powerful call to action for cargo owners: to invest in today's digital tools and embrace a culture of efficiency that not only aligns with but also anticipates and adapts to future regulatory landscapes.  

It is a strategy that recognizes the role of cargo owners in driving industry change, reaping the benefits of reduced costs, and supporting the global shift towards a more sustainable shipping sector and a more profitable bottom line.