Last week was all about my speaking sessions at Intermodal Europe and the ICT &amp; Logistics event. And this week? Another speaking session! I was honored to be invited to speak at the VNO NCW Women's Network event in Rotterdam. A home game for me.<a href="https://api.whatsapp.com/message/N4CI7UNDFE2ZM1?autoload=1&amp;app_absent=0&amp;utm_source=web&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=general" target="_blank"><img src="https://cdn.cogoport.io/cms-prod/cogo_public/vault/original/Blog Banner WA 1.png" width="auto" style="width: auto; height: auto;"></a>The Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers (known as VNO-NCW) is the largest employers' organization in the Netherlands. VNO-NCW represents the common interests of Dutch business, both at home and abroad and provides a variety of services for its members. Over 160 (branch) associations are members, representing more than 185.000 enterprises. They cover almost all sectors of the economy, including more than 80% of all medium-sized companies in the Netherlands and nearly all of the larger, corporate institutions.The event’s theme was “She Inspires”. I spoke about my quest to make the freight industry efficient and transparent, how I got where I am today and the journey that took me there.The past week it was almost impossible to visit a news website and not read about Brexit. Other than this mention I promise not to go there this week. Obviously, there was a lot of other interesting things going on in the world of Freight and Tech. As usual, you can find the highlights below.<h3>Carriers, Freight, and what can happen to it...</h3>“Carriers said they are committed to ending their overreliance on pricing regimes that have sacrificed margins on the altar of market share and that have resulted in billions of dollars in losses. Yet such a dramatic shift to emphasizing value-added services is inherently risky. It requires substantial investments in processes and technology, costs that need to be recouped by attracting new high-margin business. It is unclear if users accustomed to enjoying cheap rates on sailing services will go for pricier, value-added solutions or would rather maintain the status quo.”<a href="https://api.whatsapp.com/message/N4CI7UNDFE2ZM1?autoload=1&amp;app_absent=0&amp;utm_source=web&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=general" target="_blank"><img src="https://cdn.cogoport.io/cms-prod/cogo_public/vault/original/Blog-Banner-Portal-3.png" width="auto" style="width: auto; height: auto;"></a>→ <a href="https://www.dcvelocity.com/articles/30230-container-line-transformation-faces-its-biggest-test-from-those-paying-the-bills" target="_blank">Container-line transformation faces its biggest test from those paying the bills</a>“Typhoon Mangkhut, meanwhile, struck the Philippines, Hong Kong and mainland China: all important areas for freight import and export. Transport services were suspended, flights canceled, trains stopped and major roads closed in Hong Kong where winds reached more than 110mph and water levels surged to 12 feet in some places.”“FM Global, a commercial and industrial property insurer surveyed 101 senior financial executives at Fortune 1000 organizations just after hurricane season last year. In the report, 64% of the respondents said the hurricane season had an adverse impact on their business, and among those impacted, 62% were not completely prepared to deal with the effects.”→ <a href="https://www.supplychaindive.com/news/freight-surge-blowback-hurricane-michael-florence/542176/" target="_blank">October freight surge blown back by devastating storms</a>If you move your containers door to door via the Cogoport Platform, you will never be in doubt who is responsible for your cargo on any leg of the journey.“Containers frequently pass from one company to another on their long journey, and holding the correct party responsible can be difficult to ascertain with so many touchpoints.”→ <a href="https://www.freightwaves.com/news/containers/companies-paying-billions-for-damage" target="_blank">Container, trailer damage costs companies billions, even when not at fault</a><a href="/signup?utm_source=web&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=general" target="_blank"><img src="https://cdn.cogoport.io/cms-prod/cogo_public/vault/original/Blog-Banner-Portal-2.png" width="auto" style="width: auto; height: auto;"></a><h3>Sustainability</h3>“A coalition of ports in Europe and the US are demanding the shipping industry deliver on the Paris Climate Agreement.Among those demanding action are six of the top ports in Europe and the US, Antwerp, Barcelona, Hamburg, Long Beach, Los Angeles, and Rotterdam, which have launched the World Ports Climate Action Initiative.”→ Container shipping and charity set their combined sights on 'greener' seas<h3>Data and Analytics</h3>While Michael Lewis, author of the Moneyball book (have you seen that movie?), was speaking about the trucking industry, this goes for the ocean freight industry as well. It is why the Cogoport platform is designed to increase insight for its users.“The freight industry could see sweeping changes in leadership as the sector goes through growing pains to adjust to a new age of big data and analytics, author Michael Lewis said ......"We're living in a moment where we're beginning to understand that data has magical possibilities," said Lewis, who is known for nonfiction book titles including Liar's Poker and The Big Short.”→ <a href="https://www.dcvelocity.com/articles/30226-author-michael-lewis-sees-turbulent-future-for-freight-markets-in-age-of-big-data" target="_blank">Author Michael Lewis sees turbulent future for freight markets in age of big data</a><h3>Freight Tech</h3>I love Tech. Whether it’s innovative IT solutions, or more operational solutions like autonomous ships, cars, or drones, Trucks and drones this week.“Last week, Einride started running its all-electric, human-free truck on a commercial route. The “T-pod” is moving pallets of goods between warehouses run by German logistics giant Schenker, in the southern Swedish city of Jönköping. It’s a small, one-year commercial deal: Einride is operating just one truck for the time being, and covering about six miles a day, some of it on public roads, at speeds below 25 mph.”→ <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/einride-self-driving-electric-truck-sweden/" target="_blank">Want to make an all-star electric truck? Drop the driver</a>“As cities across the U.S. look to reduce congestion on their streets, more are taking deliveries and safety initiatives to the skies, with a new drone initiative from the federal government helping drive those efforts.”→ <a href="https://www.supplychaindive.com/news/drone-deliveries-medical-food-disaster/542020/" target="_blank">For drone deliveries, the sky's the limit</a>

Freight, Sustainability, Analytics, and Tech

What a week. There were two big logistics events in the Netherlands and I spoke at both. At Mulitmodal Europe in Rotterdam I spoke about container optimization and the repositioning of empties. For those that weren&rsquo;t there I will write a blog post about it and share it here.
The other event was the ICT &amp; Logistics event in Utrecht where I spoke about how booking a container should be just as fast an easy as booking a hotel. A big thank you to the many people that came to the sessions.
<a href="https://api.whatsapp.com/message/N4CI7UNDFE2ZM1?autoload=1&amp;app_absent=0&amp;utm_source=web&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=general" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="width: auto; height: auto;" src="https://cdn.cogoport.io/cms-prod/cogo_public/vault/original/Blog Banner WA 3.png" width="auto"></a>
It&rsquo;s too bad both events were at the same time. I still got to meet a lot of new and interesting people, was interviewed about data and freight in the digital era and got a lot of inspiration from what other companies are doing.
Our new President of Supplier Relations &amp; International Growth Flemming Frost accompanied me to all events. Read more about Flemming in the post from our Founder Shekhar <a href="https://www.cogoport.com/blogs/welcome-on-board" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
I didn&rsquo;t have much time this week, so there are less highlights then usual when it comes to news and interesting reading material that I came across this week. Anyway, here goes:
<h3>The Chinese Economy</h3>
&ldquo;Given that Chinese imports account for nearly half of all container imports moving over U.S. ports, one would be excused for prematurely jumping to the conclusion that U.S. port volumes are at great risk&mdash;as are the logistics and transportation jobs associated with moving Chinese imports from the port of entry to distribution centers and on to final demand markets. But let&rsquo;s not hit the panic button just yet.&rdquo;
&rarr; <a href="https://www.supplychain247.com/article/how_will_the_tariff_war_with_china_affect_u.s._container_ports" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How will the tariff war with China affect U.S. container ports?</a>
&ldquo;China&rsquo;s exports climbed 15.6% in October, versus the same month a year ago, in US dollar terms&mdash;way higher than what analysts expected. The real surprise, though, was the eye-popping 21.4% year-over-year leap in Chinese imports. That&rsquo;s odd given that China&rsquo;s economy is slowing abruptly again, which should translate to sluggish demand for goods from consumers and businesses.&rdquo;
<img src="https://cdn.cogoport.io/cms-prod/cogo_public/vault/original/Blog-Banner-Portal-1.png" alt="" width="300px">
&rarr; <a href="https://qz.com/1456033/despite-us-tariffs-chinas-trade-soared-in-october-it-may-not-last" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Despite US tariffs, China&rsquo;s trade soared in October. It may not last.</a>
<h3>Scrubbers</h3>
&ldquo;The decision on whether to invest in scrubber technology on containerships, ahead of the IMO&rsquo;s 0.5% sulphur cap on 1 January 2020, has resulted in ocean carriers adopting a &ldquo;polarised&rdquo; approach, according to an Alphaliner survey.&rdquo;
&rarr; Carriers still weighing up pros and cons of scrubbers vs switch to low-sulphur fuel
<h3>Logistics Tech</h3>
Gartner has published their predictions on strategic tech trends for 2019 again.
&ldquo;While most shippers, brokers, carriers, vendors, and warehouse operators will agree that the logistics industry is awash in emerging technologies, Gartner said its study focuses only on those trends that have substantial disruptive potential that is beginning to break out of an emerging state into broader impact and could reach a tipping point over the next five years.&rdquo;
&rarr; <a href="https://www.dcvelocity.com/articles/30215-gartner-flags-10-strategic-tech-trends-for-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gartner flags 10 strategic tech trends for 2019</a>
I couldn&rsquo;t agree more with the quote below, although I think that for the forseeable future there is more to be gained from automating processes, then automating vehicles. Automating processes is one of the reasons our platform increases efficiency.
&ldquo;Most transport companies say innovation and automation will help transform the industry by helping to boost productivity and reduce costs, according to the survey.&rdquo;
&rarr; <a href="https://www.dcvelocity.com/articles/30205-geopolitics-technological-innovation-top-global-transport-industry-concerns" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Geopolitics, technological innovation top global transport industry concerns</a>
One of the barriers blocking the adoption of new technology is one that we made sure is not applicable to our platform: investment. No need to invest. Joining the platform is free and the cost per shipment you pay for using Cogoport are a small percentage of the total cost you save using it.
&ldquo;Barriers to adopting technology persist &ndash; with transport companies citing the major challenges to adopting technology-driven innovation as cost and investment (71%)&rdquo;
&rarr; Automation to Define Future of Transport But There are Obstacles
And two infographics from the people over at FreightWaves on the rise of Transportation Tech.
&rarr; <a href="https://www.freightwaves.com/news/infographics/venture-capital-trends-part-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Transport Tech Rising: Venture Capital Trends (Part 2)</a>
&rarr; <a href="https://www.freightwaves.com/news/infographics/transpor-tech-rising-part-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Transport Tech Rising: Venture Capital Trends (Part 3)</a>
Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/uUXB3EPgVp4?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mikkel J&ouml;nck Schmidt</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/container-cranes-rotterdam" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Unsplash</a>

The Chinese Economy and Logistics Tech

Something interesting happened this afternoon. At 11:30am I got an e-mail from the school my kids go to saying: Good morning. Earlier this morning there was a power outage and now we are closing the school. Please pick up your children at 12:00 noon. 30 minutes notice!Sometimes I wish there was a Cogoschool platform. By that I mean a platform that manages school logistics, much like Cogoport manages freight. One that informs you timely of changes, and potentially suggests alternative solutions for issues. One that informs other parties involved and gives you the means to deal with the changes.<a href="https://api.whatsapp.com/message/N4CI7UNDFE2ZM1?autoload=1&amp;app_absent=0&amp;utm_source=web&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=general" target="_blank"><img src="https://cdn.cogoport.io/cms-prod/cogo_public/vault/original/Blog Banner WA 3.png" width="auto" style="width: auto; height: auto;"></a>Instead of solving logistics challenges for customers I’m apparently (or a parent-ly) solving logistics issues for a school...Anyway. My highlights from freight and other news this week:<h3>Oil Price</h3>Surcharges have been in almost every Ocean Freight Update I have done these past weeks. As fuel is often an important component of the surcharges:“As the volatility in oil prices continue, there have been different opinions on its future with some predicting a three digit rate in a few years while a few hopeful of a downturn. Banking major Barclays has a rather interesting take on the situation, reasoning out that the prices would fall to around $70 per barrel next year rather climb higher.”→ <a href="https://www.freightwaves.com/news/todays-pickup-panama-city-braces-for-hurricane-michael-6mreh" target="_blank">Barclays predicts oil price to reach $70 next year</a><h3>Pirates of the Caribbean, no, Asia</h3>A total of 64 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia during January-September 2018, a 3 percent increase compared to the same period for 2017, ReCAAP ISC said in its latest report.→ <a href="https://www.marinelink.com/news/piracy-rises-asia-442554" target="_blank">Piracy Rises 3% in Asia</a><a href="https://cogoport.com/signup/en-IN/?utm_source=web&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=general" target="_blank"><img src="https://cdn.cogoport.io/cms-prod/cogo_public/vault/original/Blog-Banner-Portal-1.png" width="auto" style="width: auto; height: auto;"></a><h3>The Urge to Merge</h3>There’s always talk about alliances, mergers, and takeovers. Between shipping companies, but also between logistics providers. Now there may be another combination of the two:“CEVA had rebuffed a full takeover bid from DSV, while at the same time giving CMA CGM the option to increase its stake to one-third of its shares.”“An accompanying statement from CMA CGM suggested it may well take up this option, and a fully fledged takeover of CEVA could also happen”“CEVA could be dismantled by CMA CGM, or its own management team, in the same way that Damco is by AP Møller-Maersk Group; if so, then, the freight forwarding assets – mainly contracts and staff – could be spun-off and presented to possible suitors.”→ Market Insight: CEVA and CMA CGM – vertical consolidation the next step?<h3>More on Capacity and Carrier Rates</h3>“The decision by Asia-North Europe carriers to blank or suspend 11 head-haul voyages this month appears to have halted the slide in spot rates on the route, the SCFI component virtually unchanged at $731 per TEU.However, if the 2M Alliance reactivates its AE2/Swan loop earlier than planned – on 5 December as suggested by Alphaliner – then spot rates could fall away quickly.”→ Early AE2/Swan return would add to the pressure on Asia-Europe carriers“If there’s a serious drop of Chinese exports into the US, it will push China to find additional markets. There will be winners and losers but a re-balancing within Asia could be positive overall as more consumer markets develop.”“Any big uptick in intra-Asia container volumes is likely to exacerbate port congestion across the region, however.”→ China-US trade war could be the founder of a feast for intra-Asia box traffic<a href="https://cogoport.com/signup/en-IN/?utm_source=web&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=general" target="_blank"><img src="https://cdn.cogoport.io/cms-prod/cogo_public/vault/original/Blog-Banner-Portal-3.png" width="auto" style="width: auto; height: auto;"></a><h3>Freight Tech</h3>“MSC has announced it will fit some 50,000 of its dry containers with smart technology over the next few months.”“The carrier said the technology would be provided by Traxens, the French container tracking start-up that has received investment from CMA CGM and more latterly MSC. Both carriers have a seat on the Traxens board.”“The Traxens system has three key elements: first, a tracking and environment-monitoring device permanently fitted to the box, which records data such as GPS position, temperature, impacts, movement, and vibration.”→ MSC opts for Traxens technology to create 50,000 'smart' containers“Rolls-Royce is partnering with Intel to conquer the immense amount of data required to make autonomous container ships a reality”“The data required to facilitate autonomous ships is greater in size and complexity than that necessary for autonomous road vehicles because of the increased variability of the environment.”→ <a href="https://www.supplychaindive.com/news/rolls-royce-intel-autonomous-ships-sensors/539683/" target="_blank">Rolls-Royce teams up with Intel on autonomous ships</a>“Energy innovation in shipping is not confined to main propulsion systems. Norsepower has installed its Flettner Rotor Sail Solution on three ships of different types – one Ro-Ro (roll-on, roll-off), one cruise liner and one tanker – and is documenting the resultant fuel savings.”→ <a href="https://about.bnef.com/blog/planes-trains-automobiles-electric-remake/" target="_blank">Planes, Trains and Automobiles – the Electric Remake</a><h3>Saving the Best for Last</h3>Great news last week: we were recognized as one of the 100 most innovative and disruptive companies in freight! A proud moment for all of us.At the end of last week, our founder Purnendu Shekhar wrote a post about in which he looked back, but also looked forward.“I love seeing their passion every day. Everybody is working closely together to make shipping goods across the globe easier, more efficient, and more transparent.”→ <a href="https://www.cogoport.com/en-IN/blogs/cogoport-recognized-freight-tech-100" target="_blank">Cogoport Recognized in the Freight.Tech 100</a>We were also mentioned in the announcement by Freightwaves:“From on-demand trucking to blockchain, loadboards and freight matching, the list of companies bringing innovative technologies to the freight industry is growing by the day, which makes the 100 that have made the cut to be honored by the FreightWaves Research Institute as part of its inaugural Freight.Tech 100 all the more special.Cogoport is an example. The company believes that booking ocean freight should be as easy as booking a hotel room. Its platform provides instant quotes, helps choose the right ocean carrier, allows for the uploading of documents and manages all shipments”→ <a href="https://www.freightwaves.com/news/trucking/innovation-key-to-making-the-freight-tech-100" target="_blank">From upstarts to traditional powers, the Freight.Tech 100 represents all that is innovative about freight</a>Photo by Tim Easley on Unsplash

Oil Prices, Merger, Rates, and Freight Tech

<img src="https://prod-cogoport.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/9791a798065e333ef39f37e51597eaee/alex-knight-199368-unsplash.jpg" alt="alex-knight-199368-unsplash.jpg" class="left" width="100%"> It has been an eventful week. Hurricanes and trade wars impacting supply chains and logistics operations in various parts of the world, and the capacity crunch impacting shippers and shipping companies alike. For me personally, the week was literally eventful. I visited the Netherlands India Business Meet event near our European headquarters in Rotterdam and had interesting conversations on opportunitites and trade between India and the Netherlands. I accepted an invitation to speak on the Multimodal Europe event, which will be in Rotterdam November 6 and worked on the presentations I will be giving at the ICT &amp; Logistiek (ICT &amp; Logistics) event in Utrecht November 7 and 8. Speaking about events, here are the events that caught my eye this week in shipping and logistics: The Capacity Crunch The Loadstar has been writing a lot about the capacity crunch this week. Major shipping lines are canceling sailings from Asia to Europe. One of the reasons cited is the early October Chinese Golden Week holiday. Some interesting highlights: According to this week’s World Container Index (WCI) from Drewry, the Asia to North Europe spot rate component was $1,662 per feu, which is 3% down on the previous period.The aggressive rate stance taken by CMA CGM and Maersk on the route, as well as others less publicly, including MSC, is due to a particularly bearish sentiment on forward booking prospects.--&gt; Slack season pressure could spark new Asia-Europe capacity crunch North European exporters are becoming increasingly concerned at the knock-on impact of canceled backhaul voyages in November, and fear a return to the capacity crunch last experienced during the alliance restructuring in April last year.--&gt; Backhaul capacity crisis fears as more Asia-North Europe sailings are blanked Container throughput in the five largest [Chinese] ports was up 6.8% to 40.9 million twenty-foot equivalents (TEU) in the second quarter. However, trade tariffs imposed on China by the US is increasingly seen as a roadblock to further growth.--&gt; <a href="https://www.freightwaves.com/news/sisi-global-ports">Maritime trade continued to see strong growth, but tariffs remain a risk</a>&nbsp; Demolition of container vessels so far this year is at a record 10-year low, with just 24 ships for 47,500 TEU sold for scrap. This compares with 120 vessels equating to 355,000 TEU sent to the breakers by the same point in 2017.TEU--&gt; Gloomy outlook for container charter market as cautious carriers cut capacity&nbsp; The Trade War between the US and China Another thing impacting shipping in a negative way is the ongoing trade war between the US and China. The US is still increasing tariffs. And we haven't seen the end of it yet. So far the impact on shipping has not been big, but that will change. Some interesting snippets: Following the latest round of tariffs introduced by the US and China this week, Drewry has reduced its forecast for global container volume growth from 5.7% to 4.3%.--&gt; Fears over future container terminal capacity as investors get cold feet China and the United States plunged deeper into a trade war on Tuesday after Beijing added $60 billion of U.S. products to its import tariff list in retaliation for President Donald Trump’s planned levies on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods.--&gt; <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trade-china-response/china-hits-back-by-levying-tariffs-on-60-billion-of-u-s-goods-idUSKCN1LY22V">China to penalize $60 billion of U.S. imports in tit-for-tat move</a> and <a href="https://www.supplychaindive.com/news/tariffs-200-billion-imports-china-trade/532540/">Tariffs on $200B worth of imports from China start Sept. 24</a> Coming off of an all-time monthly high for United States-bound waterborne shipments in July, August levels, while still strong, were down slightly, according to data recently issued by global trade intelligent firm Panjiva. “The basic message is that Trump’s tariffs likely led to accelerated shipments in July instead of August and we may, therefore, have seen the peak of the year already,” said Chris Rogers, Panjiva research director.--&gt; <a href="https://www.supplychain247.com/article/u.s._bound_imports_are_down_sequentially_and_up_annually_in_august_reports">U.S.-bound imports are down sequentially and up annually in August, reports Panjiva</a> The Robots Are Coming And to end on a positive note: good news for us logistics professionals. We have nothing to fear from robots in the workplace. And the same goes for those not in logistics as well. Although some jobs will change and others will go away. According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), about 133m jobs globally could be created with the help of rapid technological advances in the workplace over the next decade, compared with 75m that could be displaced.--&gt; <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/sep/17/robots-in-workplace-could-create-double-the-jobs-they-destroy">Robots in the workplace 'could create double the jobs they destroy'</a> Supply chain and logistics specialist positions are safe in the age of automation, according to WEF — in fact the report calls this field "emerging".--&gt; <a href="https://www.supplychaindive.com/news/WEF-report-supply-chain-safe-automation/532653/">Supply chain, logistics professionals are 'safe' from automation</a> Plans for an autonomous, purely electric container ship are making waves internationally as Norway positions itself as a global pioneer in alternative propulsion systems. The ‘Yara Birkeland’ will be the world’s first autonomous electric container ship, and will no doubt change freight transport at sea.--&gt; <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2018/08/23/the-worlds-first-electric-autonomous-container-ship-to-set-sail-in-norway/">The World’s First Electric Autonomous Container Ship To Set Sail In Norway</a>

Capacity Crunches, Trade Wars, and Robots

Given the influence of Information Technology on businesses in the tech-savvy century that we live in today, it cannot be denied that the use of right system software can either make or break the company. If you want your company to not just survive the technology wave, but thrive and grow, it is time to pay a little more attention to the software that your business is using.&nbsp;<img src="https://cdn.cogoport.io/cms-prod/cogo_public/vault/original/Blog Banner WA 1.png" alt="" width="300px">The software that will profit your business the most and ensure smooth business operations depends on a number of factors like your business model, requirements, scale, budget, etc. Broadly speaking, there are two options available– Third Party Tools and In-Built Solutions. We, at&nbsp;Cogoport,provide the best ocean shipping solutions including Third party Tools and In-Built Solutions.&nbsp;Let’s understand briefly what each of these entail.&nbsp;What are Third Party Tools?Also known as Off-the-shelf solutions, these refer to the software that is created by a company to be used on an existing program on a particular system developed by another company.&nbsp;Let’s understand this with an example of a restaurant business- A regular restaurant would require a software that would allow it to keep track of its grocery purchases, orders received and served, etc. So, they can resort to purchasing a Third-party tool, from our company, which allows them to record all these comprehensively on their system.&nbsp;What are In-Built Solutions?An In-built solution is a software that a business gets developed through a software service provider or a software developer on their own terms, in accordance with the particular requirements of their business. Also known as Customized Software Application, it is a way for the business to ensure that they are using a software that has been specifically tailored for them. If you need efficient In-Built solutions at your disposal,&nbsp;Cogoportis the right digital shipping platform for you.In the previous example of the restaurant, if the restaurant also provides online order booking and delivery, then they will need a software system that allows them to record those in addition to other things. If they cannot find a third-party tool that provides this service, they can have their own software developed that allows them to do this.&nbsp;How to figure out which of these is the right solution for your business?The first step to making any decision is gathering as much information as possible. The same goes for choosing between Third-Party tools and In-Built solutions. You begin with figuring out what you need done with that software and then you move on to the next part where you find the software that gets it all done in a cost-effective manner. To make your job easier, we help you choose the right solution and make efficient business decisions.Here are some guidelines to we follow to decide which kind of software is more beneficial under which circumstances:&nbsp;Situations in which you should go for a Third-Party Tool –·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Budget Constraint– It is no surprise that getting an off-the-shelf software costs way less than developing your own software. So, if you are on a limited budget, a financially prudent choice would be to find an in-built software that solves most of your needs.&nbsp;·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Limited Time– Even if you have the financial resources to build your own software, it will still take a considerable period of time, ranging from a couple of months to a couple of years. If you do not have that kind of time to invest, you can go for an In-built Software temporarily while you work on your customized software.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Technology does not translate to competitive advantage– The kind of software you require and how sophisticated it needs to be, depends on your business model. It makes no sense for a retail furniture store, for instance, to have state-of-the-art system software, as it won’t necessarily convert to more sales or reduced costs, or in any other way give you a competitive edge in the market. Also, customers couldn’t care less about the kind of software you use, unless it means better quality services for them. So, if you are not in the kind of business where advanced technology directly translates into revenue for the business, getting your own software built is an extravaganza you should steer clear of. Get an in-built software and invest the remaining resources (time and money) in something that profits you directly. Withus, you will never face the problem of misguided business decisions and always get the most profitable services.Situations in which you should go for an In-Built Software Solution –·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Yours is a unique business model –If your business is modelled on an out-of-the-box idea, then it is unlikely that you will find any Third-party tool that meets a lot of your needs. This is because the third-party tools are made on a rather general note and they mostly only serve the very basic needs which are common to a majority of the businesses in the sector. And since, your business model is unique, it necessitates the use of an equally unique and customized in-built software.&nbsp;·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Available third-party tools are not compatible with your other programs– Chances are you are using a number of programs to run your business. And therefore, for smooth functioning you need them all to be compatible with each other. But certain third-party tools are not compatible to external programs. So, instead of changing all other programs to suit your third-party tool, it makes more sense for you to get your own software customized that is perfectly in sync with your all other programs.&nbsp;·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Targeting specificities– With an in-built solution, you get absolute control over the software you are using. So, if you are willing to be pro-active about managing your business in, an in-built software would allow you to work on specific targets and request quick updates concerning the areas you would like to focus more on. This is something which is not an option with the Third-party tools.&nbsp;Here, at Cogoport, we incorporate ground breaking technology which helps us in being a leader in our industry.&nbsp;

Third Party Tools or In-Built Solutions

Dwell time
is an important metric for both the ports and the trade. For ports, it
helps measure operational efficiency. It aids exporters and importers to arrive
at the container dwell time charges levied by the port. In addition to this, it
also provides them with an estimated time lag for the next container movement –
loading on rail/road for import containers and loading on the vessel for export
containers. 



Given the
impact that dwell time charges have on the total logistics costs of a shipment
and the overall delivery timelines, how it is calculated is of importance to
exporters and importers. 



Hence, in
the last quarterly meeting of all the stakeholders of JNPT Port, CSLA and
MANSA presented this point for discussion. They put forth the suggestion to
take into consideration the actual time of loading/unloading of containers from the vessel and exact time of gate in and gate out respectively. 



Upon due
consideration, JNPT Port has announced revision in the computation method for dwell
time charges and reefer charges. Additionally, it has also decided to offer lashing
rebate to transshipment containers. This rebate was earlier only provided for
normal containers. The new computation method has been made applicable from 1st
April, 2018. 



The table
given below provides a comparison between the existing dwell time charges
computation method and the revised methodology.<img src="https://prod-cogoport.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/e66459dbc74d07720ca9831d91772541/Cogoport_Article_-30th-April%20%282%29.jpg" alt="JNPT Dwell Time Revised Computation" class="center" width=""> <pclass="msonormal" style="text-align:justify">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Source: JNPT
Port </pclass="msonormal">According
to data shared in an <a href="https://www.joc.com/article/container-dwell-times-indian-major-ports-increase_20180115.html">article</a>
in JOC.com, dwell time at major Indian
ports is a matter of concern. A comparison of dwell time data of some of the
major ports for the April-November period in 2016 and 2017 shows an increasing
trend. During this period, the average container dwell time increased to 2.91
days from 2.57 days at JNPT. It went up to 2.79 days from 2.57 days at Chennai
port and Tuticorin recorded 2.01 days as against 1.96 days. Kolkata Port’s
dwell time went up to 5.6 days from 5.5 days. Taking
into consideration the dwell time trend of the previous year, this move by JNPT Port
should, to some extent, help provide relief to the exporters and importers in
terms of reducing logistics costs.&nbsp;

JNPT Revises Dwell Time and Reefer Charges

Technology has revolutionized the way business is performed all around the world. With the introduction of better and more advanced technology, operating business has become much easier and efficient. Technology has affected not only one, but all types of business dealing in different products and services.The Freight industry is one which has seen a significant change in their business operations due to the integration of advance technologies in their systems. Supply chain productivity has risen notably due to these advances and has helped in minimizing cost and error in the industry.Technology has an impact on all operations of the logistics industry, from transportation either by air or ocean, to supply chain management and even shipment tracking.Let’s take a look at the 3 major technological advancements that are changing the freight industry for the better: <img src="https://prod-cogoport.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/1e26e62537de38f6a575358754382542/download%20%283%29.jpeg" alt="download%20%283%29.jpeg" style="width: 981px; height: 654px;"> 1) Internet of Things (IoT):In the freight industry, having access to real time data is very important. The IoT technology is an efficient way of managing supply chain and logistics and making them more organized and error free.&nbsp;Companies have started adopting this technology in order to increase their productivity and optimize their operations. From creating ‘smart warehouses’ which are operated by robots who store, arrange and retrieve inventory with efficient ease, to using IoT sensors for detecting goods, companies have transferred all their logistic operations to be handled by IoT. All IoT compatible devices can communicate, coordinate and connect with each other to perform supply chain management tasks in a synchronized manner. <img src="https://prod-cogoport.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/9ca57f3817a4c3e8ef5a68b0a9787a75/download%20%284%29.jpeg" alt="download%20%284%29.jpeg" style="width: 981px; height: 736px;"> 2) Artificial Intelligence (AI):AI/machine learning is a technology which is being widely adopted by supply chain companies to facilitate better management and growth. AI is the future of supply chain management market. Here’s how AI/machine learning helps the supply chain market:<ul><li>AI helps in better negotiations to get you the lowest price for hardware and software. It also helps you analyse the supply, quality and demands as well as the services, warranties and Mean Time Failure of a product.</li><li>With all the useful data at your disposal, AI helps you analyse it and provides real time advice on how the inventory management can be made more effective.</li><li>Order management can be done in a more accurate and efficient way with the help off AI tools.</li></ul> <img src="https://prod-cogoport.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/c6a229ba5e529e2774e97ac22dd89cda/download%20%282%29.png" alt="download%20%282%29.png"> 3) Cloud Computing:Cloud computing is another technology which has improved the operations in freight industry by providing exceptional data handling solutions. Data is readily available on the internet and can be accessed from anywhere around the world.These are the ways in which cloud computing helps the supply chain market:<ul><li>It allows real-time evaluation of prices associated with each logistics and supply chain element.</li><li>You have access to real-time inventory and thus inventory management becomes simple.</li><li>Your data gets stored in matrices and divisions which helps you find out similar shipping and procurement patterns.</li><li>It allows real-time monitoring and helps in creating accurate models of merge in transit.</li><li>Your entire team can access data regardless of the time and place they are stationed at. This gives way to faster and efficient operation.</li></ul> <h2>Conclusion</h2>Managing supply chain and logistics has become less challenging with the introduction of these technological advancements. There are limitless possibilities for the development of freight industry when it is integrated with technology.

Freight Industry Tech: IoT, AI, Cloud Computing

It’s always nice when the media takes interest in your company. Especially for a fast-growing startup trying to simplify freight and optimize global shipping. We have already been featured on The Loadstar and The Economic Times, to name a few.<a href="https://api.whatsapp.com/message/N4CI7UNDFE2ZM1?autoload=1&amp;app_absent=0&amp;utm_source=web&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=general" target="_blank"><img src="https://cdn.cogoport.io/cms-prod/cogo_public/vault/original/Blog Banner WA 3.png" width="auto" style="width: auto; height: auto;"></a><h3>It's a Bird! It's a&nbsp;Plane! It's the Magazine on the Plane!</h3>If you fly British Airways this month, you will be able to read about Cogoport in the in-flight magazine. For those that don’t fly BA, here’s some of what they wrote about us in an article called “Cities of Innovation”, which Rotterdam is.“New digital solutions are also playing a major role by improving efficiency for the 30,000 sea-going vessels that call at the Port of Rotterdam each year. Indian startup Cogoport chose to open its European HQ in Rotterdam. The company has been called the “Uber of sea freight”, but Carmit Glik, CEO of Cogoport in Europe, prefers to think of it as the Booking.com of logistics. The service matches importers and exporters with freight carriers and is currently growing 20 percent a month, with about 4500 customers and 300 suppliers using it. “There is a significant focus on maritime and logistics innovation in Rotterdam,” says Glik. ”If you’re in that sector, you definitely want to be here.”<h3>We're Moving Freight. Port to Port and Beyond.</h3>The second article I’d like to share some quotes from is from an Israeli publication called Port2Port, who interviewed me at the end of last month.“Carmit Glik: "Cogoport was founded with the aim of providing added value to its customers by managing the whole supply chain - from our customer's factory to their end customer who purchased the goods abroad, while the entire handling and shipping process is managed by an innovative digital platform that reports real-time on all shipments and offers solutions and alternative options in real-time as well. We are essentially a digital "umbrella" that collects all the data from suppliers that offer shipping, forwarding and logistics services, and presents them to our customers in a convenient, efficient and transparent manner, including the costs of course, and the customer chooses a specific service through this platform. The digital aspect is very important, but as a company, we see the delivery of our customer's products to their end customers as the most important."<a href="https://cogoport.com/signup/en-IN/?utm_source=web&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=general" target="_blank"><img src="https://cdn.cogoport.io/cms-prod/cogo_public/vault/original/Blog-Banner-Portal-3.png" width="auto" style="width: auto; height: auto;"></a>Glik: "In the end, our goal is to simplify the access to the data and inform the customer of everything that really interests him, and in real-time. What matters to us is process improvement for both customers and carriers. At the end of the day, we will not do anything that doesn't provide added value to our users, which should be true for all the technologies that exist in the market today, whether it is Blockchain or artificial intelligence. It's all about the customer, and positive experience. And by the way, one of the biggest tests is always to see how things go when something goes wrong. For example, there was an accident and the container did not arrive in time to the port and did not board the ship - we know how to report it to the customer. This information is very important for the customer and he wants to get it right away. The ability to inform our customers instantly and give them alternative options is one of the advantages of our platform. Currently, we're working on an app that's available from any mobile phone that will further simplify the processes for our customers. Anyway, it's always possible to use the website or call us, and our employees can always intervene personally. It all depends on the severity of the situation, but our goal is to make the platform so simple and intuitive that the customer can do everything himself. "Glik: "There are suppliers that interface with our platform and there are suppliers that use it manually in their back-office operations. It depends on the company and its digital capabilities. Our goal is to be the link between suppliers that have ships, trucks, etc. to those that have goods to ship in the most efficient way. We work with everyone because we are a platform, a "marketplace" and as such we want to give the customer all the options that are available today. We will let our customers choose what options best suit their needs. Cogoport works in the background to make sure everything runs smoothly. It is the customer that chooses which carrier he wants to work with. And when the customer sends it to Western Europe, he can also choose whether the shipment will be delivered to its final destination by train, truck, or barge. Multi modal shipping is big here, and we offer the full range of services to manage that."<img src="https://cdn.cogoport.io/cms-prod/cogo_public/vault/original/Blog Banner WA 2.png" alt="" width="300px">Glik: "Our platform is divided between suppliers and customers and there are sub-categories for shipping companies, shippers and exporters. That's how the system identifies them, and if I'm a carrier I can connect to a network that can provide me with new business opportunities. And if you are a smaller carrier that doesn't have the large customer base of an international shipping company and you offer good service at a good price you have access to new markets you didn't have access to before."<h3>Hello, Is it Me You're Looking For?</h3>While I don't have a singing voice anywhere near Lionel Richie's, I do know Ocean Freight and Tech. So if you want to talk ocean freight, logistics technology, digitization of freight, or have any questions on Cogoport, then it is me you're looking for.

Cogoport in the News: Increased International Media Attention

In early December 2018, RBO received a grant from Innovative (MIT) subsidy from Province South-Holland to make this a universal Certified Food Tech &amp; Logistics platform.Royal Blue &amp; Orange International Trading (RBO Trading) has been working on a Certified Food Tech &amp; Logistics platform, ’From Farm to Fork’ solution around the world with specific tests, giving every farmer a chance to participate in growing their economy. They are excited to support the food industry and make the supply chain more transparent.RBO Trading has collaborated with Milvum and Cogoport in efforts to combine their knowledge and expertise to make a bigger impact. Cogoport is a digital freight moving platform which enables businesses to increase their presence by making shipment of goods across the globe a much simpler task.&nbsp;Sukai Ceesay, CEO of Royal Blue and Orange International Trading B.V. (RBO), in a discussion with Cogoport, talked about her business’s recent involvement with us. She is happy to have worked with us and shares how Cogoport made it easier for her to expand her business reach globally. Know what she shares about the grant, Cogoport and how it helped her expand&nbsp;-Tell us about your business?A:&nbsp;Royal Blue &amp; Orange International Trading B.V. (RBO Trading) is a certified ethical, social and circular economy product and equipment sourcing solutions in the Quick Service (fast food) Industry. RBO Trading is a globally approved supplier and in the vendor list of Domino’s Pizza International and other multinational and local food companies. RBO Trading also manufactures proprietary products for companies using social, environmental and circular economy ingredients/solutions. How has Cogoport helped your business and what problems does Cogoport help solve?A: RBO Trading is hoping to have Cogoport participate on our platform as a logistics solution for our customers who need it. How well does Cogoport meet your business needs?A: I reached out to Cogoport for the simple fact that they are not geared towards the Fortune 500’s. Its logistics solution is practical for the small and medium enterprises who need practical and cost-effective logistics. I am a believer that when you help the small and medium businesses, you will indirectly help the big companies. Having digital transaction receipts and transparent quotes and billing make Cogoport a solution for our times. Looking forward to working with this team…What two features of Cogoport are most valuable to you?A: I would have to say, the transparency of billing and reliability of quotes.How likely are you to recommend Cogoport to your colleagues?A: Highly likely! Otherwise, I will not be doing business with you :))

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