How can container shipping companies remain competitive in the global market?

Optimize Fuel Efficiency: Invest in fuel-efficient technologies, such as advanced engine management systems, improved hull designs, and propulsion systems. Regular maintenance and hull cleaning can also contribute to fuel savings. Efficient Route Planning: Utilize advanced route planning software and algorithms to optimize shipping routes and schedules. This can help minimize fuel consumption, reduce transit times, and enhance overall operational efficiency. Invest in Automation: Explore automation technologies for routine tasks such as cargo handling, loading, and unloading. Automation can lead to reduced labor costs and increased operational efficiency.

Invest in Eco-Friendly Technologies: Transitioning to eco-friendly technologies, such as low-emission engines, alternative fuels, and energy-efficient propulsion systems, can enhance sustainability and reduce the environmental impact of shipping operations. Adopt Green Practices in Operations: Implement environmentally friendly practices, such as waste reduction, recycling, and the use of eco-friendly materials in packaging. Emphasize sustainability in the day-to-day operations to meet growing environmental regulations and customer expectations. Explore Electrification and Alternative Fuels: Investigate the feasibility of electrification and alternative fuels, such as hydrogen or biofuels, to power vessels.

The first Ocean Carrier that comes to market focused on "Ease of Doing Business" will be the one that comes out on top. eBusiness platforms with all the bells and whistles are great, but logistics is 99% problem solving, which as of today is still done by humans. Ocean Carriers cannot buy their way out of customer frustration with seemingly sophisticated digital tools. They must be willing to roll up their sleeves and make drastic changes, which include primarily two things. ONE - abandoning legacy processes and retooling them from the ground up, centered around the consideration of what the customer might be trying to achieve when contacting them. TWO - empowering the agents to make actual decisions in real time to solve the problem.

For a reason or another, perhaps because they know too well what’s what, container carriers don’t seem to be doing too bad these days and throwing out there idea one and idea two won’t change anything. And since this is a 100% price driven business, all else matters less.

Without a very high educated human capital all the digital transformation, building environment friendly ships, containers will not add up so the shipping companies can be more efficient. I can see every day that is you do not offer your client a qualified personnel that can help solve problems, the client will go elsewhere. It is not a good experience to talk to a bot or get wrong/bad/late answers. And this is what we get from most shipping companies these days.