INTTRA: Enabling Collaboration Across Container Shipping

INTTRA, a neutral network, software and information provider for the ocean shipping industry, hosted a Technology Summit in Hamburg, Germany to address the need for collaboration across container shipping to help advance the ocean freight industry’s digital transformation.

"INTTRA is well positioned to drive the collaborative effort required to address industry challenges such as a contracted rates management network and data interoperability, as well as landside equipment optimization through Avantida," said INTTRA CEO John Fay. "It is clear, based on the feedback from our attendees and the momentum in our business, that the industry has moved over the digitalization tipping point. This is the year of moving from innovation to action."

More than 130 senior shipping executives attended the summit, which focused on innovation to action. More than half of the attendees were C level or SVPs, with 38 percent representing shippers and BCOs, 35 percent technology companies and 27 percent carriers.

A highlight of the event was the unveiling of a customer survey sent to Tech Summit attendees to understand their business challenges and appetite for digital transformation. Key takeaways include:

IT innovation initiatives currently underway:*

• 82 percent of responders said process automation and digitalization
• 53 percent are focused on blockchain
• 51 percent are working to improve reporting and analytics

Biggest container shipping challenges for BCOs and Freight Forwarders:*

• •50 percent said managing demurrage and detention
• 43 percent said in-transit visibility
• 40 percent said managing rates and rate changes
• 40 percent said managing bill of lading and other shipping docs

Biggest container shipping challenges for carriers:*

• 46 percent said data sharing across the supply chain
• 31 percent said overcapacity on trade routes
• 31 percent said reporting and analytics
• 31 percent said no shows

What are the biggest challenges you face turning innovation to action?*

• 45 percent responded lack of IT resources in-house
• 42 percent responded lack of prioritization
• 40 percent said lack of budget

*Percentages do not total 100 percent as participants were given the opportunity to select more than one answer.

"INTTRA can help address the needs discussed at our Technology Summit and highlighted in our survey," said Inna Kuznetsova, President and COO, INTTRA. "By listening to our industry, we can design products that elevate key issues for customers. A great example is an automated management of contracted rates that we are starting to pilot as a way to tackle a difficult challenge highlighted during the summit.

"Many customers name data sharing across the industry as another challenge," Kuznetsova added. "As supply chains get digitalized, new opportunities to connect various sources create a foundation for better visibility and optimization. Our advances in network services, including API-enabled connections, help our customers to accelerate the digital transformation and overcome hurdles."