Maersk has selected Microsoft as the cloud partner for its digital transformation to revolutionize supply-chain management and launch its own app store.
The digital platform will be powered by Microsoft Azure to turn operational and commercial data into software solutions powered by advanced analytics for Maersk’s Transport & Logistics division and its customers.
The next app to be launched is a digital app for Customs House Brokerage as the preparation of documents to clear goods is an increasingly important part of the supply chain.
It will combine big data from both internal and external sources, which increases the capability for analytics including exception management and predictive analytics.
Ibrahim Gokcen, Chief Digital Officer, Maersk, said: “Our aim is to simplify and enhance visibility in supply chains by providing a seamless end-to-end digital experience for our customers.
“Microsoft Azure is the cornerstone in our digital strategy, providing one common platform shared by all our transport and logistics businesses.
“On Azure, we are also creating a marketplace of apps and digital products that improve operations and drive better business decisions.”
Maersk estimates that the power of data will help save tens of millions of dollars to the bottom line annually as it will make efficiencies in areas such as its connected vessel fleet, which transmits 30 TB of data over satellite link every month.
Judson Althoff, Executive Vice President, Worldwide Commercial Business, Microsoft, said: “The future of Maersk is very exciting. As a forward-thinking company, it is digitally transforming its massive logistics network to bring even greater value to its customers.
“We are tremendously honored that Maersk has selected Microsoft as its preferred cloud partner for its most critical systems and applications.”
Maersk will also use Microsoft technologies and advanced analytics to integrate container logistics across the value chain to provide reliable, efficient services by increasing the performance of its assets.
The partnership will improve the ability to anticipate and react to delays in manufacturing, bad weather, terminal bottlenecks and other incidents which routinely cause disruptions to global supply chains.
Maersk is the largest transport and logistics company in the world with offices in 130 countries and a fleet of more than 1,000 vessels.
The company’s container carrier, Maersk Line, sails in all major trade lanes, transporting more than 17 million containers annually, and its terminal operating unit, APM Terminals, is operating in more than 70 ports worldwide.
Gokcen added: “Eventually Maersk’s vessels and containers and other assets will be generating terabytes of data on operations and activities in real time, and machines and people will be talking to each other, learning things about our operations and our customers that we can’t even imagine now — and they’ll be available as products, for download.”
Watch the video below to find out more about Maersk’s Transport & Logistics division: