In our increasingly digital world, it can be difficult to tell what software, automation, AI and other digital technologies are genuinely helpful to a business and your clients, and which are best avoided.
At EES Shipping, we pride ourselves on giving things a go, and this includes trying and testing certain software and technology, so we can say with certainty when something is helpful.
Trust us when we say not everything makes the cut.
However, a piece of software that has integrated into our business so seamlessly that we can no longer remember a time when we didn’t have it, is the one we lovingly named after a movie star.
Enter, Hugh Trackman.
Clearly not his real name, Hugh Trackman is a piece of software that allows us – and clients – to track shipments down to the latest events, check the customs status, cargo details and view relevant documentation and invoices.
For the hard-core information nerds among us, it also provides data analytics and insights.
But why is all of that so important?
Because in our industry we know that information can often equal time and/or money.
Being able to track a shipment offers much greater oversight for a client so they can plan accordingly. You no longer have to guess where a shipment *might* or *should* be at any given time, you know where it is, how long it’s been there for, and where it’s going to next.
It also allows clients to potentially minimise any hold ups and delays, because all the information is in one place and you have visibility on where any issues might arise.
Know that your shipment has arrived in port but you still don’t have it? You can check the custom status. Not sure of a specific detail? The documentation is available to check.
The data created also allows for information-based decisions to be made. Rather than making an educated guess based on current market conditions, decisions can be made based on real-time information, potentially saving time and money.
While shipping is a truly global industry, challenges still remain around language, differing documentation requirements and standards, and the different pace at which digitisation is being adopted in various countries.
Hugh Trackman overcomes many of those challenges by creating a centralised space to place all the information relating to a particular shipment, offering greater oversight across every transport mode.
It’s efficient, accessible and we’re not overstating it when we say it’s been a game-changing tool for our business and clients.
