Author picture

Michael White

Think about it. Leaders and innovators make their mark on the world by thinking differently from their peers and predecessors. Perhaps that’s why Albert Einstein observed, “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”

This need for fresh thinking challenges the leadership in global ocean shipping companies. There’s a lot riding on our collective ability to continuously develop innovative and sustainable ways to strengthen our businesses and the industry as a whole. Global shipping is a fundamental component of the global economy. With today’s global economic challenges — such as rising fuel costs, market volatility, and economic uncertainty — we can’t conduct business as usual. We need to explore new ways to improve productivity and profitability so we can help optimize our customers’ supply chains and achieve measureable gains.

New thinking can enable us to simplify processes and boost efficiencies for all supply chain partners. For example, adopting new technologies and e-business tools can help save time and may reduce overhead expense associated with ocean freight transactions. Through the effective use of electronic data and processes, we can streamline the way we conduct business to improve performance and customer service. We can also think about new ways to optimize global supply chains to enhance on-time delivery. Reliable delivery can help customers cut waste in their supply chain, reduce standing inventory and storage costs, and plan and forecast more accurately for a better bottom line.

Another critical area in need of innovation is environmental sustainability. By reducing the environmental impact of our operations, we can make great strides toward energy efficiency, emission reduction, and building more environmentally friendly ships.

Our future depends on thinking of new ways to increase efficiencies, streamline processes, and improve customer satisfaction. That’s some food for thought.