Now that the ocean carriers of more than half of the world’s containerized freight are set to join TradeLens, we wanted to hear what shippers think about the platform’s growth.

We wanted to know how they expect to benefit from tighter integration with large and small ocean carriers alike? How will faster access to more ocean carrier data (and data from their partners) impact their supply chain? And how will this new dynamic enable them to move goods to their customers with more ease or speed?

We asked, and we received. Here is what we found.

For organizations looking to realize the full collaborative potential of their supply chains, digitization is the next logical step. Building a digitized supply chain helps remove barriers, builds trust, and simplifies processes. And with more ocean carriers on TradeLens and the number of other ecosystem members growing, improved digitization is an opportunity for organizations to improve and reinvent themselves.  

We asked Michelle Eggers of P&G for her take on the news that MSC and CMA CGM had agreed to join TradeLens; this is what she had to say:

Whether filled with our products or the materials used in production, understanding the status of our containers helps us manage an efficient supply chain. We have been testing TradeLens and see potential as the solution scales. We look forward to industry-wide adoption to benefit all members.

Michelle Eggers, Director Global Logistics Purchases, P&G

For shippers, getting their global supply chain—including large carriers—onto a single, trusted platform creates efficiency, but also provides accurate data for tracking and improvement. Companies on TradeLens acknowledge that their data consumption will grow as more carriers join.

We asked Marek Hochman of ABInBev what efficient and fast access to carrier data on a single platform might mean, no matter the carrier, and he had this to say:

We live in data! We are a data-driven company, so we are expecting big improvements in our internal and external KPI tracking. Having a trusted and accurate single data set shared across all international trade partners can help us big time in tracking and improving our results.

Marek Hochman, Project Stream Lead, ABInBev

It’s not just about carrier growth. It’s important to note that the success of TradeLens for the platform’s members doesn’t rely only on ocean carriers; it is equally about other members of the ecosystem collaborating and growing together. True success can only be achieved if a platform extends to connect others as well. More connected digital ecosystems reduce costs of current operations and help improve speed to market.

We asked Kiyomi Yamada at Toyota Tsusho Corporation, the primary trading arm of the Toyota Group, about what he sees as the benefits of more carriers and their partners increasingly leveraging TradeLens to share data amongst themselves and with their customers. He said:

Sharing the same platform with other companies for our entire group’s operations, we will contribute to the creation of a trade environment with open, quick and low-cost transactions.

Kiyomi Yamada, IT Digital Transformation Promotion Group General Manager, Toyota Tsusho Corporation

He continued, “In supply chain management and upgrading of procurement functions, I feel great value in providing an environment where cargo movements can be visualized in a single window and its data can be used.”

TradeLens is relentlessly focused on creating value for all in the containerized fright supply chain but especially for the owners of the world’s cargo. As the TradeLens ecosystem grows, so too do the benefits of those who participate. We’ll check in with shippers again in the months ahead, so check back and follow the latest.

For more on the news of recent carrier adoption read; Hapag-Lloyd and Ocean Network Express Join TradeLens and CMA CGM and MSC and Join TradeLens.

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