Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) has announced that it will develop a cloud-based next-generation IT system under the tentative name “New-GAUS 2020” in 2020.
“New-GAUS 2020” is a shipping and logistics system to be independently developed by HMM and is a project that increases efficiency and convenience by rebuilding the existing “GAUS” (Global Advanced & Unified System) as a cloud-based IT system. To this end, HMM will sign a main contract with Oracle and start developing it in earnest, said a release.
“New-GAUS 2020” is a proprietary IT system that manages all of HMM’s information, such as vessel-related information, including sailing information, and contracts and reservation management, as well as information related to personnel, management and operations.
HMM and Oracle plan to establish a cloud environment to support its container and bulk business and will gradually implement the conversion of all of the company’s applications and data, including shipping and logistics systems, into a cloud-based system.
HMM anticipates that the next generation system will be cost-effective compared to its existing on-premise server system by building it on a cloud-based system. It also announced that by establishing and installing multiple global data centres at home and abroad, it will be possible to provide uninterrupted service in any disaster situation, and customers worldwide and users of internal systems will experience faster and more stable IT service.
Its process innovation, which proceeds concurrently with the system development, aims to satisfy its “low-cost and high-efficiency customer service” ethic while aiming for a global standard in line with the changing trends of the global shipping industry, thereby strengthening HMM’s position as an IT frontier shipping company in the highly competitive global shipping industry.
While upgrading to complement and improve the shortcomings of existing business processes and systems, the company also plans to accelerate the establishment of a foundation for the introduction of new IT technologies related to the 4th industrial revolution. HMM will apply new technologies related to the 4th industrial revolution in the future, including Blockchain, IoT, big data and AI, to the shipping industry as it converts to a cloud-based system so that it will be able to provide more efficient service and increase the stability of its operation. To this end, the company is actively discussing data standardisation by participating in Blockchain pilot projects led by other global shipping companies and the government.
An official from HMM said, “If the trend of large-scale vessels is a big physical change in the global shipping industry, digitalisation is an important issue in terms of software, that has a great impact on change. Having IT capacity to quickly catch up with this trend will determine the leader of the shipping industry in the future.” He also emphasised, “The development of this next generation system is a good opportunity in terms of timing for HMM to become a leading shipping company in digitising the shipping industry.”
HMM has been working on design since July of last year, and is planning to finish the development by the second half of next year through its own development method, and to open its system to internal and external customers.
