Launches India-focused OceanPro to support start-ups working on supply chain solutions
With an aim to further accelerate its global digital transformation, Maersk has launched OceanPro, an intensive 120-day accelerator programme offering start-ups the opportunity to partner with Maersk to bring innovative technology solutions to ease the global supply chain for customers. Pioneered in India, OceanPro complements Maersk’s innovation efforts worldwide.
“We recognise the immense potential of India’s technology and digital talent and are looking to capitalise on these capabilities to help the logistics industry worldwide to reinvent itself,” said Mr Søren Skou, CEO, A. P. Moller-Maersk, during his visit to Maersk’s Global Service Centres in Bangalore this week.
“With Maersk leading the technological transformation of the shipping and logistics industry which has traditionally been driven by manual processes, OceanPro is yet another effort by us to promote the creation of innovative solutions that meet evolving business needs,” Mr Skou said.
Maersk has already identified eight start-ups, namely, Unido Labs, La Vela Pictures, Zasti, Inatrix, MintM, LinkedDots, KrypC and Dhruv, to collaborate with to develop solutions for better customer engagement and operations management, leveraging Blockchain, Internet of Things, Advance Text Analytics and Artificial Intelligence. Each of these collaborations is aimed at jointly creating solutions that help mine hidden insights in the end-to-end logistics business and infuse agility into Maersk’s supply chain
“We are excited to tap the thriving start-up ecosystem in India and are keen to contribute back to it. The OceanPro programme as well as our investment in the Bangalore-based Maersk Technology Center, that opened in 2017, are testament to Maersk’s commitment to leveraging technology and innovation to accelerate its overall transformation in becoming the global integrator of container logistics,” said Mr Navneet Kapoor, Chief Transformation Officer, A.P. Moller-Maersk.
Maersk.com is currently among the world’s largest B2B transaction sites with an average hourly revenue of $ 1.3 million. 98 per cent of Maersk’s 60,000 customers make their bookings through this site which is fast evolving into a one-stop-shop for digital solutions.
“We still have a long way to go before we reach our goal, but Maersk has the will and the scale needed to drive this transformation within the company, as well as in the industry,” stressed Mr Skou.
Based in India’s tech capital, the OceanPro team in Bangalore will also focus on building partnerships with other accelerators, universities, venture capital partners and the broader start-up ecosystem. Additionally, Maersk has established a collaboration with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), sponsoring two fellows for Masters in Technology with the aim of promoting research and exchange of ideas in developing industry leading digital solutions.
