Maersk accelerates innovation in Shipping & Logistics

Launches India-focused OceanPro to support start-ups working on supply chain solutions

Seven external start-ups and one internal start-up identified for collaboration to create solutions that serve customers and manage operations better, leveraging Blockchain, Internet of Things, Advance Text Analytics and Artificial Intelligence

Mumbai, India, October 09, 2018 – With an aim to further accelerate its global digital transformation, Maersk today launched OceanPro, an intensive 120-day accelerator program 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 recognize the immense potential of India’s technology and digital talent and are looking to capitalize on these capabilities to help the logistics industry worldwide, to reinvent itself,” says 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,” Søren adds.

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 startup ecosystem in India and are keen to contribute back to it. The OceanPro program 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” explains 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 USD 1.3 million. 98% 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,” says Søren.

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 startup ecosystem. Additionally, Maersk has established a collaboration with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), sponsoring two fellows for Masters in Technology with the aim to promote research and exchange of ideas in developing industry leading digital solutions.