While shipping has traditionally been a low-tech industry, that’s changing fast. In some Far East ports, AI now runs the show. On key global routes, robotics and predictive scheduling are already trimming delays.
So what about your vendors?
In a market where prices are hardening and geopolitics keep disrupting supply lines, the smartest ship suppliers aren’t just reacting — they’re forecasting.
They’re using quote and order data to anticipate what you’ll need next, pre-stock it near your ports of call, and bring prices down before urgency hits.
But here’s the catch:
AI can’t forecast what it can’t see.
If you’re still splitting your orders across multiple suppliers, no amount of tech will unlock those savings. Even the smartest vendor needs 12 months of consistent data to learn your patterns, stock the right items, and reduce your costs.
So yes — tech matters. But loyalty matters more.
If your chandler has a loyalty scheme designed to reward consistency and drive long-term value, it’s worth a second look.
That’s how you go from paying to firefight, to saving through foresight.
