They are much needed: maritime digitalization hacks. The reason for this is that in the maritime sector, a lot of document control software is being replaced in a try to turn projects and processes into profitable successes. In spite of these replacements, mistakes during projects are still made and new document control software is often disappointing. In this article, we focus on why exactly these mistakes keep happening. To make sure you choose the right software to improve processes in your maritime company, we will give you three valuable hacks that will help you make the right choice avoiding all these pitfalls. And which support your maritime innovation.
What do you want to solve with maritime digitalization?
Document control systems are widely used in the maritime sector. For many reasons, like bad performance, people start to look for new document control systems. There are plenty of new systems to choose from but what do you want to solve with the new system? If you are looking to innovate and improve, don’t go for the package which is simply replacing what you already do. First, rethink your information strategy.
To innovate you have to define an information strategy
Successful maritime digitalization can only be achieved by visualizing your future position and innovate from a planned perspective.
Before you take such a huge step as implementing new software in your maritime company, it is advisable to first create a vision of maritime digital transformation. This means that you first have to decide what you want to achieve with your digital solution. Then you convert that into a strategy with action points and after that you look at which software solution fits your vision and strategy best.
It is advisable to involve a consultant who knows both the maritime sector and the IT solutions inside out to help you with a smooth transition in maritime digitalization, such as Shipbuilder Knowledge Partner. You’ll find here a 3-Step Maritime Digital Transformation Strategy.
Below you find three digitalization hacks that will immediately help you successfully digitalize your maritime projects and maritime processes.
Hack #1: Document = History.
First of all: Document = History. Working with (printed or digital) documents is a thing of the past and should stay there. After training, maritime companies often discover that documents never can contribute to the opportunities new IT technology is offering. Documents are so complex that humans nor computers can understand them in a proper, required way. We all know examples of projects that went wrong because the ship was built with outdated documents. This will not change if you continue to run your projects based on documents. OK, some documents will remain, but only as a report from something else. Let us introduce: data-driven operations as a successful strategy in your maritime digitalization.
Hack #2: Data = King
Real maritime innovation starts with data-driven operations. Which means that you manage your maritime project data in a data management system. This gives you the great opportunity to create new, much better processes which would be impossible in a document driven structure. In a data-driven system like Shipbuilder it is even better, the structure of a ship is leading. If you are looking for information, you no longer have to spend hours going through documents. You can easily navigate through your projects because the menus are based on the ship configuration. Think Digital Twin. Go for a proper maritime data management tool to enable a new way of working, save time and frustrations and increase your competitiveness.
Hack #3: Choose Maritime Sector Specific Software
When it comes to choosing which data management software is best for your maritime company, you should look for specific software for the maritime sector. Look for software that is specifically made to support maritime projects and even better look for software that supports the life cycle of a ship. Thus from tender, design, engineering and construction phase to operations, delivery and midlife upgrade phases.
Last but not least, our most valuable maritime digitalization hack. It’s simple but crucial for developments in the future. Look for a scalable software tool that supports all your digitalization steps. If you are looking for a flexible, user-friendly, fully maritime minded and scalable option for maritime digitalization, you are looking for Shipbuilder Software.
With half our staff being maritime experts and the other half IT experts, we offer over 30 years of maritime IT experience as your maritime IT knowledge partner. Start digitalizing today and let us help you to get the most out of your maritime projects. Start today with our 3 maritime digitalization hacks.
As published on:
The Maritime Executive
Netherlands Maritime Technology
Maritime Professional
