Voyage Tracker Software & Voyage Management | Q88 VMS Archives https://corp.q88.com/category/q88-vms-voyage-management-system-and-vessel-tracker/ Mon, 14 Nov 2022 14:12:32 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.3.2 8 Things You’ll Love About Q88 VMS https://corp.q88.com/q88-vms-voyage-management-system-and-vessel-tracker/8-things-youll-love-about-q88-vms/ https://corp.q88.com/q88-vms-voyage-management-system-and-vessel-tracker/8-things-youll-love-about-q88-vms/#respond Mon, 14 Nov 2022 14:12:30 +0000 https://corp.q88.com/?p=1934 So, you’ve decided it’s time to say goodbye to that legacy system and embrace a modern, capable commercial voyage management system (VMS). Maybe you’ve even assigned a timeline to the project, defined technical requirements, and engaged your key stakeholders. Before you enter into a formal evaluation, ask yourself, ‘Is one of my selection criteria loving...

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So, you’ve decided it’s time to say goodbye to that legacy system and embrace a modern, capable commercial voyage management system (VMS). Maybe you’ve even assigned a timeline to the project, defined technical requirements, and engaged your key stakeholders. Before you enter into a formal evaluation, ask yourself, ‘Is one of my selection criteria loving my VMS?’  

If you’re telling yourself, ‘it’s simply not possible to love a VMS solution’, read on and allow us to change your perspective. Because Q88 VMS was made to simplify and improve the lives of maritime shipping stakeholders with attributes and capabilities they not only like… but love.  

Read on to discover some of the things we love most about Q88 VMS, and we think you will too.  

1. It has a user-centered interface for frictionless adoption. 

Voyage management systems are only as useful as they are usable, and lengthy user onboarding and training processes can often make ROI feel like a distant aspiration. Because Q88 VMS is built around the user, it feels natural and is exceptionally easy to use. Each feature and capability has been critically evaluated for its ability to 1) add value and 2) make each task easier than it was before. No steep learning curve, no layers of complexity—just your key stakeholders, free to do what they do best.  

2. It is cloud-based for anytime, anywhere access. 

The success of any voyage is dependent on seamless communication and collaboration across numerous stakeholders—often in remote locations or distant corners of the world. Made for the cloud from day one, Q88 VMS enables stakeholders to access key information when and where they need it most. Users can seamlessly share timely and accurate information with one another in a single, connected workspace. Outside of the business, key partners can be securely brought into the loop with read-only permissions—which can be easily changed and managed without developer intervention.  

3. It enables you to bring emissions into voyage decisions.  

Sustainability is top-of-mind for the entire maritime shipping industry, but it can be difficult to determine where it fits into your daily decisions. Q88 brings emissions-related decision support into the chartering and operations functions, enabling stakeholders to understand the environmental impact of key voyage decisions. This transforms sustainability from an elusive industry priority into a tangible business reality.  

4. It lets you manage your data in your way. 

Every organization has its own specific requirements and preferences around data, reporting, and alerts. Embracing a VMS that has a rigid way of presenting data can actually distance your stakeholders from the information they need, complicating your workflow instead of simplifying it. Q88 Grids make it easy to rapidly configure your view to your way of working—prioritizing the data that means the most to your business. Adjust the way you view your data as your business evolves; no costly development work needed.    

5. It delivers insight into competitor positions. 

Market information is integral to making strong, competitive decisions. But you shouldn’t have to leave your VMS to access the market insights you desire. Q88 VMS brings in AIS data, enabling you to gain targeted visibility into your own open positions and those of your competitors. Plus, Q88 VMS integrates seamlessly with other data solutions, including Veson’s very own Oceanbolt, for higher integrity market intelligence.  

6. It provides a cargo-centric perspective on voyage data. 

For organizations involved in commercial trade, cargo-centric visibility into data is very important, but can be difficult to achieve in a traditional VMS that exclusively caters to owner-operators. The Cargo Centric module within Q88 VMS enables commodity traders and tonnage charterers to easily track important cargo and financial data and update voyage details from a centralized workspace. This supports greater alignment between counterparties throughout the voyage lifecycle.   

7. It works the way you do, and not the other way around.   

Some of the fear factor associated with adopting a new VMS is due to a natural reluctance to change internal processes—particularly when those processes are working. Made to work the way you do (and not the other way around), Q88 VMS empowers you to enhance your existing workflows through technology without re-engineering them. This same principle applies to Q88’s data standardization approach, which has zero forced data entry. Using Lighthouse, business leaders can enforce data standards and quickly address missing information after the fact without slowing down their core workflow by requiring users to chase down missing information in the moment.  

8. It integrates with the solutions your organization depends on.  

Many technology solutions can be critical to the success of a voyage, including accounting systems. Q88 VMS enables organizations to quickly integrate with their core internal systems through both flexible APIs and out-of-the-box integrations with a variety of leading industry solutions. This enables organizations to achieve greater continuity, avoid duplicate data entry, eliminate costly errors, and establish a single source of truth throughout their maritime shipping business.  

What will you love about Q88 VMS? 

As a user-friendly solution built to simplify commercial voyage management workflows, Q88 VMS infuses maritime shipping businesses with new automation, information, efficiency, and connectivity. With utility-first capabilities designed to make it easy for stakeholders to achieve their goals, Q88 VMS is the perfect choice for wet and dry bulk owner-operators that are ready to make the leap to a VMS that is worthy of their love.   

If you’re still not convinced that you can love a VMS, hopefully you are confident that you can love what it does for you and your business. Book a free demo to see what Q88 VMS can do for you.  

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It’s Time: Key Signals You Need a Commercial Voyage Management System https://corp.q88.com/q88-vms-voyage-management-system-and-vessel-tracker/its-time-key-signals-you-need-a-commercial-voyage-management-system/ https://corp.q88.com/q88-vms-voyage-management-system-and-vessel-tracker/its-time-key-signals-you-need-a-commercial-voyage-management-system/#respond Fri, 14 Oct 2022 20:45:05 +0000 https://corp.q88.com/?p=1887 The decision to adopt a commercial voyage management system is one of the most important decisions a modern maritime shipping organization can make. Amid widespread digitalization, increasingly complex contracts, heightened market volatility, shrinking margins, nuanced environmental considerations, and a multifaceted deal chain, it’s not surprising the majority of maritime shipping organizations have abandoned homegrown or...

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The decision to adopt a commercial voyage management system is one of the most important decisions a modern maritime shipping organization can make. Amid widespread digitalization, increasingly complex contracts, heightened market volatility, shrinking margins, nuanced environmental considerations, and a multifaceted deal chain, it’s not surprising the majority of maritime shipping organizations have abandoned homegrown or legacy solutions in favor of more agile digital solutions to support their voyage workflows.  

And yet, digital adoption is not universal. Whether you’re an upstart that is starting to feel the growing pains or a tenured organization with a long legacy of success, if you haven’t yet made the leap to a VMS, you’re not alone.  

But how do you know when your organization really needs a VMS? Read on for seven important signals that indicate it may be time for your organization to adopt a capable, digital VMS.   

1. You’re minding internal knowledge gaps more than you’d like.  

As the maritime industry becomes more regulated and your organization becomes more complex, the success of a voyage is dependent upon an increasing number of systems and stakeholders. Without a tightly integrated, accessible solution, organizations can face critical gaps in knowledge that slow things down and cost them money. If you’re finding your chartering team increasingly disconnected from ops, or your accounting team unaware of important voyage P&L data, it’s probably time.  

A proper VMS will integrate seamlessly with your core internal solutions, including accounting systems, to serve as a single source of truth for voyage information. In addition, a cloud-hosted solution provides the accessibility stakeholders require to ensure alignment and access the same, up-to-date information.  

2. Manual data entry is weighing your team down.  

The maritime shipping industry has long relied on manual processes for chartering and voyage operations, impeding efficiency, weighing down team satisfaction, and leaving ample room for oversights. Manual entry comes with its fair share of issues, one of which is the pervasive lack of standardization that makes meaningful analysis challenging if not impossible. Is your team spending a disproportionate amount of time entering the same data, again and again? Do you find that your data is inaccurate, incomplete, and unstandardized? That’s signal number two.  

By adopting a proper VMS, organizations can bring new automation to the voyage management workflow, freeing up busy stakeholders’ time for the most valuable tasks. Instead of juggling hundreds of emails and manual data entry, maritime shipping stakeholders can access the information they need, where and when they need it, in one, connected system. The result? Faster workflows, better information, happier stakeholders, less error… the list goes on.  

3. Your business is growing.  

While a VMS can deliver significant advantages to organizations with just one vessel, its importance only heightens as a business grows. Every voyage workflow has a variety of complex variables that must be carefully managed, from contract details, to claims, bunker costs, and more. This becomes even more challenging as more and more voyages are chartered. If you started with a single vessel and have added one or two more, you’re probably feeling the (growing) pains. For organizations with a few commercial vessels, the shortcomings of spreadsheet-based systems are all too real.  

Fortunately, a proper VMS delivers the automation and integration needed to optimize each voyage’s performance at scale. With full visibility into every voyage—past and present—a VMS enables the organization to learn from historical performance, enhances connectivity between chartering and operations, replicates best practices, and provides a complete view of the business as it grows.  

4. You’re finding inaccuracies in your P&L.  

The P&L is a key indicator of voyage performance, and it has become especially important as the costs of key voyage inputs continue to rise. When relying largely on manual processes or legacy systems, organizations tend to face frequent inaccuracies that prevent a full understanding of performance and inhibit their ability to optimize decisions. Have you found several errors that negatively affected your profitability, or gave you a false sense of performance? It doesn’t have to happen.  

With a proper VMS, organizations can maintain a timely and accurate view of P&L at all times to enhance decision making during and after the voyage. As noon reports are received, the organization can immediately assess P&L impact, enabling them to prioritize voyage profitability and enhance their overall commercial success. 

5. You’re disconnected from what’s happening in the market.  

The bulk commodities markets and, by extension, commercial freight markets, are highly volatile and unpredictable at times. Maritime shipping organizations must have a continual awareness of fluctuations in the market at large as these shifts have a significant impact on contract prices and profitability. Do you find yourself relying on guesswork and gut instinct when looking for market context? If so, you’re seeing signal number five. 

One of the primary advantages of the VMS is its ability to provide insight into market realities, including AIS data and information that can be used for competitive benchmarking. Ultimately, market context yields better decisions, and better decisions yield competitive advantage.  

6. You’re not sure where sustainability fits.  

What greater impetus to adopt a VMS than the ability to understand the environmental impact of each and every voyage? As the regulatory landscape continues to intensify and carbon accounting comes into focus, emissions-based decision making has emerged as a critical success factor for maritime shipping organizations of all shapes and sizes. Does your existing system consider emissions in your chartering and operational decisions? If the answer is no, the transition to a better VMS is inevitable.  

A proper VMS can couple commercial decision support with environmental decision support, which must be present at all parts of the voyage—from chartering to route optimization, ongoing voyage operations, and more. Emissions reporting sheds light on environmental impact over time, and enables maritime shipping organizations to prioritize emissions reduction in their long-term strategies.   

7. You find yourself looking for metrics you don’t have.  

Commercial maritime shipping generates a wealth of data—up to 120 million unique data points each day. This data is key to decision making, providing insights around emissions, costs, competitor positions, and much more. But without a way to access this information in a usable format, many organizations fail to realize the full potential of their data. Even if you can calculate your business’s KPIs, getting at them might feel like performing surgery using your existing macro-based systems. For today’s maritime shipping organizations, data-driven decision support is a key source of competitive advantage. If you don’t have the insight you need, chances are it’s time for a change.  

A proper VMS centralizes and standardizes critical voyage and market data, providing maritime organizations visibility into key metrics at all times. These data can be used by stakeholders throughout the organization to make more informed decisions, optimize operations, shape market-leading strategies, and maximize success.  

Complex workflows, made simple with Q88 VMS 

If you’re seeing any of these signals in your organization today, it might be time to start thinking about a voyage management system. It’s important to note that the switch to a VMS doesn’t have to be intimidating or hard. It doesn’t have to re-engineer your existing workflows. And it doesn’t have to disrupt your operations.  

 Q88 VMS provides comprehensive tools for complex voyage management workflows, with timely and accurate visibility into voyage performance, custom alerts, robust integration capabilities, and more. In addition, Q88 fast-tracks your path to an effective voyage management system with quick implementation, minimal training, and an intuitive, cloud-based interface so that your organization can begin to realize the value of your VMS investment as quickly as possible.  

Are all signs pointing to Q88 VMS? Request a demo to learn what makes us the best choice for your business.  

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Digitalization as an enabler for decarbonization https://corp.q88.com/q88-vms-voyage-management-system-and-vessel-tracker/digitalization-as-an-enabler-for-decarbonization/ https://corp.q88.com/q88-vms-voyage-management-system-and-vessel-tracker/digitalization-as-an-enabler-for-decarbonization/#respond Mon, 16 May 2022 09:30:11 +0000 https://corp.q88.com/?p=1737 With worldwide efforts towards achieving a zero-emission economy intensifying, the international maritime industry is undertaking its own sustainability efforts set out by its regulator, the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The industry’s goal is to reduce its total annual GHG emissions by at least 50% by 2050 compared to 2008, and to reduce CO2 emissions per...

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With worldwide efforts towards achieving a zero-emission economy intensifying, the international maritime industry is undertaking its own sustainability efforts set out by its regulator, the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The industry’s goal is to reduce its total annual GHG emissions by at least 50% by 2050 compared to 2008, and to reduce CO2 emissions per transport work, as an average across international shipping, by at least 40% by 2030, and towards 70% by 2050, again compared to 2008 levels. These are tough targets for a colossal industry that moves 90% of the world’s goods.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “[shipping] transportations’ Greenhouse Gas Emission contribution is negligible when compared to other economic sectors”. However, a research article published by Taylor & Francis Group, part of the Academic Publishing Division of Informa PLC, suggests otherwise, highlighting the fact that seaborne trade has in fact quadrupled in size over the last four decades, and the fuel demand of ships increased by over 1% each year between 2000 and 2015.

Although no single “silver bullet” method exists for reducing GHGs from maritime transport, the industry does have multiple avenues to consider in the quest for decarbonization, with many tried and tested technologies to adopt and operational strategies to deploy.

While decarbonization sits high on the agenda for most vessel operators, the industry is also undergoing digital transformation. The maritime industry is known to lag behind other economic sectors when it comes to digitalization, it is a very traditional industry after all. According to a survey conducted by Informa Engage, two-thirds of the industry has begun to use digital technology in their business.

Many see decarbonization and digitalization as very separate entities and two separate challenges.  However, digitalization is a key enabler for decarbonization. Particularly when it comes to empowering sustainability efforts through data-powered decision making.

Digital Transformation for Decarbonization 

The somewhat fast-paced adaptation of digital processes stemming from improving economic return and ship safety has led some key players within the industry rightly question how digital technologies may be leveraged to help steer the industry towards decarbonization.

According to Taylor & Francis, regardless of how progressive the industry has become to eliminate their manual processes, in order to meet decarbonization goals, shipowners and operators will need to have complete trust in data-driven decisions and realize the potential that digital technology has in addressing carbon emissions.

Groups such as ZeroNorth, for example, a working group in which Q88 is a member, aims to support the drive toward decarbonization using technology to turn data into actions by identifying common touchpoints within the industry to improve vessel emissions. Currently, they are working to define a common data quality reference for fuel performance monitoring and environmental reporting that can be ensured across the industry.

Emissions Reduction as a Commercial Factor

There is no doubt that emissions reduction is becoming a commercial factor. Take the incoming Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) rules as an example that require operators to develop a plan of corrective action after three consecutive years of bad CII ratings. This would be very costly to any shipowner.

Therefore, there is commercial value for chartering and operations in knowing how their estimates could impact the overall annual CII of a voyage. Also, for chartering and operations teams to make the most well-informed environmentally responsible decisions, the ability to increase that confidence by providing users the most important data in one place (for example, pre-fixture decisions of which cargo to take and operational decisions such as speed) is vital.

Managing Fuel and Emissions

Sustainability presents the most challenging changes ahead for all of us, and there is no doubt that decarbonization will require industry policymakers to provide necessary policy and financial support in order to truly propel the industry forward.

In the meantime, to support the industry, at Q88 we are continuing to adapt and upgrade our digital solutions to help the maritime industry navigate decarbonization targets and digital transformation, in real-time.

Q88VMS is a commercial management platform that enables the control of fuel and emissions data, making it easy for users to gather all the necessary data required for emissions reporting. This means that an organization can successfully create a custom plan to reduce CO2 emissions.

Creating reports and sharing post voyage vessel performance analytics is quick and easy. This intuitive application enables users to calculate emissions on a voyage leg and total CO2 emitted. Enhanced emission estimates can be calculated for charterers with a robust distances tool, which means that while calculating a voyage one can see the matched emission estimated for that voyage.

Further, users can account for Emission Control Areas (ECAs) and to manage both scrubbers and non-scrubber fitted fleets. One feature unique to the Q88VMS is the ability for users to calculate Sulfur and Nitrogen Oxides emissions (Sox and NOx).

Another significant development made in the Q88VMS platform is a brand-new bunker fuel consumption panel where data can be easily inputted for each vessel and then used to aid in estimates to calculate bunker consumption that ultimately helps make the most sustainable decisions.

And you don’t have to take our word for it. Customers are embracing the positive impact that the Q88VMS platform is providing for their commercial operations.

At Alba Tankers, we report emissions regularly to our customers. The automation that the Q88VMS emissions bunker feature allows for has tremendously improved efficiency for us and saves time getting our reports to our customers. We are thankful to Q88 for continually looking at the industry and adapting their tools in ways that will have the most positive impact to the industry.” – David Bromander, Alba Tankers

 

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Voyage Management Made Simple With Q88 + SEDNA https://corp.q88.com/q88-vms-voyage-management-system-and-vessel-tracker/voyage-management-made-simple-with-q88-sedna/ https://corp.q88.com/q88-vms-voyage-management-system-and-vessel-tracker/voyage-management-made-simple-with-q88-sedna/#respond Fri, 22 Apr 2022 12:50:52 +0000 https://corp.q88.com/?p=1727 Given the current political climate that the industry has entered in early 2022, it’s speculated that the shipping industry’s shift towards digitization will become increasingly necessary – especially when it comes to voyage management. With the supply chain disrupted initially by the pandemic and now broken entirely in some cases due to political tensions, the...

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Given the current political climate that the industry has entered in early 2022, it’s speculated that the shipping industry’s shift towards digitization will become increasingly necessary – especially when it comes to voyage management. With the supply chain disrupted initially by the pandemic and now broken entirely in some cases due to political tensions, the need to have a complete overview of vessels and routes has never been more critical.

As pioneers within the shipping solutions space, we have been offering a plethora of products for the industry for years now, including Q88VMS. Complementing the data-driven and tailored solutions is SEDNA, a smart email platform that uses meta-data to automatically populate emails, reduces email volume by up to 95%, supports collaboration, and ensures that important messages are never missed.

Apart, they solve key challenges within the shipping industry – together they provide a unique competitive advantage to maritime professionals looking for a way to gain more speed, simplicity, and ROI while reducing risk. 

Digital Transformation and Optimized Vessel Management

“Data is at the heart of our global economy. In some senses, it practically is our economy. It has the power to create enormous value, increase productivity, accelerate innovation, and help find solutions to the big challenges of our times. Our emails carry a huge amount of untapped value for businesses. But this is only one source of data—businesses rely on many more.”

Leigh Steed-Middleton, VP of Product SEDNA

The complexity of vessel management has long been an area of shipping that professionals have sought to simplify. Of course—as with much of the shipping industry—one of the biggest bottlenecks to optimizing workflows has been a reluctance to move towards software solutions. 

Most notably, the role of data within the shipping industry has created this lasting impact on the overall digital landscape of maritime solutions. The sheer volume, complexity, and sensitivity of maritime data can be overwhelming to manage or put to use, even for those with years of experience behind them.

“There are many reasons why organizations struggle to generate actionable information. One of them being the missing link to the commercial decision-makers. The need to share information across an organization successfully is paramount, and silos within companies must be broken.” 

Fritz Heidenreich, CEO, Q88

Now that more and more industry leaders are opting for intelligent software solutions over labor-intensive options to help them grow and optimize, it seems that the scales are finally tipping in software’s favor, and perhaps not a minute too soon.

With a supply chain that’s been in a state of flux since 2020, the ability to manage vessels efficiently and accurately has never been more critical or challenging, and it’s an area of the maritime industry that SEDNA and Q88 have sought to streamline.

With Q88VMS, users gain access to voyage management that turns data into actionable insights from a secure, cloud-based standpoint. Whether it’s tracking tonnage supply trends, voyage tracking, or cargo evaluations, Q88VMS is designed with modern shipping in mind. By creating a single space where all voyage communications, data, and finances can be managed, the ability to pivot quickly should problems arise is simplified.

Complementing this is SEDNA’s smart email platform. With the maritime sector battling gargantuan volumes of email, the ability to prioritize or identify key information quickly often falls by the wayside, resulting in missed opportunities and costly mistakes. Not with SEDNA. Instead, SEDNA turns email into smart action points, removing the need for duplications and endless threads, and instead offering fast and accurate features to make email an essential aspect of voyage management. 

Together, both products approach vessel management from two key vantage points: efficient data management and actionable email management. This combined solution isn’t only streamlining an already complex facet of shipping; it’s also future-proofing the maritime industry by helping to bolster it from further global disruptions.

How Integrations Are The New Competitive Advantage 

While the individual strengths of voyage management solutions are integral to shipping’s success, it seems that the knife-edge of a true competitive advantage for professionals will be in integrating their systems. With cost-cutting and time-saving being among the top priorities for maritime professionals—especially those in the voyage management space—the ability to reduce mistakes and swiftly adapt to sudden logistical changes is paramount.

“Our partnership with Q88 allows our users to enrich the data in their emails, allowing SEDNA to transform it into actionable insights that help our customers be more efficient and effective in their work.”

Leigh Steed-Middleton, VP of Product SEDNA

“Our companies align in vision and technology. This integration was a natural step for Q88 and Sedna as we are equally committed to simplifying the activities of commercial operators. “

Gabriel Reiter, Chief Product Officer Q88

Of course, the need for integrated solutions goes far beyond individual company needs for greater ROI. Currently, many maritime professionals are looking to their existing software solutions providers to help them weather this turbulent time within the industry. With this very much in mind, Q88 and SEDNA are committed to partnering and creating more integrated solutions. The aim is to move with the needs of the industry and provide a critical one-stop-shop for vessel management professionals and beyond. Not only will this save time and money, but it will also give individuals the agility they need to respond to changes quickly.

Shared space between Q88VMS and SEDNA will ensure that users can make the most of their data, that they never miss a critical message, and that voyages can be handled with confidence, care, and speed.

“Connecting Q88VMS and SEDNA was incredibly easy, and the way these systems talk to one another is essential to our operator workflows. The voyage number generated in VMS is required to connect to SEDNA, and once connected, information flows seamlessly between the systems; data in VMS only takes about 10-15 seconds to reflect and update in SEDNA.”

Alex Schulten, Senior Operator Sokana

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Three Ways to Increase Efficiency of Shipping Businesses https://corp.q88.com/q88-vms-voyage-management-system-and-vessel-tracker/three-ways-to-increase-efficiency-of-shipping-businesses/ https://corp.q88.com/q88-vms-voyage-management-system-and-vessel-tracker/three-ways-to-increase-efficiency-of-shipping-businesses/#respond Tue, 19 Oct 2021 21:22:28 +0000 https://corp.q88.com/?p=1659 In an operations business environment subject to sudden disruptions resulting from rapid and unpredictable market changes, reliable information and data are the most important assets to ensure smooth transitions and workflows. Having immediate access to the most current and up-to-date information and mastering how to utilize information allows operations to conduct business with greater efficiency...

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In an operations business environment subject to sudden disruptions resulting from rapid and unpredictable market changes, reliable information and data are the most important assets to ensure smooth transitions and workflows. Having immediate access to the most current and up-to-date information and mastering how to utilize information allows operations to conduct business with greater efficiency and make hard and fast decisions with greater certainty and confidence. Q88’s Voyage Management System (Q88VMS) helps shipping companies manage information essential to running their operations and commercial team.

Here are three ways that Q88VMS helps one work smarter:

1. Optimize Fleet Operations
Data-intensive processes support the administrative functions that underpin operations, but many shipping companies continue to lag behind the curve when it comes to using information to maximize efficiency. The Q88VMS platform lets you better use the complex information and achieve better control over the many moving parts that govern shipping operations.

  • Voyages – Allows tracking of all commercial information from voyage evaluation throughout execution and financial reports, from chartering to operations, post fixture, and accounting.
  • Invoices – Tracks invoices, balances, and partial payments, and is compliant with accounting standards and bespoke integration with standard accounting systems.
  • Filing – Auto file documents into the corresponding voyage folders for easy retrieval and reference.
  • Powerful analytics – Generate reports at “higher” analytic levels and compare your fleet and operations to the competition and the market at large.
  • Integrate – Seamlessly integrate to technical management, accounting, internal database(s), weather routing, and more.

2. Obtain Commercial Advantage
Using a Voyage Management System after you fix a ship is one thing, but having the ability to share operational data and commercial insights with the chartering side of your business is another. Typically, the data within an organization is not easily shared, and chartering teams (front-of-house teams) use numerous sources to help them collect information to track supply trends, AIS data, ship-specific data, calculations, etc.

With Q88VMS, not only can you track your fleet’s position, TCE performance, monitor cargoes, and fixtures, but you can compare your fleet and operations to the competition and the market at large. Q88VMS customers are guaranteed to be able to track supply trends over time by analyzing data based on geographic criteria combined with vessel-specific data, further aiding you to make more informed, intelligent, and efficient business decisions that will help you maintain a competitive edge.

3. Centralize and Automate in the Cloud
Today, the shipping industry accepts that information is power. It is also known that information is complex; it must be error-free and must be immediately accessible. Q88VMS is a modular system that centralizes data and combines it with a set of comprehensive tools, all in the cloud, enabling you to run your fleet better. Q88’s software is built to operate online with an authentic cloud architecture and works seamlessly with existing systems and requires no additional resources to drain the bottom line. Get full access to all the functions on desktop, laptop, or mobile device, whenever you work.

Click here to learn more and book a demonstration.

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The Complex Task of Keeping it Simple in Maritime Shipping Software https://corp.q88.com/q88-vms-voyage-management-system-and-vessel-tracker/the-complex-task-of-keeping-it-simple-in-maritime-shipping-sotware/ https://corp.q88.com/q88-vms-voyage-management-system-and-vessel-tracker/the-complex-task-of-keeping-it-simple-in-maritime-shipping-sotware/#respond Mon, 16 Aug 2021 12:20:12 +0000 https://corp.q88.com/?p=1610 “Simple can be harder than complex: You need to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple.” – Steve Jobs Developing software for a millenary, highly regulated, and ever-changing industry is challenging. Our customers have varying degrees of sophistication, control, and compliance needs. The key to success is to create solutions that...

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“Simple can be harder than complex: You need to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple.”
– Steve Jobs

Developing software for a millenary, highly regulated, and ever-changing industry is challenging. Our customers have varying degrees of sophistication, control, and compliance needs. The key to success is to create solutions that adapt to each customer, impacting and benefiting their business directly.

In this blog, I will highlight one of many cases in which a lot of effort took place behind the scenes to develop a simple solution, an example of the care and consideration we put into each change we make to our products.

From an early stage in the life of our Q88VMS product, we knew we wanted it to adapt to how the end user work. This meant no built-in workflows, no massive error prevention validations, and no stopping the flow of information because “something seemed missing or odd.” However, as the product matured some customers commented, “We love the flexibility of the product, but we need to make sure we do something, or we fill in an input box because it is important for our reporting structure, integrations with other systems, etc.” We found ourselves in a situation in which our customers were asking us to remove, at least partially, the flexibility built into the product, even as they were saying they liked it.

The easy solution would have been to add a validation so that the field in question cannot be left blank, for example. That seems straightforward; most software providers would not hesitate to make such decisions, but in our opinion, that is how one ends up with users of the product feeling that they are “working for the system” and not the other way around. With quick implementation of validation fields, the original flexibility would be quickly lost, resulting in a system that forces users to enter information even if they don’t have it, a system that forces users to work with unnatural workflows, and a system that demands the completion of unnecessary details, just to be allowed move on to the next step in their process.

At Q88, we recognized that this request for data validation was not unique to a particular data point. The first requirement we decided on was to create a solution that would satisfy all such needs for validations, mandatory fields, and even workflow steps. We also wanted to ensure that the main beneficiary would be the actual user of the product. This idea is compatible with one of our core design principles, “It’s all about me”. We also knew we wanted the tool to be loud so users would pay attention to the alerts and warnings identified, but not too loud that would prevent them from doing what they needed to do within the platform.

Therefore, a lot of thought, consideration, collaboration and teamwork went into the design of this feature, beginning with the VP of Design, who created the specification document. Several team members within the company also collaborated on the design, and we then passed it on to various customers who were asked to run tests and provide additional feedback. We collected all feedback and finally arrived at a feature we now call the Lighthouse, which has been added to our Q88VMS product and has been very well received by our customers.

The Lighthouse is a tool that requires no administrator, so each user can select which rules they would like the system to alert or warn them about. No administrator also means no delays getting any setting you need to be adjusted; users decide which warnings and alerts they want so only truly relevant ones are applied. Further, the list of rules the Lighthouse is looking out for is already extensive, and it will grow over time to provide an easy pathway for expansion. Unnecessary or irrelevant rules can be switched off, so the information provided is always relevant.

We focused a lot of attention on the loudness of the alerts. We concluded that we wanted the alerts to be very loud, but only if users wanted them to be. For that purpose, users switch the tool on with a single click or switch it off if they do not want to see it.

But what happens if a rule is invalid for a particular case? No problem! Users can choose to ignore any particular alert or warning at any time and add comments. The system keeps track of who made any changes and when, such that an audit trail is built for each ignored case.

In conclusion, the Lighthouse has proven to be a very effective tool for our users. It retains the precious flexibility of the system while it empowers its users to be in control. What began as a complex and conflicting set of requirements developed into a solution that simplifies the work of our customers.

At Q88, we are very fortunate to have assembled a team of very talented people who specialize in building great software solutions and who also have a lot of experience working in several areas within  maritime shipping industry. When it comes to our products, we work very hard to make things simple for our customers.

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Own your data with Q88VMS https://corp.q88.com/q88-vms-voyage-management-system-and-vessel-tracker/q88-vms-ship-data-and-vessel-traffic/ https://corp.q88.com/q88-vms-voyage-management-system-and-vessel-tracker/q88-vms-ship-data-and-vessel-traffic/#respond Tue, 18 Jun 2019 09:07:08 +0000 https://q88llc.local/?p=682 Does it feel like your valuable VMS data is disappearing into a blackhole? Are you losing control of your VMS data? Today, we accept that ‘information is power’. The world is increasingly information driven, with our businesses being dependent on data entered into and generated by digital systems. Many share the opinion that data is...

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Does it feel like your valuable VMS data is disappearing into a blackhole?

Are you losing control of your VMS data?

Today, we accept that ‘information is power’. The world is increasingly information driven, with our businesses being dependent on data entered into and generated by digital systems. Many share the opinion that data is the most valuable asset of our businesses.

Perhaps that’s why there might be a sense of unease when your VMS seems to be a bit like a black hole devouring all your valuable data, never to be seen again? How can I get my data back? How can I analyze a particular situation from my historical data? How can I integrate my data with other systems? It might seem like you have very little control.

VMS that puts you firmly in the driving seat with your data

Shipping companies that choose Q88VMS have no such concerns. The platform is designed from the ground up to keep you in the driver’s seat with your own data:

Customize and export every list in the system

With Q88VMS your data is organized in a meaningful way. An app-style navigation ribbon which means you are never more than a single click away from the tool you need in your browser. Q88VMS provide you with a fully customizable list view that provides you with a fast way to find and focus on the items you want to review. All views are exportable into Excel, allowing you to easily create impressive graphs, PowerPoint presentations and more complex analysis.

Easily create and schedule reports for yourself or your team

Q88VMS offers multiple reporting options. These range from simple self-service reports, to complex business intelligence analysis in data cubes and company-wide dashboards. Whatever you need, the platform has a simple way to help you extract valuable insight into your business. All options provide you with the ability to schedule automated reporting that can be distributed to the relevant members of your team or your business partners. Easily export and download your reports in multiple standard formats, including Excel, PDF, and many more.

Create innovative and unique powerful solutions 

Q88VMS includes a comprehensive API that allows your IT team to easily integrate with any of the other systems you use. Combining your data lets you create powerful and unique solutions. API integration provides great opportunities to get more value from your IT investment. You could bring scheduled port calls into your technical management system or show the current positions of vessels on a world map. And what about creating complex reports combining data from multiple sources, or simply storing all your data locally for extra security. The Q88VMS API is a simple door through which you access and control all your data.

Reclaim control of your data with Q88VMS

Of course, the issues around data extend way beyond questions of control. Security, privacy, confidentiality, sovereignty and governance are some of the key areas. With Q88VMS be assured we follow best practice around data issues.

Software is continually updated to the latest architecture for security conformance. Hosting is in a Tier III data centre with appropriate infrastructure to support accelerated application delivery to our global customer base.

All data is protected during internet transmission by using a 2048-bit RSA key and 256-bit encryption. Back up and disaster recovery includes mirroring and replication and is in keeping with data centre Tier III Standards Compliance.

Shipping companies like yours are getting back in the driving seat and taking control of data by switching to Q88VMS. To take a closer look, simply fill in the form below to request a personalized demonstration and product tour. Find out why Q88VMS is the fastest-growing voyage management system on the market.

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Shipping industry insiders – not just supplying software https://corp.q88.com/q88-vms-voyage-management-system-and-vessel-tracker/shipping-industry-insiders-not-just-supplying-software/ https://corp.q88.com/q88-vms-voyage-management-system-and-vessel-tracker/shipping-industry-insiders-not-just-supplying-software/#respond Fri, 17 May 2019 11:03:55 +0000 https://q88llc.local/?p=618 Maritime heritage, expertise and experience One of the characteristics of the maritime transportation business is that it is a pretty specialized community. Companies develop enduring relationships with one another; these relationships are built through interpersonal contact and collaboration between individuals and are based on trust. Many companies trust Q88 and when it comes to fixing...

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Maritime heritage, expertise and experience

One of the characteristics of the maritime transportation business is that it is a pretty specialized community. Companies develop enduring relationships with one another; these relationships are built through interpersonal contact and collaboration between individuals and are based on trust. Many companies trust Q88 and when it comes to fixing vessels, Q88 VMS is an integral part of the process.

The high level of trust Q88 enjoys is supported by two key elements. Firstly, there is industry heritage. Q88 the de-facto standard for questionnaires and vessel particulars.

Secondly, there is the specific expertise and experience of the Q88VMS team. Many have résumés that demonstrate they are either highly qualified, have careers working for companies in the maritime community, or quite often, both.

This means that Q88VMS is designed, built and supported by a team of people many of whom have worked in maritime transportation for companies like yours. In contrast with other software companies, we are shipping industry insiders at the center – not a corporate software sales team on the outside looking in.

We know the challenges our customers face and understand the practicalities required of the solutions we develop to help you operate more effectively and efficiently. The team is motivated by its vision to help the industry, not to just make money selling software.

Built like today’s top performing business applications

As the use of digital technologies by business has developed over the last 30 years or so, the process of continual innovation is now an expectation. We all need the very latest tools that technology can offer to help us remain competitive and successful.

In the last three decades the world has moved on from conventional on-premise client-server computing. The industry has also transitioned from large, ERP-class applications. There are two big problems with an on-premise ERP-style system for shipping companies. Firstly, users get lost in complexity and the abundance of information; and secondly, there is too much functionality, often creating a user interface that is difficult to navigate and understand.

Q88VMS incorporates the characteristics of today’s top performing business applications. The server environment is in the cloud, providing the convenience of anytime, anyplace access. The functionality is tightly focused, dedicated to the line-of-business and accessed through an app or a browser. In short, Q88VMS is agile, easy to use software for dynamic, growing companies looking for a competitive edge.

Q88VMS software designed and built by shipping industry insiders

Q88VMS is faster to deploy, provides greater value and outperforms legacy VMS systems on mobile devices. Q88VMS won’t lock you in with proprietary or complex processes for data export and reporting.

Q88VMS is an ever-evolving platform, the team continually reviews functionality and embraces the suggestions of users to adapt to the needs of our customers. Alongside our inside knowledge of the industry, this ensures the software continues to be at the leading edge in meeting the needs of customers and solving real-world problems. Equipped with Q88VMS, customers have the right toolbox to succeed in the new digital era of shipping.

Why not take a closer look? Simply fill in the form below to request a personalized demonstration and product tour. You’ll learn the reasons why Q88VMS is the fastest-growing voyage management system on the market.

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Why is Q88VMS the fastest growing Voyage Management System on the market? https://corp.q88.com/q88-vms-voyage-management-system-and-vessel-tracker/why-is-q88vms-the-fastest-growing-voyage-management-system-on-the-market/ https://corp.q88.com/q88-vms-voyage-management-system-and-vessel-tracker/why-is-q88vms-the-fastest-growing-voyage-management-system-on-the-market/#respond Fri, 26 Apr 2019 09:49:09 +0000 https://q88llc.local/?p=440 The difference is clear – in terms of sheer customer benefit it is without equal 1.  We enable our customers to leverage tech tools With Q88VMS we let you exploit data and complementary systems. The key capability that enables this is connecting to your other systems through our fully-featured API. Q88VMS integrates with both AiS...

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The difference is clear – in terms of sheer customer benefit it is without equal

1.  We enable our customers to leverage tech tools

With Q88VMS we let you exploit data and complementary systems. The key capability that enables this is connecting to your other systems through our fully-featured API. Q88VMS integrates with both AiS data and Q88.com data and has extensive true self-service reporting and analytics options.

2. The system is built with you in mind

At Q88 we focus on helping you get your job done faster and more effectively. This manifests itself in a number of ways. It is designed with a simple and intuitive UI which allows operators to keep an eye on the most important metrics. There are no rigid workflows to adapt to, Q88VMS adapts to your way of doing business. This means there is a short learning curve for new users. Full functionality is achieved within any browser, on any device, enabling complete freedom of choice on where and when to work. Finally, as a result of our true SaaS business architecture, customers are up and running in days.

3. We are committed to delivering the best value

Q88VMS maximizes the benefits of cloud technology, leveraging the SaaS business model. With true cloud architecture, the system is designed from the ground up optimized to run over the internet. This means our services follow a true SaaS business model. They are subscription-based and are highly cost effective compared with hybrid or legacy software and services.

Our value is recognized within the shipping industry. We are supported by maritime professionals with continuous coverage and our technology enables sharing of voyage information with business partners.

Q88VMS: Often admired but without equal

Q88VMS is the fastest-growing voyage management system on the market and for good reason. It’s faster to deploy, has a lower cost point and outperforms legacy VMS systems on mobile devices. Q88VMS won’t lock you in with proprietary or complex processes for data export and reporting.

Q88VMS pays for itself quickly. Across your fleet, annual costs for each vessel break down into a per day rate that makes financial sense. It’s helping leading tanker operators to maximize operational efficiency and boost profitability, to outperform industry averages across entire fleets.

Q88VMS is often admired, and for good reasons. Many users believe our software is without equal and evaluated in terms of sheer customer benefits. Request a demo to find out why the world’s leading commercial operators are choosing Q88VMS.

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When do you know it is time for a change of VMS? https://corp.q88.com/q88-vms-voyage-management-system-and-vessel-tracker/q88-vms-voyage-management-system-vessel-management-shipping-news/ https://corp.q88.com/q88-vms-voyage-management-system-and-vessel-tracker/q88-vms-voyage-management-system-vessel-management-shipping-news/#respond Fri, 29 Mar 2019 10:45:47 +0000 https://q88llc.local/?p=448 New answers to old problems The marketplace for most products and services is competitive. New market players are often disruptive, coming up with fresh answers to old problems. Existing market players develop and upgrade their products. And companies that seem to have run out of ideas sell older legacy solutions, offering inferior performance and poor...

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New answers to old problems

The marketplace for most products and services is competitive. New market players are often disruptive, coming up with fresh answers to old problems. Existing market players develop and upgrade their products. And companies that seem to have run out of ideas sell older legacy solutions, offering inferior performance and poor value.

You don’t want to damage your competitive advantage. This is why there’s a real need to continually scan and research the marketplace to make sure you are aware of what’s happening out there. There comes a time when you’ll recognize it’s time to change.

The fastest growing Voyage Management System on the market

The VMS software market is no different. Q88VMS is the fastest-growing voyage management system on the market. It’s winning market share for some very good reasons:

  • New technology – built from the ground up to run efficiently over the Internet. We continually develop and update to ensure the software conforms with best practice for software architecture, development process and IT security.
  • No upfront large implementation fees – no costs for consulting, bespoke development, on-premise infrastructure or for ongoing IT department overheads.
  • True SaaS based business model and architecture – provides the basis for full functionality on mobile and is the foundation for competitive pricing that delivers value and performance.
  • Small learning curve – get up and running in less than a week for a rapid time to value and fast return on investment.

It’s reasons like this that are enabling the leading bulk operators to maximize operational efficiency and boosting profitability to outperform industry averages.

Great features delivering excellent benefits

With Q88VMS you get hard information that supports better decision making and which indicates how much money you can make (or lose!) on every change to a voyage.

Of course, the system provides functionality you expect from a Voyage Management System. Fundamentally, Q88 VMS gives indications of TCE instantly, enabling you to react faster to dynamic situations and fast-moving opportunities. You also get forward visibility to join up your operations for several voyages ahead.

However, one feature not found in any other comparable system is the Q88VMS Unique Variance Indicator.

This shows the positive or negative cost impacts of changing variables such as routing, canal, port and anti-piracy security.

Each main function has its own easy to recognize icon on the app-style navigation ribbon which means you are never more than a single click away from the tool you need.

Q88VMS offers access to a comprehensive and logical set of tools that use computing resources and centralized data in the cloud:

  • Open Positions – Overview of cargo discharge and availability to take on new loads
  • Estimates – Calculator for reckoning the financials of each voyage
  • Voyages – Provides Financial Management for new business and Account Management functions to manage voyages
  • Invoices – Claims Management; tracks invoices, balances and part payments; compliant with accounting standards; and bespoke integration with standard accounting systems
  • Email – Integrate with operational email Inbox – one-click functionality to automatically go from an email to the info for each numbered voyage
  • Reports – Powerful analytics – with Q88VMS it takes 30 seconds to do what takes half a day with Excel or half-an-hour with a comparable system

Priced to make financial sense the system pays for itself quickly. Annual costs for each vessel break down into a per day rate which is quite simply a ‘no-brainer’.

Get Q88VMS and enjoy the latest software from a progressive company

Make sure your company enjoys the benefits and your team has the best tools available for maximizing efficiency and profitability in managing tanker shipping operations.

Simply fill in the form below to request a personalized demonstration and product tour. You’ll learn how Q88VMS transforms your capability to make solid decisions that help maximize profitability of your fleet.

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