Menu
A unique challenge in the maritime world, particular the merchant maritime sector, is the one of Digital management and application usage across a global fleet.
To keep up with the digital demands from the ecology of today´s shipping world, ensuring you are as profitable as can be, awareness and current software management is crucial.
Reputational & economical disaster
Centralized version management, issue resolution, and security patching across your fleet not only ensure compliance but also mitigate the risks of running faulty or unsafe applications within your environment. Failing to meet today’s digital demands can lead to costly delays, off-hire periods, and significant reputational and financial consequences.
Introducing packaged operational software that are tested and centrally managed by application specialists to your fleet of vessels will save time, travel and delays to an extent that is hard to realize if not in total control.
Bleeding without knowing
A fragmented IT oversight, where digital tool costs are decentralized and reactive rather than strategically managed is costing any organisation more than it should.
It is a fairly common practice in the industry to not always have a collective view of the total software population, to instead implement tools that are designed to enhance performance or save money on direct operations is much more common. These how ever would also significantly improve the over all cost if aligned in a centralized practice.
The areas directly connected to the IT delivery has huge potential for savings, not even considering the potential it will have on everyday business when strictly organized, here is a short breakdown on what can be expected by area.
Software management:
Eliminating redundant or underused software or through centralized management can save 10–15% on licensing costs.
Centralizing updates reduces time spent on manual patching and minimizes security risks, saving an additional workload of 10–20% in general. Depending on fleet size the savings might have a very large impact on workload.
Reduced IT overhead:
Central management significantly cuts time spent by IT staff on individual vessel troubleshooting, deployments, and maintenance across departments and vessels, leading to 20–30% savings in labour time.
Travel cost reductions:
With centralized remote management tools, IT staff no longer need to travel as frequently to vessels for on-site troubleshooting or updates. This can save 25–40% in travel expenses, depending on fleet size and geographical dispersion.
Downtime reduction:
Fewer software crashes or mismatched versions reduce operational disruptions, potentially avoiding 10–15% in downtime-related costs (e.g., off-hire, delays).
Overall estimated savings:
Taking into account the combined reductions in software licensing, IT overhead, travel expenses, and avoided downtime costs, centralized software management could save a company 30–50% of their total IT-related expenses associated with software management.
Centralized software management
So, what is the concept of centralized software management for vessels?
Well, the idea is quite simple. By making sure every vessel is up to a defined standard and the fleet looks the same at any given point we optimize the ability for each vessel of making business on the platforms that are demanded they use for harmonized functionality. Whether it be internal within the company itself of regulatory demands from ports or governments.
Allow each crew member to focus on their primary task and not be expected to partly fix minor or larger IT-issues each day. The world of IT is so complexed today and to have everyone in a company understand the purpose and long-term goals of digital functionality is simply asking to much from anyone not trained to do so.
Operational consistency is the goal of each vessel owner or operator. As such, practices should be adhered to that can ensure less interruption at any level. Smooth sailing has a broad meaning.
Operational efficiency
Today there are still plenty of operators out there relying on vessels themself handling the management of crucial software updates at the same time managing fat clients who also need attending from a security and version handling aspect.
By putting this in control of one team, on shore closely linked to each application stakeholder or provider and knowing how to optimize the software performance from a fleet perspective will make a huge difference. Not only will the land-based IT-staff day´s of run-to-failure or corrective maintenance change to be the preventive type, but they will also get to focus on the company´s different stakeholders & departmental needs to a much larger extent. Making sure your company can continue to digitally develop. Instead of looking of weeks and months of deploying new applications or being stuck in ineffective tools, you can now deploy software from taking your decision within a day or even hours on your entire fleet. A practice that makes anyone understand the that central managed software is key.
Benefits, consistency and compliance.
Not only will you automatically comply with regulations with this practice, but the argument is also that most likely will you not be complying when not handling your fleet applications centrally. Operational standards require that all software and data be always safe as well as and version handling managed.
Security and Risk Management
When in control and all updates are promptly applied, mitigating vulnerabilities becomes a very each task to focus on. Most of the fleet can be automatically handled. And if any zero-day threats would occur, you´d be safe to know that it can be quickly deployed fleet wide and no separate attention is require making your fleet more and more unsecure for each minutes that passes. Not mentioning the trouble any one would find them self in if a virus catches on to your fleet when you are 70% through your manual patching.
Cost Savings
Travels to vessels for any application purpose can be eliminated completely by this approach. Your onboard staff does not require to use their working time to follow step-by- step check lists on how to apply new versions of software etc. I will also ensure you are ready for change, quick change.
Data Integration and Decision Making
Not only will you be in control of the output, you may also control new aspect of input. Harvesting data and making sure availability is made possible for analytics and improved decision-making across the fleet
Scalability and Flexibility
With one environment to handle your applications you are also ready to host your OT-suppliers often stand-alone solutions in a common secure and redundant environment. This not only will make rolling new onboard features out faster, you will also save on investing in abundant hardware and suppliers needing access to each vessel with the risk that will bring. It´s not uncommon that several digital initiatives are going on at the same time in a larger shipping company today adding on features that are already available and could be utilized to serve more than their initial purpose. Examples of this are: servers, network equipment, communications devices. Expensive equipment that would add to an unnecessary complexed environment.
Challenges and considerations
One of the initial challeneges will always be to have upper management see beyond the one year budget, that will narrow decision making focusing on short terms solutions on areas needing long term strategies. Most people know that a $300 dollar outdoor jacket will last you for a very long time, but if your yearly budget for the same is $50, you will stick to that thinking eventually surpassing the costof a $300 jacket by not having a long term strategy.
Yes it´s a cost that needs to be adressed, but in some environments and under certain business contracts. The cost for a new IT-Infrastructure platform is no more than the cost for being off-hire or not having access to your digital portfolio for one or two days. Have a look at it, what would it cost your company if you had to stay in port, one extra day unable to load or discharge due to IT-issues.
Take the cost of a one day back lash that most likely will jepordizing your constracts, and instead eliminate risk and carry you with a solid plan for the fleet and digital development for at least 5-6 years. During that time also be sure you are managing your fleet in a best practice fashion making sure you get the most out of your company´s digital journey at the most affordable cost.
To conclude, Centralizing all askpects of your digital environment gives you control and functional edge, it get the most out of every digital investment you do and assures your money is coming to the best use.
Contact us to discuss your situation