Efficient, interconnected, sustainable #1: Unlocking the Potential of Digital Innovations
Embark on a journey with Lufthansa Industry Solutions (LHIND) as we delve into the transformative power of digital technologies shaping the future of maritime logistics. Discover how interconnected solutions, from IoT to AI, are forging paths towards efficiency, sustainability, and unparalleled operational agility. Together, we illuminate the roadmap to Shipping Company 4.0, where innovation meets strategy to redefine the digital seascape.
Welcome to the next phase of our adventure, where we transition from the abstract to the tangible, from strategy to execution. As we sail into the uncharted waters of this digital age, we invite you to join us in discovering the technologies and products that make smart shipping not just a concept, but a reality. In this chapter, we will shed light on how interconnected, efficient, and sustainable solutions can revolutionize the shipping industry, bringing to life the vision of Shipping Company 4.0.
So, what is the basic idea of this vision? Let us underline two points that are crucial for our concept:
1. Shipping Company 4.0 is not a product or a prefabricated model for a digital shipping company. Instead, it represents a concept that aims at efficiency, interconnectivity, and sustainability in shipping. This is achieved through a holistic and data-based digitalization strategy that is precisely tailored to the individual requirements of a specific shipping company and its business strategy.
2. This digitalization strategy is based on modern technologies and is characterized by a design that is oriented towards customers and employees. The use of innovative technologies is not an end in itself. Market requirements, price pressure, environmental protection, but also the availability of data on an unprecedented scale require new approaches with modern and well-tested technologies.
In summary: Efficient, interconnected, sustainable practices are not just goals but stand as the pillars upon which Shipping Company 4.0 is built. A concept that extends beyond the mere adoption of digital tools, it embodies a holistic and data-driven digitalization strategy, tailor-made to fit the unique needs of each shipping entity. This strategy leverages modern technologies, emphasizing customer and employee-centric design to address market demands, environmental protection, and the unprecedented availability of data.
As we embark on this part of our smart shipping journey, we invite you to explore examples of products, solutions, technologies, and concepts that are steering the logistics industry towards a future marked by digital innovation. From IoT platforms to generative AI, the horizon is teeming with opportunities to redefine what it means to be a digital shipping company.
Our team at LHIND is aware that we can draw valuable analogies and experience from the aviation industry, which has overcome challenges similar to those in the shipping world. This insightful approach enables shipping companies to learn efficiently from best practices in other industries and to shape their future with foresight.
From IoT Platform to Generative AI: Examples of Products and Platforms
In the following course, examples of products, solutions, technologies, and concepts are presented that can be used in the customized development of a digitalization strategy.
1. AVIATAR
Digital twins: Virtual images for more innovations
Data tells us about the behavior of physical objects. The course of a ship, its energy consumption, the condition of its cargo — it all relates to data. With the help of a digital twin, this data is aggregated. In this way, it is possible to develop a virtual representation of a ship.
As well, the virtual model can be used to calculate the best way to load a container ship. It can also be used to optimize the way the containers are stacked in the port. The result is that the loading process and the subsequent unloading of the cargo at the destination can be carried out with maximum efficiency. Among other things, the digital twin can help to optimize routes — which helps to save energy and minimize CO2 emissions.
One example is Lufthansa Technik’s AVIATAR platform, which reads out the states of all components in real time and from the air and — as far as the manufacturer of the aircraft allows — creates a digital twin of the aircraft on the AVIATAR platform in this way.
Relevance: The use of digital technologies and the targeted use of data is permanently changing the role of the ship — it is transforming from a mere transport device into a service platform that can be used to address the needs of customers, partners, and the company’s own employees in equal measure. With this virtual representation, simulations can be carried out.
2. EPACTO
The ESG Performance Accounting Tool, EPACTO for short, is the digital heart of sustainability management and brings together all relevant data to calculate the company’s current sustainability performance and show a development path towards planetary impact limits.
Relevance: EPACTO creates transparency regarding sustainability for customers in various sectors, including shipping.
3. Smart Label
While today’s tracking approaches only have the entire container in view, the Smart Label developed by Lufthansa Industry Solutions and partners enables tracking at the level of the individual packages contained in the container. Lufthansa Industry Solutions developed the Smart Label together with SODAQ and the Pod Group, a Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) company and the world’s first enterprise network operator. The label is paper-thin and uses the 5G mobile communications standard to send data on location and temperature, among other things, to a central dashboard. Equipped with a printed battery, the label gives logistics companies the ability to track and monitor the condition of even objects as small and flat as an envelope containing important documents in real time. A powerful middleware platform (LEAP) manages the data and enables the use of geofences.
Relevance: End-to-end tracking of valuable goods becomes possible out-of-the-box for shipping companies.
4. LEAP
The Localization Engine and Analytics Platform, LEAP for short, is a cloud-based platform for IoT technology. LEAP allows companies to permanently monitor any object with the help of location- and sensor-based data.
Relevance: The LEAP platform is also used for Smart Labels and is very relevant for shipping companies.
5. AI-as-a-Service
The concept “AI as a Service” describes ready-made AI solutions that can be individually adapted to the respective situation of the customer and integrated into the IT infrastructure with minimal effort. Examples of AI-as-a-Service solutions for companies that want to benefit from the possibilities of artificial intelligence in the short term on company data, safe, reliable and according to current legal requirements:
- ForecastAI can efficiently predict time series of business-relevant information — such as prices, demands, passenger numbers or cargo tonnage to be transported.
- TextCategorizationAI categorizes texts, extracts essence and sentiments and automatically creates summaries, feedback and reports
- InfoExtractAI analyzes documents like forms, invoices or contracts and provides these for further processing, e.g. contract optimization or further processing systems
- AnonymizationAI in turn extracts and replaces DSGVO-relevant information in free text via API.
The ‘Smart Assistant’ is based on technology from OpenAI and searches corporate documents in any language to provide personalized answers to search queries e.g. for emloyees or customers — by using large language models.
Relevance: The use of these AI services helps to make shipping companies’ processes more efficient.
6. OPSD
The Operations Decision Support Suite, or OPSD for short, is a joint development by Lufthansa and Google and aims to consider all available information about the relevant framework conditions (e.g. airport, ATC, weather) and resources (e.g. aircraft, crew) to make optimal decisions. Finding better solutions to operational challenges will lead to lower costs, greater operational stability, higher customer satisfaction and a smaller environmental footprint.
Relevance: The OPSD is being further developed as a product and is a sustainable innovation for shipping companies.
7. DIA
DIA is an innovative and already widely used Software-as-a-Service platform specifically designed for the development of digital assistance systems. The platform is based on state-of-the-art mixed reality technology, which enables the development of end-device-independent use cases. It offers a wide range of standardized and flexibly combinable basic services so that business applications for different industries can be implemented quickly and efficiently. Example: Step-by-step instructions on a tablet for technicians for complex maintenance and service tasks incl. visualization of 3D models and animations.
Relevance: Assistance systems support with complex tasks and can support specialized processes and automate them in parts.
8. Volabase and iFF
The Volabase platform is an interactive flight operations management and documentation solution that enables efficient fleet management in one system. The integrated Flight Folder (iFF) offers pilots an electronic briefing application to facilitate flight operations.
Relevance: Information systems relieve staff of complex and repetitive tasks. The concepts are transferable to shipping companies.
A Recap and Look Ahead
As we conclude this segment of our exploration into the digital age of shipping, we’ve journeyed through the pivotal role of cutting-edge technologies and innovative platforms, from the intricacies of digital twins and Smart Labels to the strategic deployment of AI services. These tools are not just shaping the present but are the keystones of a future where Shipping Company 4.0 thrives on efficiency, interconnectivity, and sustainability. Lufthansa Industry Solutions stands at the forefront of this transformation, guiding the maritime industry towards a horizon filled with promise and potential.
In our next section, we’ll continue our voyage into the technological advancements that underpin Shipping Company 4.0, delving deeper into the tech stack that powers the future of shipping. Stay tuned as we chart the course through the evolving landscape of maritime digitalization, where innovation and strategic vision steer us toward a more connected and sustainable world.
