For every refrigerated container that is somewhere on the road, at sea, or in a port, there is a customer forced to run his business without information about the condition and location of his products. This is particularly relevant for sensitive products, such as fruit or other products that demand strict transportation requirements. Maersk Line has considerably improved this experience for its customers with the innovative Remote Container Management (RCM) tool, which is unique in the shipping industry, allows tracking shipments in real time, and provides a differentiating added value in the refrigeration segment.
Considering that that Ecuador's banana exports account for 26% of the country's primary exports, 66% of its traditional exports, and accounts for 4% of the country's total GDP, Maersk Line has focused on the best way to deliver this product in optimal conditions. In fact, 94% of the bananas consumed in Russia come from Ecuador.
"Bananas require constant supervision during their transfer, since transport times can last up to 50 to 60 days, depending on the country of destination. Waiting and reaction times are over with RCM, as Maersk can give its exporting clients a complete overview and data of their cargo in real time, from its origin to its final destination, allowing them to make decisions online and use the data obtained to study and improve their entire supply chain. "Without a doubt, this valuable monitoring opportunity is an important asset to recognize, understand, and optimize supply chains and to make sure that the product arrives in perfect condition," said Jorge Davila, Manager of Sales at Maersk Line Ecuador.
The RCM can have a powerful impact, but the technology used in this instrument is relatively simple. 99% of the 282,000 refrigerated containers of Maersk Line have been equipped with a GPS, a modem, and a SIM card, which allows the company to collect and store the information that reaches customers and global support teams through satellite transmitters in 400 of the ships owned by the company.
In the event of a container malfunction that can't be solved by local technicians, the RCM automatic notifications give clients enough time to notify the defects and plan alternatives so that they don't lose their entire shipment or to unload the container in a closer port.