Technology has shaped how the shipping industry runs today. Thanks to recent innovations such as artificial intelligence (AI), companies have streamlined their shipping operations and become more efficient in the process. It’s a good time to be in the shipping industry because this saves a huge amount of resources. Indeed, harnessing the power of AI increases the efficiency of maritime operations. The question is: how? First, let’s get into what artificial intelligence is all about.
What Is AI?
Think of it this way – it’s a human mind operating in a machine. That’s what artificial intelligence, also known as AI, is all about. It simulates the thought processes of a human being and uses this to solve critical problems involving huge data sets. This new tech was introduced to different industries to increase their efficiency. First, it shortens the amount of time needed to accomplish a task. Reducing incidences of human error and creating unbiased decisions have also become some of its main advantages.
How Is AI Revolutionizing The Maritime Shipping Industry?
With all the benefits that AI provides, it’s easy to see why there are breakthroughs across all industries. The shipping industry, namely, is one of these thriving industries due to the introduction of AI. But how exactly is this modern technology changing the way packages are transported from point A to point B? Here’s what you probably didn’t know about this innovation:
Optimized Routes
Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence have, quite literally, paved new ways for the shipping industry. Because of this new tech, shipping routes have not only become much shorter, but also more predictable. AI is integrated into shipping operations from warehouses to ports improving speed throughout the process.
A current application involves the use of AI-powered handsets which tells you when to pick up an order. This order optimizes the shipping process by reducing the time needed for parcels to reach their destination. And when we talk about how artificial intelligence optimizes delivery routes, it’s good to know that it gets down to the smallest details – whether a truck needs to turn left to avoid traffic or to keep going straight.
It gets the job done as long as the truck gets back on the road more quickly. This may sound like an insignificant amount of savings, but it builds up cumulatively meaning that more packages are delivered in a shorter amount of time. It’s a win-win for both logistics providers and receivers – more profit for the former and faster delivery times for the latter.
If you’re looking for bigger cost savings, artificial intelligence can do that, too. In the context of looking for new warehouse locations, for instance, AI tells you if the location’s a good fit to avoid longer transportation times.
Predictability is an added benefit of incorporating AI into the operations of shipping companies. Historical patterns can be observed thanks to the power of Big Data, hence predicting shipping times has never been easier. It only gets better when you add more data sets into the picture – weather conditions and inspection times, for instance, can also be accounted for to provide more accurate shipping times.
Better Maintenance
Maintaining your equipment can not only be difficult for logistics providers but also costly. Building an AI-incorporated system helps you identify faulty equipment or if a vehicle needs its regular check-up. By using past data, AI determines the best intervals for maintenance and predicts the degree of maintenance required for specific parts or systems. Tracking this without the assistance of AI can often be tedious, and missing out on repairing malfunctioning equipment can lead to serious disaster – AI prevents that.
Optimized Fuel Consumption
We all know that high consumption of fuel is unhealthy for the environment. In an attempt to become more environmentally friendly, logistics providers started using AI technology to optimize their fuel consumption. By finding the shortest shipping route possible, we reduce CO2 emissions and the planet becomes a little greener. This, in turn, helps companies save costs on fuel while reducing their carbon footprint.
Improved Shipbuilding
We’ve talked about how AI affects the ship in action, but what if we told you that artificial intelligence has applications in shipbuilding, too? With the help of AI tools, engineers can easily generate elaborate ship designs – saving time and cutting costs in the process. A digital prototype is created and the application integrates the key parameters needed for the vessel.
Increased Safety
Cybersecurity must be the priority of every company in the digital world as it can have catastrophic effects on the shipping industry. In fact, the issues can be as critical as bringing the entire supply chain to a halt. AI solves these problems by detecting anomalies, caused by cyberattacks, in the data flow.
In Conclusion
Given the huge amount of data sets needed in the shipping industry, it’s no doubt that artificial intelligence uplifts the whole shipping industry. Taking shipping to a whole new level, this innovation has optimized shipping routes and reduced carbon emissions – allowing shipping companies to earn their profits sustainably. No better form of tech solves these issues. The good news is that fortunately, it seems that artificial intelligence is here to stay.
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