There is nothing more frustrating for suppliers, carriers, and consumers than products that are delayed in transit. When shipping by sea, these parties can expect the process to take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks. Unfortunately, these parties often do not account for delays that occur while in port. It appears that new technology is on the way that could soon help alleviate cargo delays in ports.
Recent Technological Developments Streamline The Process
Technology that is becoming most prominent in the shipping industry involves a multi-platform system that users can use to track shipments. They can view this information on an application and forward it to the appropriate parties easily. The platform provides users with vessel schedule reports along with a live estimated time of arrival.
Recently, developers have begun implementing a system that advises importers and agents of the next best course of action. So, if a product is delayed, the system promotes efficiency and directs them on how to handle the problem.
Case Study: Nairobi Inland Container Depot
The Nairobi Inland Container Depot in Africa is one of the continent’s largest shipping ports. Over the past ten months, the port has experienced severe delays thanks to an influx of arrivals. That’s because freight trains from the Standard Gauge Railway recently began delivering containers to the facility.
The influx of cargo has left the port struggling to find a solution, despite mounting pressure from importers. Because of a backup in goods, many shipments have not cleared customs in adequate time. The delayed clearance of products has resulted in significant losses for importers. The backup has also required importers to pay hefty storage fees.
The ICD says that the most significant source of delays is difficulty locating products. They also noted that this had burdened their customer service teams, who cannot handle the more than 30 message that they receive daily.
Fortunately, it appears that recent technological developments can help solve the problem. It seems that the biggest challenge moving forward will be granting suppliers access to the systems so that they can locate their goods and determine the best course of action moving forward. It will be interesting to track the status of the Nairobi Inland Container Depot in the coming months to see what, if any, changes have been made.
Technology Is Not Full-Proof
Even with new technology, there’s no guarantee that shipments won’t see delays during the process. Both suppliers and carriers would be wise to consider alternative forms of protection, especially if their shipments contain goods that are temperature-sensitive. Although the supply chain is improving, it’s reasonable to assume unexpected delays will still occur, thanks to things such as:
• Weather and natural disasters
• Traffic and congestion
• Inconsistent or faltering technology
To protect goods their goods, suppliers should consider using products such as our SureTemp Prime Transoceanic Liner. We can fit these ocean container liners to fit any standard dry ocean shipping container. The liners will then help protect products against rain, cargo sweat, and infrared heat transfer.
