In 2019, Danish shipping giant Maersk is to introduce a virtual assistant named Captain Peter in an effort to enhance its Remote Container Management (RCM) platform.
As explained, the avatar will assist customers along the journey of their cargo.
According to the company, technical improvements are being put in place to simplify the processes integrated into the Remote Container Management (RCM) platform. In the first half of 2019, Maersk will release the new platform with a revamped design and new product features which will be enhanced by the virtual assistant.
“Our goal is for the RCM product to look and feel like your favourite smartphone app. There is still a lot of paper work and difficult processes in global trade. Captain Peter will help take care of some of this complexity, by … engaging with the customer from end to end in the supply chain,” Anne-Sophie Zerlang Karlsen, Head of Global Reefer Management at Maersk, said.
In the beginning, Captain Peter will follow some simple rules, sending up-to-date information via customers’ preferred channel, for example, SMS or e-mail, on container temperature and atmosphere conditions, as well as a timeline on its end-to-end journey. Should any deviations be observed, or the shipment delayed, Captain Peter will notify the customer.
Once the container has arrived at its destination, Captain Peter will also check on its state and send an update to the client. In time, clients will receive information configured to their specific needs.
The RCM technology makes a reefer’s location, temperature, humidity and power status easily available to the client. Should any issues be detected, the client can alert his or her supplier or have the shipment checked by local surveyors, potentially saving the client millions of dollars in lost cargo.
“With the number of active users of the RCM platform constantly growing, the aspiration is for Captain Peter to gather enough information to be able to predict potential cargo damage and provide configuration suggestions before containers are shipped,” Zerlang Karlsen added.
Launched in 2017, the RCM provides transparency on information from 270,000 Maersk refrigerated containers equipped with the machine to machine technology. Today, over 2,300 clients have signed up for the RCM solution, translating to more than 70% of Maersk’s reefer volume.