ISS Roll-out of its Cargo and Agency Platform, YourISS2

Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS), the world's leading maritime and logistics service provider, is driving a global roll-out of its new cargo and agency platform, YourISS2.

Designed to increase efficiencies, standardise processes and documents and enhance service delivery, the innovative platform also gives ISS customers the transparency and data they need for instant, informed business decisions, cost savings, performance and trade analysis.

With Canada, Mexico, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Mexico among the latest countries to go live, YourISS2 is now available in all ISS locations and can be used by all stakeholders in the process of cargo or husbandry services. The platform can also be used by ISS competitors on behalf of customers where ISS is not the port agent - port agency delivered through a technology channel, instantly and innovatively.

Core modules include a voyage module and operational and financial port call management, along with a real-time laytime calculator. A ‘whiteboard’ module gives customers a single view of the entire operation and notifies the client instantly of any changes or new information. There is also intuitive access to support emails and documents for both current and historic information.

The reports module allows users to quickly identify performance improvement opportunities, cost trends and savings through port and terminal data and detailed port cost analysis. This is all underpinned by a global database of vessels, terminals and berths. YourISS2 is already integrated with a number of major maritime ERP solutions and in the process of being integrated with more.

The latest module to be released is a port intelligence element for vessel line-up information, port news, alerts and incidents, allowing customers to instantly access these in real time through a single platform from any laptop, mobile or tablet.

YourISS2 is complemented by the largest network of port agency offices globally. This gives ISS significant capability to produce powerful analysis of trade movements, vessel, port and terminal performance, to benchmark customer performance against best in class and to give customers unparalleled ability to make better business decisions as well as improve margins and competitive advantage.

Innovation is a key business focus for ISS with the data revolution set to heavily impact the shipping industry. The upheaval that will emerge in the sector as technology is better utilised was recently commented on by leading industry analyst, Clarkson Research Services’ Martin Stopford, at the annual convention of the Connecticut Maritime Association (CMA). He talked of the ‘fourth revolution’ faced by ship owners as global trade patterns became more complex and the need for shipping to provide better technologies increases.

Comments Bryan Phillips, Chief Innovation Officer, ISS: “Modern technology like YourISS2 is an absolutely fundamental part of our value proposition. What we provide enhances business performance and knowledge for customers, partners and competitors. YourISS2 is not software sold separately, it is a part of our service.

“What we’re now seeing is the start of a revolution in the industry, with greater connectivity across the supply chain and more demand for big data and IT systems that enable informed business decision-making.  We have already partnered with several innovative Silicon Valley-type companies entering the shipping vertical, which is a new phenomenon. We’re determined to lead this revolution using our unsurpassed global network and technology to take shipping forward.