#allowing businesses to gain real-time insights into their fleet operations. With a focus on innovation and customer satisfaction

[vivekbsworld]

Driving Efficiency: Fleet Management Software Solutions in Dubai

In the heart of the bustling metropolis of Dubai, where every minute counts and precision is paramount, efficient fleet management is crucial for businesses to stay ahead of the curve. From logistics companies navigating the city's intricate road network to construction firms overseeing a fleet of heavy machinery, the ability to monitor, track, and optimize fleet operations can make all the difference. This is where fleet management software solutions in Dubai come into play, offering innovative tools to streamline processes, enhance productivity, and drive business growth. Let's explore some of the top fleet management software solutions making waves in Dubai's dynamic business landscape.

1. Trinetra

Trinetra is a leading provider of fleet management software solutions, offering a comprehensive suite of tools to help businesses optimize their fleet operations. With features such as real-time tracking, route optimization, and driver behavior monitoring, Trinetra empowers businesses to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance customer satisfaction. Whether it's managing a fleet of delivery vehicles or a construction fleet, Trinetra's customizable solutions cater to a wide range of industries and business needs.

2. Chekhra Business Solutions

Chekhra Business Solutions specializes in fleet management software tailored to the unique requirements of businesses in Dubai and the wider UAE. Their user-friendly platform offers advanced features such as GPS tracking, fuel management, and maintenance scheduling, allowing businesses to gain real-time insights into their fleet operations. With a focus on innovation and customer satisfaction, Chekhra Business Solutions is committed to helping businesses maximize their productivity and profitability.

3. Carmine

Carmine is a cloud-based fleet management software solution designed to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes in Dubai. With features such as vehicle tracking, driver management, and compliance monitoring, Carmine helps businesses streamline their operations and ensure regulatory compliance. Its intuitive interface and customizable reporting tools make it easy for businesses to track their fleet performance and make data-driven decisions to optimize efficiency and reduce costs.

4. Fleet Complete

Fleet Complete is a global leader in fleet management software solutions, with a strong presence in Dubai and the UAE. Their comprehensive platform offers a wide range of features, including GPS tracking, route optimization, and asset management, enabling businesses to maximize the efficiency of their fleet operations. With real-time visibility into vehicle location, status, and performance, Fleet Complete empowers businesses to improve productivity, reduce fuel consumption, and enhance customer service.

5. GPSit

GPSit is a trusted provider of fleet management software solutions, offering cutting-edge technology to businesses across Dubai and the UAE. Their platform provides real-time tracking, route optimization, and driver behavior monitoring, helping businesses optimize their fleet operations and improve overall efficiency. With a focus on reliability, scalability, and customer support, GPSit is committed to helping businesses achieve their fleet management goals and drive success in a competitive marketplace.

Conclusion

In the fast-paced business environment of Dubai, where efficiency and productivity are paramount, the adoption of fleet management software solutions is essential for businesses to stay competitive and thrive. Whether it's optimizing routes, improving fuel efficiency, or ensuring regulatory compliance, these software solutions offer a comprehensive suite of tools to help businesses streamline their operations and drive growth. By harnessing the power of technology and innovation, businesses in Dubai can unlock new opportunities for success and maintain their position as leaders in their respective industries.

[apptechmobilesolutions]

Revolutionize Your Car Rental Business with Our Cutting-Edge Software Solution

In today's fast-paced digital world, car rental businesses need innovative solutions to stay competitive, streamline operations, and maximize profits. At Apptech Mobile Solutions, we understand the unique challenges faced by car rental companies, and we've developed a comprehensive software solution designed to address these needs. Our state-of-the-art car rental software is a game-changer, providing you with the tools necessary to enhance your business operations and drive growth.

car rental software for rental car business

Why Choose Our Car Rental Software?

Our car rental software is an all-in-one solution crafted to meet the demands of modern car rental businesses. Whether you're a small local business or a large rental enterprise, our software can be tailored to fit your specific needs. Here's what sets our software apart:

1. Mobile Application for Customers

Our user-friendly mobile app allows your customers to easily browse, book, and manage their car rentals from the convenience of their smartphones. Key features include:

Seamless Booking: Customers can effortlessly search for available cars, compare prices, and make bookings in just a few taps.

Real-Time Availability: The app provides real-time updates on car availability, ensuring that customers have the most accurate information at their fingertips.

Secure Payments: Integrated payment gateways enable secure and hassle-free transactions, giving customers peace of mind.

2. Web Application for Customers

In addition to our mobile app, our web application offers a robust platform for customers who prefer to book rentals through their desktops or laptops. The web app mirrors the functionality of the mobile app, providing a seamless and consistent experience across all devices.

3. Mobile App for Car Vendors

Our mobile app for car vendors empowers your partners and fleet managers with the tools they need to manage their vehicles efficiently. Key features include:

Inventory Management: Vendors can easily add, update, and remove vehicles from their inventory.

Booking Management: Receive and manage booking requests in real-time, ensuring optimal utilization of your fleet.

Reporting and Analytics: Access detailed reports and analytics to track performance, identify trends, and make informed decisions.

4. Web Admin Panel for Overall Control

Our powerful web admin panel provides you with complete control over your car rental business. Key features include:

User Management: Manage customer and vendor profiles, monitor activity, and ensure compliance with your business policies.

Fleet Management: Oversee your entire fleet, track vehicle status, and schedule maintenance to keep your operations running smoothly.

Financial Management: Monitor revenue, track expenses, and generate financial reports to gain insights into your business's financial health.

Customizable Settings: Tailor the software to your specific business needs with customizable settings and configurations.

Benefits of Our Car Rental Software

1. Increased Efficiency

Automate and streamline your operations, reducing manual work and minimizing errors. This leads to improved efficiency, allowing you to focus on growing your business.

2. Enhanced Customer Experience

Provide your customers with a seamless and convenient booking experience, enhancing customer satisfaction and loyalty.

3. Improved Fleet Utilization

Maximize the utilization of your fleet with real-time availability and booking management, ensuring that your vehicles are always in use.

4. Data-Driven Insights

Leverage detailed reports and analytics to make informed business decisions, identify opportunities for growth, and stay ahead of the competition.

5. Scalability

Our software is designed to grow with your business. Whether you're expanding your fleet or entering new markets, our solution can scale to meet your evolving needs.

Get Started Today!

Transform your car rental business with our innovative software solution. At Apptech Mobile Solutions, we are committed to helping you achieve success. Contact us today to learn more about our car rental software and how it can benefit your business. Let us be your partner in driving growth and profitability.

[rentsure]

Top Emerging Trends in Car Fleet Insurance You Need to Know

In today's fast-paced world, businesses are constantly adapting to stay ahead of the curve, and car fleet insurance is no exception. With the rise of technology and shifting market dynamics, staying informed about emerging trends in car fleet insurance is crucial for businesses to make informed decisions and ensure optimal coverage for their vehicle fleets.

Let's dive into the top emerging trends that every fleet manager and business owner should know about.

Usage-Based Insurance (UBI) Revolutionising the Game

Traditional car fleet insurance policies often operate on fixed premiums, regardless of how the vehicles are used. However, with the advent of usage-based insurance (UBI), everything is changing. UBI utilises telematics technology to track vehicle usage, allowing insurance providers to tailor premiums based on actual driving behaviour.

This not only promotes safer driving practices among fleet drivers but also enables businesses to potentially lower insurance costs by demonstrating responsible driving habits.

Integration of AI and Big Data Analytics

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and big data analytics is revolutionising the car fleet insurance industry. By analysing vast amounts of data collected from telematics devices, insurers can gain valuable insights into driver behaviour, accident patterns, and risk factors.

This data-driven approach enables insurers to offer more personalised and competitive insurance packages tailored to each fleet's unique needs, ultimately leading to better risk management and cost savings for businesses.

Focus on Fleet Safety and Risk Management

In today's litigious society, ensuring fleet safety and effective risk management is paramount for businesses. Insurance providers are increasingly placing emphasis on proactive safety measures, such as driver training programs, vehicle maintenance protocols, and real-time monitoring systems.

By prioritizing fleet safety and risk mitigation, businesses can not only reduce the likelihood of accidents but also demonstrate their commitment to responsible fleet management, potentially leading to lower insurance premiums and improved overall operational efficiency.

Rise of On-Demand Insurance Solutions

The traditional annual insurance model may not always align with the dynamic needs of modern businesses. Enter on-demand insurance solutions for fleet insurance. These flexible policies allow businesses to adjust coverage in real-time based on fluctuations in fleet size, usage patterns, or specific project requirements.

Whether it's scaling up for seasonal demand or scaling down during periods of low activity, on-demand insurance provides businesses with the flexibility and cost-effectiveness they need to stay agile in today's competitive landscape.

Shift Towards Sustainable and Electric Fleets

With increasing environmental awareness and regulatory pressures, many businesses are transitioning towards sustainable electric vehicle fleets. This shift not only helps reduce carbon emissions but also presents unique insurance considerations.

Insurers are developing specialised car fleet insurance products tailored to the needs of electric vehicle fleets, including coverage for battery replacement, charging infrastructure, and cyber risks associated with connected electric vehicles. By embracing sustainability, businesses can not only lower their environmental footprint but also access innovative insurance solutions designed to support their transition to greener fleets.

Collaboration and Partnerships Driving Innovation

In an increasingly interconnected world, collaboration and partnerships are key drivers of innovation in the car fleet insurance industry. Insurers are teaming up with technology providers, vehicle manufacturers, and fleet management companies to develop integrated solutions that streamline insurance processes, enhance risk management capabilities, and improve overall fleet performance.

By harnessing the collective expertise of industry stakeholders, businesses can gain access to cutting-edge car fleet insurance solutions that empower them to achieve their operational and strategic objectives.

Ending Notes

The fleet insurance landscape is evolving rapidly, driven by technological advancements, shifting market dynamics, and changing business needs. By staying informed about these emerging trends and embracing innovative insurance solutions, businesses can optimise their fleet management practices, mitigate risks, and unlock new opportunities for growth and success.

Whether it's leveraging UBI to promote safer driving habits or embracing on-demand insurance for greater flexibility, the future of car fleet insurance is full of exciting possibilities for businesses of all sizes.

[sandeepsrk007]

Navigating Efficiency: GPS Vehicle Tracking Systems in Dubai

Dubai, a city known for its innovation and technological advancements, continues to embrace cutting-edge solutions to enhance efficiency and security across various industries. One such technology that has gained prominence in recent years is GPS vehicle tracking systems. These systems offer businesses in Dubai the ability to monitor and manage their fleet of vehicles in real-time, leading to improved productivity, cost savings, and enhanced safety. Let's delve into the world of Gps vehicle tracking system company in dubai and explore the leading companies offering these solutions in Dubai.

1. Trakker Middle East: Trakker Middle East is a leading provider of GPS vehicle tracking systems in Dubai, offering state-of-the-art solutions tailored to the needs of businesses across various sectors. Their comprehensive tracking platform provides real-time monitoring of vehicles, enabling fleet managers to track routes, monitor driver behavior, and optimize fuel consumption. With customizable features such as geofencing, driver identification, and maintenance scheduling, Trakker Middle East helps businesses streamline operations and improve overall efficiency.

2. GPS Tracking Dubai: GPS Tracking Dubai specializes in providing advanced GPS tracking solutions for vehicles, assets, and personnel in Dubai and the wider UAE region. Their cutting-edge tracking devices offer precise location tracking, speed monitoring, and route optimization capabilities, allowing businesses to optimize fleet performance and enhance customer service. With user-friendly software and 24/7 customer support, GPS Tracking Dubai ensures that businesses have the tools they need to stay connected and in control of their assets at all times.

3. Falcon Trackers: Falcon Trackers is a trusted name in the GPS vehicle tracking industry, offering a wide range of tracking solutions to businesses in Dubai. Their advanced tracking devices are equipped with features such as live tracking, historical route playback, and driver behavior analysis, providing businesses with valuable insights into their fleet operations. With customizable alerts and reports, Falcon Trackers empowers businesses to improve efficiency, reduce operating costs, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.

4. Ruptela: Ruptela is a global provider of GPS tracking and fleet management solutions, with a strong presence in Dubai and the Middle East region. Their innovative tracking devices and software platforms offer comprehensive fleet management capabilities, including vehicle tracking, fuel monitoring, and driver performance analysis. With a focus on data-driven insights and actionable intelligence, Ruptela helps businesses in Dubai optimize their fleet operations, increase productivity, and achieve measurable results.

5. Smart Track: Smart Track is a leading provider of GPS vehicle tracking systems and telematics solutions in Dubai, offering a wide range of products and services to meet the diverse needs of businesses. Their advanced tracking devices are designed to enhance fleet visibility, improve driver safety, and reduce operational costs. With features such as real-time tracking, route optimization, and predictive maintenance, Smart Track empowers businesses to make informed decisions and drive operational excellence.

In conclusion, GPS vehicle tracking systems have become indispensable tools for businesses in Dubai looking to optimize fleet operations, improve efficiency, and enhance safety. With a variety of companies offering innovative tracking solutions tailored to the needs of businesses across different sectors, Dubai continues to lead the way in leveraging technology to drive business growth and innovation. As the city embraces digital transformation, the adoption of GPS vehicle tracking systems is expected to further accelerate, paving the way for a more connected and efficient future.

[eldmandate1223]

Optimizing Fleet Management with KeepTrucking: A Comprehensive Guide

 In the fast-paced world of transportation, efficient fleet management is crucial for businesses to thrive. KeepTrucking emerges as a game-changer, offering cutting-edge solutions to streamline operations, enhance compliance, and boost overall productivity. In this blog, we'll explore the myriad benefits of KeepTrucking and how it transforms the landscape of fleet management.

1. The Evolution of Fleet Management:

Traditional fleet management involved manual tracking, paperwork, and numerous challenges. KeepTrucking revolutionizes this process, introducing advanced telematics and software solutions that provide real-time insights into every aspect of your fleet.

2. KeepTrucking Features and Solutions:

Dive into the diverse features that KeepTrucking brings to the table, including GPS tracking, electronic logging devices (ELDs), vehicle diagnostics, and customizable reports. These features not only enhance operational efficiency but also ensure compliance with regulatory standards.

3. Compliance Made Easy:

ELDMANDATE, the driving force behind KeepTrucking, prioritizes compliance with Hours of Service (HOS) regulations. Through automated logs and alerts, KeepTrucking ensures that your fleet adheres to HOS rules, reducing the risk of violations and associated penalties.

4. Real-Time Visibility and Analytics:

KeepTrucking offers a comprehensive dashboard that provides real-time visibility into your fleet's activities. Analyze data on driver behavior, fuel efficiency, and maintenance needs, empowering you to make informed decisions that positively impact your bottom line.

5. Improving Driver Experience:

KeepTrucking is designed with drivers in mind. The user-friendly interface, combined with features like electronic logbooks, reduces administrative burdens on drivers, allowing them to focus on the road. Enhanced communication tools also facilitate collaboration between drivers and dispatchers.

6. Scalability and Integration:

Whether you operate a small fleet or a large enterprise, KeepTrucking is scalable to meet your needs. Additionally, it seamlessly integrates with other software and systems, ensuring a smooth and efficient workflow within your organization.

7. Cost Savings and Efficiency Gains:

By optimizing routes, reducing idle time, and enhancing overall operational efficiency, KeepTrucking contributes to significant cost savings. The initial investment in this technology is quickly outweighed by the long-term benefits it provides.

In the competitive landscape of transportation, staying ahead requires innovative solutions that go beyond mere compliance. ELDMANDATE, through KeepTrucking, emerges as a pivotal force in reshaping fleet management. As you navigate the complexities of managing your fleet, trust ELDMANDATE and KeepTrucking to lead the way with compliance, efficiency, and overall excellence.

[holytheoristtastemaker]

Frost & Sullivan is offering insight on what to expect in the healthcare industry post-pandemic including the acceleration of virtual clinical trials and increased use of AI.

There is no doubt that the future of healthcare lies in digital technologies. The next two decades will be the age of the bioeconomy, which will have a significant impact on the economy, society and human lives. The convergence of AI, analytics and computations will allow healthcare to become a more measurement-driven business and fuel innovations that will have a far-reaching impact on how businesses will run in the long term.

Realizing a digital future in healthcare after COVID-19 pandemic

As the healthcare industry strengthens its scientific arsenal, it also needs to recognize the new normal and implement emerging, sustainable business models. Frost & Sullivan published its predictions for 2020 in December 2019, and while some still hold, we must acknowledge the significant impact and changes driven by the COVID-19 pandemic. This new vision for a digital future in healthcare for 2020 and beyond will not just focus on measuring segment resilience, identifying business continuity plans and highlighting the promise of digital tech -- it will also explore the implementation framework and immediate opportunities for a smoother transition.

A lost year for healthcare

Before the true magnitude of the pandemic came to fore, 2020 was expected to be the year when the total healthcare market would cross the $2 trillion mark and witness comfortable growth of 5.3%. However, as the situation unfolded, it became clear that growth would not cross 3.1% even in the most optimistic scenarios. While some segments like pharma and diagnostics will remain more resilient and continue to grow at 4% to 5%, medical imaging and medical devices will take the hardest hit and will experience best-case revenue declines of 31% and 2%, respectively.

The healthcare IT segment is expected to grow at almost 8%, due to the steadfast growth in the telehealth market. But despite some technical gains, there's still expected to be a loss of $45 billion in revenue and as much as $92 billion if things do not start recovering by the end of the second quarter in 2021.

By the middle of 2021, the healthcare industry will get back on its original growth trajectory; however, this will depend on new opportunities, which we explore below.

Prediction 1: Virtual clinical trials will make up 40% to 45% of all trials

By the end of 2020, 33% of global clinical trials will be disrupted, putting $3 billion in new product revenues at risk. Contract research organizations and pharma sponsors will increasingly lean on clinical trial IT offerings aiming for hybridization of patient recruitment, retention and monitoring to circumnavigate the most immediate challenges associated with social distancing. Consequently, we anticipate the mHealth and wearables-driven IT market will reach $560 million without the cost of the devices. Although virtual trials reduced the total trial costs by 15% to 20%, real-world applications were limited to observational trials. However, the initiation of Janssen's first-ever fully virtual interventional trial (NCT04252287) has set the right tone in 2020. The adoption momentum will vary based on product groups, particularly complex products like biologics.

Organic factors such as concerted efforts from logistic companies like Marken, clinical research  providers like Science 37, contract research organizations like PRA Health and inorganic factors like the COVID-19 pandemic will also accelerate the transition from traditional to hybrid to fully virtual designs across product groups and geographies in the next five years.

Prediction 2: Alternate testing sites to change point-of-care (POC) testing service paradigm

If there is one way to contain the spread of any infectious disease, it is testing. Bold measures have been taken during the pandemic including free, drive-through and walk-through testing and a large enabler has been (POC) testing. According to our research, countries around the globe are expected to maintain COVID-19 test volumes exceeding 500,000 subjects per day throughout the year for population surveillance and will generate $1.98 billion in revenue.

While the rise in testing is inevitable, the looming change is the emergence of alternate testing sites such as pharmacies or ports of entry. Although flu testing at pharmacies has been commonplace, 2020 is ushering in an era where pharmacies offer an unprecedented level of convenience to patients. They will move from screening to clinical lab-grade diagnostic and on-the-spot teleconsultation, followed by medication dispensation and reimbursement processing, all in a single patient visit, which can span just a couple of hours. This model will scale new heights in the coming years with test developers like Sherlock and Mammoth Biosciences close to the goal of achieving around $15 per test with a turnaround time of five to 15 minutes and sensitivity of 90% to 99%; SAP and Oracle offering high-grade data integration and connectivity; and pharmacies like CVS with 20,000 locations across the U.S.

The new model is sure to find traction with immediate advantages like triaging high-risk patients and reducing the lab burden, mid-term advantages like patient convenience and long-term advantages like rapid clinical trial recruitment.

Prediction 3: Ventilator surplus and remote monitoring to redefine non-hospital and home critical care model

Several healthcare and non-healthcare companies like Philips, Medtronic, Getinge, General Motors, Ford, Dyson and even Fitbit have responded commendably to the COVID-19-induced ventilator shortage. While this quick response and supply are critical, this will leave an uneven surplus once the pandemic is behind us. Frost & Sullivan's current estimates for 2020 indicate that the U.S. will end up with a surplus of approximately 100,000 ventilators. Germany and the UK might just meet their demand, but France, Italy and Spain collectively will face a deficit of almost 30,000 to 50,000 ventilators, which might be purchased through the rest of 2020.

This is likely to reset the critical care medicine paradigms, especially as manufacturers stare at sale losses for subsequent years until demand picks up again. Though a fraction of the surplus will end up in federal stockpiles, a large portion will be absorbed by hospitals. Most notably, the portable designs will end up in homes, redefining non-hospital care models. Already, 95% of home medical equipment providers in the U.S. are reporting challenges in securing new equipment from manufacturers. The ongoing shift toward care delivery in homes, along with healthcare workforce shortages and associated fatigue of the existing personnel, will drive this trend further.

Another positive change expected from this surplus is the advancements in remote monitoring technologies including ResMed's cloud-based Airview platform. We expect the ventilator market to see a jump of 400% in 2020 and reach $4 billion in revenue in Europe and the U.S. combined. However, sustainability of this growth will call for a review of creative leasing models, embedding remote monitoring and control in newer designs and utilizing analytics  to usher in a new era of growth in an otherwise mature and sluggish segment.

Prediction 4: Informatics and AI address workflow automation and operational analytics

Globally, the first and second quarter were quieter for the radiology department. According to Frost & Sullivan estimates, there has been a 50% to 70% reduction in footfall for elective procedures for oncology, cardiology, neurology and general radiology, creating a revenue deficit of $25 billion to $30 billion in imaging services alone. Nevertheless, with the early signs of a return to normalcy, the pent-up demand for elective procedures will grow in the remaining quarters.

At current trends, radiology, which is serving at 25% to 30% capacity, is expected to scale up to 65% to 75% by Q4 in 2020. This much needed upward swing would have ordinarily been challenged by current aging equipment fleet and technology obsolescence in the installed bases, but the new infrastructure investments made in teleradiology and AI as part of COVID-19 stimulus packages will bring the anticipated growth to fruition. This next-generation imaging equipment fleet will not only address historical concerns about the total cost of ownership and productivity gains, but it will also boost workflow efficiency by 40% to 50%.

As a result, it's predicted that teleradiology and AI will bring 2x growth in comparison to Q3 and Q4 of 2019 and drive $6 billion to $7 billion of imaging business in the second half of 2020.

Prediction 5: Virtual consultations by HCPs will witness greater than 100% growth in U.S.

As Europe and the U.S. crossed unfortunate milestones with the number of patients affected by COVID-19, the telehealth industry received a boost. Frost & Sullivan forecasts that revenue from virtual visits will display 124.3% growth in 2020 in the U.S. alone, which is the largest telehealth market and the biggest COVID-19 hotspot. However, this growth is pressure testing the existing network infrastructures and models -- the wait time for a virtual visit is already 22 hours, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. While the need to scale up is clear and pressing, several factors are creating an active transition into the impending age of teleconsultations.

There is a strong impetus from governments to standardize the use of telehealth tools, such as Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) adding 80 services to be fulfilled via telehealth and Swedish telehealth provider LIVI launching the first UK national guidelines for NHS general practitioners. Likewise, the private sector -- Teladoc for instance -- has moved to expand telehealth capabilities into robotics and virtual assistants that will support healthcare workers. Despite the catalyst being temporary, we are confident that telehealth will become the new normal. Aggressive onboarding of doctors, rapid scale up by vendors like Amwell and Zipnosis, and global evolution of reimbursement and regulatory models will ensure that telehealth becomes the new standard of care for mental health, chronic conditions and dermatology segments.

About the authors

Reenita Das is a healthcare futurist and strategist, passionate about changing the healthcare industry. She recently was voted one of the top 100 women in Femtech and Healthtech. She has lived and worked in over 10 countries in the world, focusing on healthcare issues and working with the public and private sector to implement growth change strategies. Das currently serves as transformational health partner and senior vice president and is the first woman partner at Frost & Sullivan. 

Khushbu Jain, a biodesign and innovation fellow, has over nine years of experience in the healthcare industry in the areas of market research, commercial due diligence and asset scouting for portfolio optimization. Khushbu currently serves as an industry analyst with Frost & Sullivan's Transformational Health vertical. In her current role, her work spans cross-sections of pharmaceutical value chain including specific therapy areas, novel biological products, and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

[hudsonespie]

Twelve Start-Ups to Bring Digital Solutions to Market

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and NUS Enterprise, the entrepreneurial arm of the National University of Singapore, has announced funding for 12 start-ups.

The initiative is part of the Port Innovation Ecosystem Reimagined @ BLOCK71 (PIER71)’s Smart Port Challenge (SPC) 2019, and the 12 start-ups have each been awarded S$50,000 in grant funding from MPA. The funding will enable them to conduct prototype development and test-bed their near market-ready solutions.

Over the next 12 months, the start-ups will be working on pilot projects in collaboration with PIER71’s maritime corporate partners, who will provide subject matter expertise, test data, as well as a platform to test-bed their solutions. Their grant applications were assessed based on the viability of their solutions in addressing maritime challenges focusing on technologies such as artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, blockchain, robotics and wearables. The start-ups are:

ABEJA ASA Development C-LOG Cerekon Dravam Kanda KoiReader Technologies Marified Megapixel Newton Services Research (local entity of Delvify) Performance Rotors Tropical Renewable Energy Engineering (TREE)

Speaking of two of the start-ups, Ron Fong, Regional IT Manager of Teekay said, “The use of Kanda’s VR solution to simulate a safety procedure known as Lock Out Tag Out will allow our crew to undergo training in a virtual tanker which is essentially a digital twin of the one they work on, without endangering their lives or damaging any equipment. We’re also working with Cerekon to explore a remote support system, that will enable our onboard engineers to use voice-activated head-mounted wearables to safely and more efficiently conduct equipment maintenance.”

Eight out of 13 of the previous grant recipients from Smart Port Challenge 2018 have completed their pilot projects, with the remaining five nearing completion. Ship Supplies Direct, a start-up focusing on improving marine logistics and supply chain, has reported up to 30 percent reduction in delivery costs and up to three hours less waiting time per delivery through their pilot project with PSA International. 

Aeras Medical, a start-up with experience in the healthcare industry, also completed a three-month onboard trial with OMC Shipping. Their vital signs monitoring solution was used to monitor and manage crew health remotely, and achieved high adherence rate among the crew.

ABEJA

ABEJA is one of the first start-ups specializing in machine learning and deep learning in Asia. The organization has deployed over 200 artificial intelligence (AI) projects across various industries and specializes in implementing computer vision solutions. For the maritime industry, ABEJA is using video analytics and deep learning to automate many routine tasks that are manual and tedious. With improved operations, companies can help their employees achieve greater productivity and focus on higher-level endeavors. Backed by investors including Google, Nvidia, Salesforce, ABEJA was the only Japanese start-up to be commended by CB Insights (AI 100: The Artificial Intelligence Start-ups Redefining Industries).

https://www.abejaglobal.com/

KoiReader Technologies

Checking and cross-referencing financial and declaration documentation is a labour intensive process in the maritime industry. KoiReader has developed an innovative machine learning visual recognition system that extracts contextual data from documents (image and text) and enters it into legacy and ERP systems as actionable operational data. This improves the accuracy of filling up logistics data for regulatory clearance, brings down the cost of document processing from $2.50 to less than few cents per page, and reduces operational risks such as those associated with mis-declaration of dangerous goods.

www.koireader.com

Megapixel

A massive amount of communication goes on as part of daily vessel operations. However, the absence of a system to track and tag real-time and past information makes the retrieval of historical data difficult and time consuming. Harnessing its rich development experience, Megapixel has developed a solution called Globarius which has already been successful in the construction industry and is being adapted for the maritime industry to provide port/terminal operators with a knowledge repository, using progress tracking tools to collect, organize and report data.

www.megapixel.sg

ASA Development

ASA Development, through a decade of refinement and testing, has created the Contego Productivity Platform, a tool that has helped many organizations improve their operational efficiency, through standardization of process and centralization of data from remote sites. Contego Audit has helped many offshore and maritime companies make sense of previously fragmented processes. Contego Document Management has enabled organizations to mobilize management systems so all company information is at the fingertips of the people who need it the most. ASA’s team is dedicated to making the maritime industry more efficient through the use of tools that make life easier.

www.contegoforbusiness.com

C-LOG

C-LOG is pioneering data collaboration in the maritime industry by making inter-organisational sharing of crew documentation easier and faster while respecting the data privacy of the seafarer. Addressing a challenge to develop a crew-centric platform that supports self-management and career development within the maritime industry, C-LOG is creating a solution that digitizes current paper-based processes by leveraging blockchain and AI. This would save the maritime industry between 30-50 percent of costs related to handling crew documentation.

www.c-log.io

Cerekon

Efficiency, safety and productivity are key concerns when it comes to the inspection and maintenance of vessels, particularly entire fleets. As a smart wearables solution provider, Cerekon’s AI based “Voice-driven Handsfree Inspection & Remote Support System” enables field personnel to conduct inspections, capture issues, conduct audits, diagnose problems and train staff, without the use of handheld devices or paper based systems. By wearing the specially designed wearables, personnel can safely conduct audits, identify leakages/cracks, access digital checklists, auto-generate job reports, by using simple human voice commands and live stream their work to seek remote assistance, without the need for bulky devices, leaving their hands free to carry tools/equipment or hold on-to hand rails for safety.

www.cerekon.com

Dravam

Dravam’s innovative fuel quality monitoring solution is an early detection system, scanning the entire bunker transfer for contaminants and currently providing near real-time information about the fuel quality. Installed seamlessly onto a vessel, this patented solution increases efficiency and assurance of bunkering operations, and addresses the industry’s need for faster fuel quality testing. With Singapore being the world’s first port to implement mass flow metering, to ensure quantity of bunker, the implementation of enhanced quality monitoring will enable Singapore port to ensure “Q&Q” (Quantity and Quality) of the bunker fuel.

http://www.dravam.com/

Kanda

Kanda is creating virtual and augmented reality platforms, coupled with machine learning to address the high costs associated with hiring and training within the maritime industry. Using a photo-realistic digital twin of an entire tanker, Kanda is building a virtual reality training session that allows crew members to move around the simulated tanker. Kanda has also created a unique technique that uses machine learning and situational judgment to validate how well a candidate’s response correlates to performance as part of the recruitment process.

https://www.kanda.dk/

Marified

Building on the success and traction its parent company, Edufied, had gain with its blockchain-based storage and verification solution for the education industry, Marified has created a digital wallet that secures a seafarer’s certifications against forgery and is accessible from anywhere in the world. This could reduce the administrative loads of flag states, port clearance authorities, shipowners, ship management companies and training centers by 90-97 percent. The use of blockchain technology also reduces the risks associated with hacking of current digital solutions.

www.marified.network

Newton Services Research (local entity of Delvify)

Delvify builds and runs predictive AI models for businesses. Using state-of-the-art, built in-house AI tools including computer vision, natural language processing and automated speech recognition we help maritime enterprises clean, categorize and analyze their data to optimize operational processes. We take data such as past customer actions, combine it with third party data to create a forecasting and decision-making platform to recommend actions to vessel operators looking to optimize roll-pools, pricing and loadings.

www.delvify.io

Performance Rotors

In-hull ship inspections are both time-consuming and risky due to confined spaces, heights, lack of oxygen or presence of toxic or flammable gasses. By bringing their confined drone technology with AI defect identification and non-destructive testing (NDT) to the maritime industry, Performance Rotors can help to minimize such risks and costs. Their method uses NDT technology in addition to video, to allow for detailed inspection, digitalization, data science and management, which leads to easier comparison of results for better prediction and maintenance program formulation.

www.performance-rotors.com

Tropical Renewable Energy Engineering (TREE)

TREE supports Singapore’s green port initiative by providing novel and innovative solutions towards Digital twin based marine asset health monitoring with real-time capability. TREE’s underwater drone-based solution aims to minimize downtime of marine assets by providing early information on potential failures of marine assets, to take timely preventive actions much faster than conventional maintenance methods. TREE also specializes in resource mapping and environmental impact of water bodies and coastal locations using novel sensor integrated surficial robots that provides vital information such as seabed bathymetry, water quality and tidal flow and wave conditions.

www.tree.sg

from Storage Containers https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/twelve-start-ups-to-bring-digital-solutions-to-market via http://www.rssmix.com/

[sandlerresearch]

In-Vehicle Computer System Market by Application (Safety, Performance, Convenience, and Diagnostic), Offering (Hardware and Software), Vehicle Type (PC and CV), Memory Size (Up to 8 GB, 16GB, 32 GB and above), and Region- Global Forecast to 2025 published on

https://www.sandlerresearch.org/in-vehicle-computer-system-market-by-application-safety-performance-convenience-and-diagnostic-offering-hardware-and-software-vehicle-type-pc-and-cv-memory-size-up-to-8-gb-16gb-32-gb-an.html

In-Vehicle Computer System Market by Application (Safety, Performance, Convenience, and Diagnostic), Offering (Hardware and Software), Vehicle Type (PC and CV), Memory Size (Up to 8 GB, 16GB, 32 GB and above), and Region- Global Forecast to 2025

“The increasing focus on telematics-based preventive maintenance is driving the growth of the in-vehicle computer system market.”

The global in-vehicle computer system market is projected to grow from USD 565 million in 2020 to USD 980 million by 2025, at a CAGR of 11.6%. The market is driven by preventive fleet maintenance solutions to optimize operational costs and reduce unexpected downtime. Periodic preventive maintenance would likely surge the demand for in-vehicle computer systems for diagnosis. Many countries have proposed mandates for tougher inspections to comply with the latest safety standards and wider testing scope to accommodate more tests as mandatory. For instance, in May 2018, the EU commissioned a directive for periodic assessment of passenger cars, trucks, heavy-trailers, and motorcycles to determine the road worthiness of such vehicles. It also intended to include tests for brake, steering, airbags, and suspension as mandatory. It can detect problems early, fixing which, the owner can avoid costly repairs and damages. Fleet managers rely on such tests to prevent uncertain breakdowns by scheduling prior checkups. Regular inspections can optimize fleet performance as well as increase profitability and reliability.North America is estimated to lead the in-vehicle computer system market due to its huge logistic fleets.

“Demand for advanced connectivity and in-cabin functions is likely to drive the growth of the in-vehicle computer market during the forecast period.”

Automotive OEMs are moving toward developing interactive infotainment systems to offer more luxurious in-cabin experience. In-vehicle infotainment systems primarily comprise devices that provide features such as music streaming, navigation, voice recognition, calls, and messages. Due to the emergence of smartphones and 5G technologies, drivers are now able to connect their smartphones with infotainment systems. For instance, upon connecting their device, drivers can stream music from Spotify or iTunes. Smartphone makers are also working closely with automotive OEMs to offer superior features in Android Auto or Apple Car Play systems. Such systems would allow drivers to interact with the infotainment systems natively. Modern SUVs and sedans are also equipped with high resolution displays and improved sound systems.

“Europe is estimated to play a major role in the in-vehicle computer system market during the forecast period.”

Europe is estimated to be the second largest market due to increasing initiatives for intelligent transport systems (ITS) applications such as connected vehicles and smart public transit. The governments are encouraging masses to opt for public transit by optimizing experience and travel time. For instance, in Berlin, one can buy an S-Bahn ticket from automatic vending machines and use all the public transport facilities such as buses, subway trains, and trams with a single ticket. Tickets are validated on the vehicle while switching to other transportation modes. Likewise, one can easily validate their tickets after boarding a bus, saving a lot of time and hassle. The bus stops display the route number and real-time ETA for the next bus on that route. In-vehicle computer systems are installed in these buses and other devices such as cameras and radio-frequency identification (RFID) sensors. Such vehicles are connected to a central hub, and real-time data is shared with drivers and passengers. In-addition, advancements in specialized vehicles such as connected ambulances, fire trucks, and cash-in-transit vehicles would be instrumental to the growth of the European in-vehicle computer system market. For instance, connected ambulances rely upon multi-WAN vehicle gateways to communicate with healthcare institutes, and cash-in-transit vehicles use network video recorders (NVR) for real-time monitoring from the central hub. Such applications would help Europe maintain its competitive position in the in-vehicle computer system market.

In-depth interviews were conducted with CEOs, marketing directors, innovation and technology directors, and executives from various key organizations operating in the in-vehicle computer system market.

By Company Type: OEMs – 28%, Tier 1 – 62%,and Tier 2 – 10%,

By Designation: CXOs – 42%, Directors – 36%,and Others* – 22%

By Region: North America – 40%, Europe – 31%, Asia Pacific – 23%, LATAM -4%, and Rest of the World- 2%

*Others include sales, marketing, and product managers.

The in-vehicle computer system market comprises major manufacturers and service providers such as S&TAG (Kontron) (Germany), Lanner Electronics Inc. (Taiwan), SINTRONES Technology Corporation (Taiwan), NEXCOM International (Taiwan), IBASE Technology Inc. (Taiwan),and Axiomtek (Taiwan).

Research Coverage:

The study covers the in-vehicle computer system market across various segments. It aims at estimating the market size and future growth potential of this market across different segments such as application, offering, memory size, vehicle type,and region.The study also includes an in-depth competitive analysis of key players in the market, along with their company profiles, key observations related to product and business offerings, recent developments, and acquisitions.

Key Benefits of Buying the Report:

The report will help leaders/new entrants in this market with information on the closest approximations of the revenue numbers for the overall in-vehicle computer system market. This report will help stakeholders understand the competitive landscape and gain more insights to better position their businesses and plan suitable go-to-market strategies. The report also helps stakeholders understand the pulse of the market and provides them with information on key market drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities.

[talabib]

Unlock the secrets to becoming a self-made billionaire.

What do Elon Musk, Larry Page, Oprah Winfrey and Michael Ilitch all have in common, apart from being famous? They’re all self-made billionaires, each one of them at the helm of huge business empires. But that’s not all they have in common. When you look at the success stories of these and other entrepreneurial giants, you begin to see a pattern of underlying skills and abilities. It’s no coincidence they are all at the top – so what are their essential skills?

Self-made billionaires excel at juggling multiple ideas and perspectives.

What does it take to be a billionaire these days? To reach such heights, you have to approach your goal very differently than the average entrepreneur. In a constantly changing world, you no longer have the luxury of focusing on one thing at a time; you have to learn how to juggle multiple ideas.

Self-made billionaires maintain multiple ideas and perspectives, both big and small, at all times. Most people and companies will try to focus on one thing at a time to avoid complications. But others, like Bill Gates, achieve their success by operating in an environment of dualities, managing multiple ideas and actions simultaneously.

Bill Gates demonstrates not only the success of handling multiple ideas, but also of juggling multiple companies at the same time. It’s a little known fact that while running Microsoft, Gates also started Corbis, a photo and video licensing company, as well as Cascade Investment, a holding and investment company.

This mindset of embracing duality, of juggling different ideas and investments at the same time, are common among producers. These are people who have a clear vision and bring innovative ideas to the table. Producers can unite the right kinds of people and know how to use all their resources to their advantage.

On the other side of coin are the performers. These are talented and highly specialized people who excel in a specific field. We can look at Lynda and Stewart Resnick, the couple behind the successful juice company POM Wonderful, as an example of how producers and performers work together successfully.

Lynda is a natural born producer who brought together all her skills to identify a great product and create the right marketing strategy to sell it. Stewart is the performer who balances the budget and oversees the company’s operations and finances. This way, Stewart can keep Lynda in check if she goes overboard in the creative department and can make sure the company continues to make a profit.

Self-made millionaires have creative ideas that keep consumers in mind.

So what is the unique set of skills that enable self-made billionaires to reach this elite level of success? A billion-dollar business idea begins with something called empathic imagination: a merging of creative ideas with an understanding of and empathy for potential customers’ needs.

To come up with these ideas, billionaire producers must be experts in divergent thinking, that is, freeing your mind to allow for competing ideas in order to find a novel solution to a problem. For example, in the early 1980s, finding information on different mutual funds was a time-consuming process. Entrepreneur Joe Mansueto empathized with how frustrating this was for investors, and came up with a solution to assemble the information and make it easier to digest: he took $80,000 of savings and created Morningstar, a publication that would provide investment data in a simple and accessible format.

Mansueto’s thinking paid off. Mutual funds went on to become a mainstream investment tool and, as a result, Morningstar became a leading investment research and management firm.

Blockbuster ideas like this are the product of empathy and insight that comes from years of market research, as well as a gut feeling for what investors and customers want.

This was the case for Hui Lin Chit during the 1970s in China. He started by manufacturing zippers for clothing and later founded an apparel company; neither business turned out to be a smashing success. But Mr. Chit knew precisely who his target customers should be, namely low-income women in rural China, and understood their needs well.

Mr. Chit would seize the opportunity when a friend brought up the subject of sanitary napkins. Mr. Chit bought a machine to manufacture them for $80,000 and produced a product that was cleaner, safer and preferable to what his customers were using at the time. His company, Hengan International, is now one of China’s leading domestic manufacturers.

Running a multi-billion dollar business requires the right mix of time and timing.

The old saying is true – time ismoney. But for a billionaire idea, it’s also true that timing is money. Self-made billionaires know the importance of when to be patient and when to take action.

Take Steve Case for example. During the 1970s, he took ten years to patiently gain experience at companies like Procter & Gamble and PepsiCo before taking action and forever changing the way we communicate as the co-founder of America Online (AOL).

Steve Case saw his opportunity in 1984 when his brother introduced him to Control Video, an early interactive video game company. This venture was ultimately unsuccessful, but it connected him to the people with whom he would go on to create AOL. Some people might have called AOL an overnight success – but Case jokes that, to him, it was ten years in the making!

As you can see, to be a self-made billionaire, you have to be patient and await your chance. But you also can’t hesitate to take action when presented with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Alex Spanos is one such billionaire who seized the moment. Spanos started out selling sandwiches to migrant farm workers in California. But he saw an opportunity when the local farmers kept asking him if he knew where they could hire more workers. After all, more workers would mean greater demand for his sandwiches.

When Spanos drove down to the Mexican border town of El Centro to see what he could find out, he met another farmer who had just hired 350 new workers and desperately needed housing facilities for them. Spanos jumped at this chance as well, and agreed to help the farmer – even though he wasn’t exactly sure how. He ended up investing the profits from his sandwich business into building homes for the workers.

His willingness to take action paid off. The resulting housing facilities became his first step into the real estate market, a business venture that would ultimately make him a billionaire.

Self-made billionaires apply their imagination and innovation at every stage of product development.

So let’s say you have that billion-dollar idea. Now comes the question of how you successfully get that idea into the marketplace!

This is done through inventive execution, a process that combines imagination and design to bring problem-solving products into the market. This is something great producers do: they think up a new product while simultaneously designing it for optimum value.

As a result, producers can take action even when a market appears saturated by redesigning or changing an existing product to reach a broader audience. By reevaluating a product’s design, pricing, method of delivery and marketing, you can take it from a niche market into the mainstream.

This is what Micky Arison did as CEO of the cruise ship company Carnival Corporation & plc. He was only in his thirties when his father named him his successor at the head of the company. And with only three ships in their fleet, business was slow.

But Arison was eager to make an impact and redesign the cruising experience in a way that would turn the company into a billion-dollar business. To do this, he decided to market cruises as something everyone could afford, not just the wealthy. So, he dramatically expanded the number of ships in the company’s fleet to lower costs and, by the late-1980s, Carnival was the leading cruise brand worldwide.

When you pay attention to the details of product design, you’ll see that ideas powered by inventive execution can flourish when inserted into major markets.

Billionaire producers have a different attitude toward risk than other entrepreneurs.

Since our current economic climate is constantly changing, being a risk taker is essential for survival. But are successful entrepreneurs always rewarded for extreme and fearless risk taking?

What billionaire producers have is a relative view of risk. In contrast to other entrepreneurs, this gives them a better assessment of their potential gains against their potential losses.

Studies show that billionaires actually don’t take more or greater risks than the average entrepreneur. According to renowned scientist Daniel Kahneman’s theories on human decision making, what separates billionaires from other people is that they are simply less afraid of losing what they have in the pursuit to earn more.

Zhang Yin displayed this attitude when she decided to shut down her successful paper-trading company in Hong Kong and start over in the United States. The risk paid off: with her husband, she launched the company America Chung Nam, which became the leading paper exporter in the United States and made Zhang Yin one of the richest people in China.

It doesn’t always work out so smoothly. But even when losses happen, future billionaires will display perseverance and try again.

This resilience can be seen in former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg. In 1981, after eight years of employment and having become the company’s head of equity trading, Bloomberg was fired from his job at the Salomon Brothers investment bank. Despite his credentials, he had a hard time finding a new job. But he didn’t give up.

Instead, he decided to start the financial software company Bloomberg L.P. The company grew to over 15,000 employees and has spawned a radio network and TV station. Bloomberg took yet another successful risk in 2002 by leaving his company to launch a political career as the mayor of New York City.

These examples show us that producers are not afraid to risk what they already have when opportunity knocks. And their persistence in the face of setbacks shows us that success can come from being open to new ideas, taking chances and learning from our mistakes.

Self-made billionaires know how to partner to create synergistic effects.

It should be noted that most self-made billionaires didn’t transform their ideas into multi-billion dollar enterprises alone; this was accomplished by finding the right partner: a performer.

Putting together the right producer and performer is like finding the yin and yang of a successful business. The right partners will complement each other with their respective skill sets and will show a mutual trust and support that allows the other to succeed.

One such famous partnership is that of Apple Computers’ Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. Both had a vision of launching a product that could change both people’s lives and the marketplace. And they both knew each other’s strengths and weaknesses when it came to doing business: Jobs focused on the business side of Apple and Wozniak focused on product technology.

With this balance of responsibilities, producers and performers can each play to their strengths and grow their business as efficiently as possible.

Consider Mike and Marian Ilitch, who turned Little Caesars Pizza into the United States’ third-largest pizza restaurant chain.

Because of his empathic imagination, Mike took on the producer role, spending hours in the kitchen testing recipes and coming up with the famous marketing slogan “Pizza Pizza”. As a self-taught accountant, Marian took on the performer role, managing the finances and helping Little Caesars grow to a $2 billion company.

You can think of a producer without a performer as a bird without wings. They might know where to go, but without the necessary help, they won’t be able to take off. Combined with empathic imagination, a relative view of risk, patient urgency and inventive execution, business partnerships are the final key to billion-dollar success.

Billionaires thrive in a world full of complexities due in large part to their ability to practice dual thinking. With enough training and dedication, anyone can develop and increase their working memory and juggle multiple ideas. By honing these mental habits, you can take your first big steps toward a business breakthrough.

[clarenceomoore]

Disruptive Technologies: In Conversation with Byron Reese & Lauren Sallata

Byron Reese: Many people are excited about possibilities that today’s new technologies offer. They see a world made better through technology. Another group of people view the technology landscape completely differently and are concerned about the impact of technology on privacy, community, employment. Why is there so much disagreement, and where do you come down in your view of the future.

Lauren Sallata: In the words of Mohandas Gandhi, “Honest disagreement is often a good sign of progress.” You could say the same about disagreement over technology.  Panasonic is involved in engineering entirely new and better experiences, in cities and factories, in stores, offices, entertainment venues, and in automobiles, airports and on airplanes. Consultancy McKinsey identified 12 disruptive technologies that will account for trillions of dollars in economic value over the decade ahead. Panasonic is deeply engaged in 10 of those 12 technologies. And we see the positive impact of these technologies clearly already. For example, in renewable energy, our lithium-ion batteries are being used in the world’s leading electric vehicles to reduce pollution. Sensors embedded in road systems to send information to cars and road operators about hazardous conditions and traffic and use IoT to improve driving safety and reduce traffic jams. Other examples include wearable robotics designed to reduce injuries at work. 

How do you think the widespread adoption of IoT devices will change our daily lives?  What is Panasonic’s vision of a hyper-connected world look like? 

We see the “things” that make up the “Internet of Things” bringing us unparalleled data, information and convenience to change our in-home and working experiences. Voice technology will enable each interaction to be more personalized and seamless. We believe that voice is the technology that moves all other technologies forward. Why? Voice takes away the learning curve and gives both businesses and consumers more control over the way they use and interact with technology. Using our voices frees up our hands and our brains. When we pry our eyes away from screens, and stop tapping on keypads, we can focus on what we’re doing right now. The factory worker is less likely to make errors …the car driver is less distracted…the ER nurse can focus more completely on his patients. Voice is already an auto sector mainstay. We’ve developed cutting-edge, voice-activated Infotainment systems for many of the world’s top automakers, like our new ELS system for Acura.We’re working with Amazon to help us take voice integration beyond just information and move toward fully-realized contextual understanding. These capabilities are giving auto drivers and passengers control over critical features such as heating and ventilation systems and audio and navigation functions. We’re also giving passengers the benefit of connecting to other smart devices to allow them to fully control their experience both in and out of the car. We’re also working with Google on similar projects in the voice space, to provide integration and information throughout their technology solutions.

Talk about driverless cars for a minute.  When do you think we might see the end of the human driver? What is Panasonic’s role in building that world?

We’ve estimated by 2030, 15% of new cars sold could be fully autonomous. We work with almost all the major automakers around the world, have for almost 60 years, and are doubling down on our ADAS and automation technology investments with partners. Autonomous Vehicles are going to have a huge impact on our society. Vehicle Electrification is going to have a similar impact on our planet…The combination of the two technologies will create a multiplier effect that will remake transportation. This will happen in stages. Stage one is the emergence of the connected vehicle, which lays the foundation. With EVs, we’re still at a price premium to internal combustion. By around 2022, we’ll be at parity. During this time, we’ll see elements of autonomous driving, such as autonomous braking, and EV autonomous vehicles for commercial and fleet start to go mainstream.  Next, we see trucking fleets start to make the transition.  Then commercial ride sharing fleets come on-line, giving consumers the benefit of autonomous electric vehicle transportation. In the last stage, we’ll see the personal ownership market catch up with commercial.

Tell us about what’s going on at Highway I-70 in Colorado

As cars become more computer than machine, they are capable of communicating with one another in real time – saving time and lives. Panasonic has partnered with the Colorado Department of Transportation to create a connected vehicle ecosystem that promises to drive a revolution in roadway safety and efficiency. On a 90-mile commuter stretch of interstate 70 into Denver, this technology has been designed and will be deployed later this year to allow CDOT to share information on highway conditions, traffic alerts and other driving hazards. It’s the first production-grade, U.S. connected vehicle system in which real-time data would be shared across vehicles, infrastructure and people with a goal to improve safety, lower fuel consumption and reduce congestion. Estimates are that such a solution could reduce non-impaired traffic crashes by 80 percent and save drivers hours stuck in traffic each year.

What is Panasonic doing in the world of immersive entertainment? 

At iconic stadiums, beloved theme parks, and worldwide special events like the Olympic Games, Panasonic technologies immerse fans in the action and create storytelling experiences that inspire and amaze with the world’s largest video displays, mesmerizingly sharp content, sophisticated projection mapping, seamless mobile integration, and innovations like an augmented reality skybox that gives fans control of stats and replays, projecting them right on to the glass inside stadium suites – all without obstructing their view of the field. From racing through Radiator Springs at Disney California Adventure Theme Park to embarking on a frozen voyage through Arendelle in the Frozen Ever After attraction at Orlando’s Epcot, Panasonic’s technology has enhanced the experience for millions. Recently Panasonic collaborated with Disney creative teams on an amazing experience inside Pandora – The World of Avatar, at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Its projection technology helped Disney bring the Na’vi River Journey attraction to life. Guests take a boating expedition down a mysterious river hidden within a bioluminescent rainforest, through a darkened network of caves illuminated by exotic glowing plants and amazing creatures that call Pandora home. The journey culminates in an encounter with a Na’vi Shaman of Songs, who has a deep connection to Pandora’s life force and sends positive energy out into the forest through her music. Disney wanted the two worlds to work seamlessly with one another, and Panasonic’s projection system allowed the attraction to achieve that seamless connection through projection imaging that provided perfect color rendition, precise levels of brightness, and robust systems. Today fans who use Instagram and rideshare as verbs expect the same mobile connectivity and convenience from their ballpark as they do from their Lyft. The Atlanta Braves franchise understands this well, and with help from Panasonic technology welcomes fans way before the opening pitch. Panasonic technologies at SunTrust Park and its adjacent mixed-use site, the Atlanta Battery, are all digitally connected, with more than 18 LED displays, monitors, projectors, digital signage kiosks, and video security systems – all regulated from one central control room. We just conducted a study of CTOs and senior tech decision makers on how companies are using or want to use disruptive technologies in areas such as retail, sports, media and entertainment. Our new study reveals that four technologies are at the top of their innovation agendas – artificial intelligence, robotics, 3-D printing and energy storage. Four out of five respondents are poised to adopt AI to gain customer insights and predict behavior.

And talk a bit about your solar initiatives.

Panasonic has been a leader in the solar energy space for over 40 years.  From electric vehicles to solar grids, Panasonic’s solutions are helping forward-thinking businesses and governments pursue a brighter, more eco-responsible future. To solve the world’s growing energy needs, Panasonic is developing high-efficiency solar panels that make eco more economical, planning entire eco-sustainable communities, using sensor technology to regulate energy usage in offices, and building energy storage systems that allow for more efficient energy consumption. When it comes to solar panel technology, revolutionary materials and system design have led Panasonic to record-setting efficiencies. Panasonic’s heterojunction (HIT®) technology has been designed with ultra-thin silicon layers that absorb and retain more sunlight, coupled with an ingenious bifacial cell design that captures light from both sides of the panel. By continuously innovating, we’re helping each generation of solar panel make better use of renewable resources, and offering the industry greater cost savings.

How do we make sure that the benefits of all these technologies extend to everyone on the planet?

Over the last 100 years Panasonic has taken pride in creating new and exciting solutions in many different realms.  By having expertise in so many strong areas, especially those identified as disruptive technologies, we hope to enhance the lives of as many people as possible.

Lauren Sallata is Chief Marketing Officer at Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation and the hub of Panasonic’s U.S. branding, marketing, sales, service and R&D operations. She leads the corporations digital, brand, content, and advertising efforts, as well as Corporate Communications.

[apptechmobilesolutions]

Boost Your Car Rental Business with Our Innovative Car Rental Software

In today's fast-paced world, the car rental industry is booming. To stay ahead of the competition, car rental businesses need robust, user-friendly, and efficient software solutions. At Apptech Mobile Solutions, we understand the unique challenges of the car rental market, and we are excited to introduce our comprehensive Car Rental Software. Designed to help car rental businesses maximize profits and streamline operations, our software is the ultimate tool for growth and success.

Full software to grow car rental business and earn money

The Power of Digital Transformation

Digital transformation is no longer optional—it's essential. Our Car Rental Software is meticulously crafted to meet the needs of modern car rental businesses, ensuring they can thrive in a competitive market. By leveraging cutting-edge technology, we provide a seamless experience for both customers and vendors, resulting in higher satisfaction rates and increased profitability.

Features of Our Car Rental Software

Customer Mobile Application

User-Friendly Interface: Our mobile app offers a clean, intuitive interface, making it easy for customers to browse, book, and manage their rentals.

Real-Time Availability: Customers can check the real-time availability of cars, ensuring they can book the vehicle they need, when they need it.

Secure Payments: The app supports multiple payment gateways, providing secure and hassle-free transactions.

Booking Management: Customers can easily view and manage their bookings, with options for extensions and cancellations.

Vendor Mobile Application

Fleet Management: Vendors can effortlessly manage their fleet, adding or removing cars, setting availability, and updating prices.

Booking Notifications: Vendors receive instant notifications for new bookings, cancellations, and other important updates.

Earnings Overview: Detailed reports and analytics provide vendors with insights into their earnings and performance.

Customer Communication: Direct communication features allow vendors to interact with customers, resolving queries and providing support.

Web Admin Panel

Centralized Control: The web admin panel offers a centralized platform to oversee the entire operation, ensuring smooth coordination between customers and vendors.

Advanced Analytics: Comprehensive analytics and reporting tools help admins monitor performance, track key metrics, and make data-driven decisions.

User Management: Admins can manage user accounts, assign roles, and maintain system security with robust access controls.

Customization Options: Flexible settings and customization options allow businesses to tailor the software to their specific needs.

Benefits of Our Car Rental Software

Increased Efficiency: Automate and streamline routine tasks, freeing up time for your team to focus on customer service and business growth.

Enhanced Customer Experience: Provide a seamless, hassle-free rental experience, increasing customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Scalable Solution: Whether you’re a small rental agency or a large enterprise, our software is scalable to meet your needs as you grow.

Data-Driven Insights: Gain valuable insights into your business performance, helping you make informed decisions and drive profitability.

Why Choose Apptech Mobile Solutions?

At Apptech Mobile Solutions, we are committed to delivering innovative solutions that drive success. Our team of expert developers and industry specialists works tirelessly to create software that not only meets but exceeds the expectations of our clients. With our Car Rental Software, you’re not just getting a product—you’re gaining a partner dedicated to helping your business thrive.

Get Started Today

Transform your car rental business with our state-of-the-art Car Rental Software. Contact us today to schedule a demo and discover how our solution can help you achieve unprecedented growth and profitability. Embrace the future of car rental with Apptech Mobile Solutions—your trusted partner in digital transformation.

[omcik-blog]

New Post has been published on OmCik

New Post has been published on http://omcik.com/robots-is-your-job-at-risk/

Robots: Is your job at risk?

Almost 100 years ago, the U.S. horse population peaked at about 26 million. There’s been, of course, a steady decline since then, thanks to the growth of machines — most notably, cars.

Today, a debate rages over workers and whether we too may become obsolete as society becomes automated.

The fear of robots replacing jobs is real — consider self-checkout kiosks and self-driving trucks. The good news is that specific lines of work won’t suffer the same fate as horses. Which ones? Read on. But, first, here are the jobs at greatest risk of being replaced by automation.

High risk jobs

Cashiers and toll booth operators

Jobs that require only a high school degree are most in danger. Take cashiers and toll booth operators, for example. These jobs don’t require much human analysis so are easier for machines to handle. Some toll booth operators have already been replaced by automated systems such as E-ZPass, which is used in 16 states.

Meanwhile, as many as 7.5 million retail jobs are at risk of automation in the next decade, according to a study from financial services firm Cornerstone Capital Group.

A shift is already underway. CVS (CVS) has installed self-checkouts in 448 locations. McDonald’s (MCD) and Wendy’s have also added kiosks in some restaurants, allowing customers to place orders on a touchscreen. In December, Amazon (AMZN, Tech30) teased a video of its new Seattle-based concept store Amazon Go, which has no checkout line or cash register. The payment process is automated through a customer’s smartphone, so a customer can skip the line and walk out.

“Retail is going through this existential crisis,” Gartner retail analyst Robert Hetu told CNN Tech. “There’s a need to eliminate many of the manual processes that retailers just lived with for decades.”

Hetu expects automatic checkout services like Amazon Go will take off among convenience stores. Big box retailers are another likely destination, whereas luxury and boutique stores will be slower to adapt the technology. They rely more heavily on a human staff to provide specialized service to customers.

Drivers

An Uber driverless Ford Fusion drives down Smallman Street in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Some of the world’s biggest companies are investing billions to build robots intended to replace human workers. The obvious example is self-driving cars. Car and tech companies are in an intense race to get their first. Once cars and trucks can drive themselves, there’s less need for humans to sit behind the wheel of a cab, Uber or tractor trailer.

Vivek Wadhwa, author of “The Driver in the Driverless Car,” estimates that close to 5 million driving jobs will be lost in the early 2020s, as vehicles achieve full autonomy.

The optimistic case for drivers is that jobs often involve other tasks, such as unloading merchandise. Robots currently don’t carry packages or Chinese food orders to your front door. However, as automated drones drop packages on door steps and in backyards, some of those jobs may be replaced, too.

The autonomous vehicle industry will likely create new jobs, such as managers who oversee the fleets of vehicles.

Fast food jobs

Customers use a digital screen to place an order at a McDonald’s location in Miami.

The Bureau of Labor and Statistics has estimated 80,000 fast food jobs will disappear by 2024. The increase in minimum wage in various states gives companies more reason to replace workers with machines. In July, workers saw minimum wage gains in places such as Chicago, Maryland, Oregon, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. (The federal minimum wage of $7.25 hasn’t gone up in 10 years.)

Fast food positions rank among the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation’s list of most likely to be automated.

“It’s cheaper to buy a $35,000 robotic arm than it is to hire an employee who’s inefficient making $15 an hour bagging French fries,” former McDonald’s chief executive Edward Rensi said in an appearance on Fox Business Network in May 2016.

He also previously described how the number of people working in a McDonald’s has been cut in half — due to automation — since he started working at the company in the 1960s.

Low risk jobs

Nurses and physicians

A human touch is essential in health care, making roles such as physicians and nurses among the least likely to be replaced by machines. The Information Technology & Innovation Foundation, which ranked more than 800 types of jobs on automation, sees these positions as safe.

Computers are increasingly good at making medical diagnoses, but patients don’t want to get diagnoses from an impersonal computer.

“They want to get it from a compassionate person who can help them understand and accept often difficult news,” MIT researchers Andrew McAfee and Erik Brynjolfsson, wrote in their new book “Machine Platform Crowd.”

But automation is playing a role in some areas of the medical world. The earliest impact of automation on medicine is affecting radiologists, who are overloaded with data as they analyze medical images such as X-rays and CT scans. Arterys, a medical imaging startup, reads MRIs to measure blood flow through the heart. It does this in seconds, freeing up the humans to focus on other tasks.

Related: What happens when automation comes for highly paid doctors

Youth sports coaches

According to McAfee and Brynjolfsson, jobs that involve leading and inspiring others should be safe from a robot takeover.

In the case of a youth coach, delivering a win isn’t the most important part of the job.

“What matters is the ability to get the girls to work well together in pursuit of a goal, to teach them to be good and supportive teammates for each other, and to develop their characters through athletics,” they write.

In addition, a robot is unlikely to be able to identify leaders, manage people with difficult personalities, and help the team form a bond.

“We’re confident that the ability to work effectively with people’s emotional states and social drives will remain a deeply human skill for some time to come,” they write.

Hairstylists and cosmetologists

Hairstylists and cosmetologists are among the least likely to have their work automated, according to rankings from the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation. The tech advocacy group looked at Bureau of Labor and Statistics projections on workers that will be needed in 2024.

“Robots are cool, but they’re not superhuman,” Rob Atkinson, president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, told CNN Tech. “There are on average 150,000 hairs on a human head and each tiny one would need to be cut to an exact and differing length. Will scientists and engineers eventually be able to design a robot that can master those operations? Not likely in our lifetimes.”

Songwriters

Some musicians are turning to artificial intelligence to help their creative process. Taryn Southern, who appeared on “American Idol” in 2004, has relied on AI to deliver the instrumentals for her new album. But the lyrics were all her own.

MIT’s McAfee and Brynjolfsson believes lyricists are safe from automation.

“We’ll be very surprised, though, when a digital lyricist comes along that can generate great lyrics as reliably as Cole Porter, Joni Mitchell or Jay Z,” they write. “Their creativity springs, in large part, from understanding the human condition. We see nothing to indicate that we’re getting close to digitizing this understanding.”

Artificial intelligence is arriving elsewhere in the workforce. A computer program from Automated Insights writes articles about corporate financial reports and sports. Yahoo Sports uses the technology to provide weekly recaps in its fantasy football leagues. The Associated Press receives stories on more than 3,000 earnings reports each financial quarter. It also uses the technology for summaries of minor league baseball games.

Social workers

The Bureau of Labor and Statistics has estimated that jobs in the mental health and social workers who work with substance abusers will grow by 19% by 2024.

“The fundamental wiring of our brains is the same as it was 100,000 years ago, so that it’s in our deep nature of value getting various experiences — empathy, companionship, being heard, acting in groups — from other humans,” author Geoff Colvin wrote in his book, “Humans Are Underrated.”

The time we spend with screens is growing. In-person interactions are decreasing, and we are wired to crave them, so we’ll value them more highly. And the people who can deliver them are well-positioned for the future.

“We should all take a deep breath,” Atkinson wrote in his organization’s report on job automation. “Every time you read another piece about the coming ‘jobapocalypse,’ think about how hard it is to automate jobs like mining engineers, fish and game wardens [and] dentists.”

CNNMoney (Washington) First published September 15, 2017: 12:49 PM ET

[hudsonespie]

Twelve Start-Ups to Bring Digital Solutions to Market

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and NUS Enterprise, the entrepreneurial arm of the National University of Singapore, has announced funding for 12 start-ups.

The initiative is part of the Port Innovation Ecosystem Reimagined @ BLOCK71 (PIER71)’s Smart Port Challenge (SPC) 2019, and the 12 start-ups have each been awarded S$50,000 in grant funding from MPA. The funding will enable them to conduct prototype development and test-bed their near market-ready solutions.

Over the next 12 months, the start-ups will be working on pilot projects in collaboration with PIER71’s maritime corporate partners, who will provide subject matter expertise, test data, as well as a platform to test-bed their solutions. Their grant applications were assessed based on the viability of their solutions in addressing maritime challenges focusing on technologies such as artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, blockchain, robotics and wearables. The start-ups are:

ABEJA ASA Development C-LOG Cerekon Dravam Kanda KoiReader Technologies Marified Megapixel Newton Services Research (local entity of Delvify) Performance Rotors Tropical Renewable Energy Engineering (TREE)

Speaking of two of the start-ups, Ron Fong, Regional IT Manager of Teekay said, “The use of Kanda’s VR solution to simulate a safety procedure known as Lock Out Tag Out will allow our crew to undergo training in a virtual tanker which is essentially a digital twin of the one they work on, without endangering their lives or damaging any equipment. We’re also working with Cerekon to explore a remote support system, that will enable our onboard engineers to use voice-activated head-mounted wearables to safely and more efficiently conduct equipment maintenance.”

Eight out of 13 of the previous grant recipients from Smart Port Challenge 2018 have completed their pilot projects, with the remaining five nearing completion. Ship Supplies Direct, a start-up focusing on improving marine logistics and supply chain, has reported up to 30 percent reduction in delivery costs and up to three hours less waiting time per delivery through their pilot project with PSA International. 

Aeras Medical, a start-up with experience in the healthcare industry, also completed a three-month onboard trial with OMC Shipping. Their vital signs monitoring solution was used to monitor and manage crew health remotely, and achieved high adherence rate among the crew.

ABEJA

ABEJA is one of the first start-ups specializing in machine learning and deep learning in Asia. The organization has deployed over 200 artificial intelligence (AI) projects across various industries and specializes in implementing computer vision solutions. For the maritime industry, ABEJA is using video analytics and deep learning to automate many routine tasks that are manual and tedious. With improved operations, companies can help their employees achieve greater productivity and focus on higher-level endeavors. Backed by investors including Google, Nvidia, Salesforce, ABEJA was the only Japanese start-up to be commended by CB Insights (AI 100: The Artificial Intelligence Start-ups Redefining Industries).

https://www.abejaglobal.com/

KoiReader Technologies

Checking and cross-referencing financial and declaration documentation is a labour intensive process in the maritime industry. KoiReader has developed an innovative machine learning visual recognition system that extracts contextual data from documents (image and text) and enters it into legacy and ERP systems as actionable operational data. This improves the accuracy of filling up logistics data for regulatory clearance, brings down the cost of document processing from $2.50 to less than few cents per page, and reduces operational risks such as those associated with mis-declaration of dangerous goods.

www.koireader.com

Megapixel

A massive amount of communication goes on as part of daily vessel operations. However, the absence of a system to track and tag real-time and past information makes the retrieval of historical data difficult and time consuming. Harnessing its rich development experience, Megapixel has developed a solution called Globarius which has already been successful in the construction industry and is being adapted for the maritime industry to provide port/terminal operators with a knowledge repository, using progress tracking tools to collect, organize and report data.

www.megapixel.sg

ASA Development

ASA Development, through a decade of refinement and testing, has created the Contego Productivity Platform, a tool that has helped many organizations improve their operational efficiency, through standardization of process and centralization of data from remote sites. Contego Audit has helped many offshore and maritime companies make sense of previously fragmented processes. Contego Document Management has enabled organizations to mobilize management systems so all company information is at the fingertips of the people who need it the most. ASA’s team is dedicated to making the maritime industry more efficient through the use of tools that make life easier.

www.contegoforbusiness.com

C-LOG

C-LOG is pioneering data collaboration in the maritime industry by making inter-organisational sharing of crew documentation easier and faster while respecting the data privacy of the seafarer. Addressing a challenge to develop a crew-centric platform that supports self-management and career development within the maritime industry, C-LOG is creating a solution that digitizes current paper-based processes by leveraging blockchain and AI. This would save the maritime industry between 30-50 percent of costs related to handling crew documentation.

www.c-log.io

Cerekon

Efficiency, safety and productivity are key concerns when it comes to the inspection and maintenance of vessels, particularly entire fleets. As a smart wearables solution provider, Cerekon’s AI based “Voice-driven Handsfree Inspection & Remote Support System” enables field personnel to conduct inspections, capture issues, conduct audits, diagnose problems and train staff, without the use of handheld devices or paper based systems. By wearing the specially designed wearables, personnel can safely conduct audits, identify leakages/cracks, access digital checklists, auto-generate job reports, by using simple human voice commands and live stream their work to seek remote assistance, without the need for bulky devices, leaving their hands free to carry tools/equipment or hold on-to hand rails for safety.

www.cerekon.com

Dravam

Dravam’s innovative fuel quality monitoring solution is an early detection system, scanning the entire bunker transfer for contaminants and currently providing near real-time information about the fuel quality. Installed seamlessly onto a vessel, this patented solution increases efficiency and assurance of bunkering operations, and addresses the industry’s need for faster fuel quality testing. With Singapore being the world’s first port to implement mass flow metering, to ensure quantity of bunker, the implementation of enhanced quality monitoring will enable Singapore port to ensure “Q&Q” (Quantity and Quality) of the bunker fuel.

http://www.dravam.com/

Kanda

Kanda is creating virtual and augmented reality platforms, coupled with machine learning to address the high costs associated with hiring and training within the maritime industry. Using a photo-realistic digital twin of an entire tanker, Kanda is building a virtual reality training session that allows crew members to move around the simulated tanker. Kanda has also created a unique technique that uses machine learning and situational judgment to validate how well a candidate’s response correlates to performance as part of the recruitment process.

https://www.kanda.dk/

Marified

Building on the success and traction its parent company, Edufied, had gain with its blockchain-based storage and verification solution for the education industry, Marified has created a digital wallet that secures a seafarer’s certifications against forgery and is accessible from anywhere in the world. This could reduce the administrative loads of flag states, port clearance authorities, shipowners, ship management companies and training centers by 90-97 percent. The use of blockchain technology also reduces the risks associated with hacking of current digital solutions.

www.marified.network

Newton Services Research (local entity of Delvify)

Delvify builds and runs predictive AI models for businesses. Using state-of-the-art, built in-house AI tools including computer vision, natural language processing and automated speech recognition we help maritime enterprises clean, categorize and analyze their data to optimize operational processes. We take data such as past customer actions, combine it with third party data to create a forecasting and decision-making platform to recommend actions to vessel operators looking to optimize roll-pools, pricing and loadings.

www.delvify.io

Performance Rotors

In-hull ship inspections are both time-consuming and risky due to confined spaces, heights, lack of oxygen or presence of toxic or flammable gasses. By bringing their confined drone technology with AI defect identification and non-destructive testing (NDT) to the maritime industry, Performance Rotors can help to minimize such risks and costs. Their method uses NDT technology in addition to video, to allow for detailed inspection, digitalization, data science and management, which leads to easier comparison of results for better prediction and maintenance program formulation.

www.performance-rotors.com

Tropical Renewable Energy Engineering (TREE)

TREE supports Singapore’s green port initiative by providing novel and innovative solutions towards Digital twin based marine asset health monitoring with real-time capability. TREE’s underwater drone-based solution aims to minimize downtime of marine assets by providing early information on potential failures of marine assets, to take timely preventive actions much faster than conventional maintenance methods. TREE also specializes in resource mapping and environmental impact of water bodies and coastal locations using novel sensor integrated surficial robots that provides vital information such as seabed bathymetry, water quality and tidal flow and wave conditions.

www.tree.sg

from Storage Containers https://maritime-executive.com/article/twelve-start-ups-to-bring-digital-solutions-to-market via http://www.rssmix.com/

[hudsonespie]

Twelve Start-Ups to Bring Digital Solutions to Market

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and NUS Enterprise, the entrepreneurial arm of the National University of Singapore, has announced funding for 12 start-ups.

The initiative is part of the Port Innovation Ecosystem Reimagined @ BLOCK71 (PIER71)’s Smart Port Challenge (SPC) 2019, and the 12 start-ups have each been awarded S$50,000 in grant funding from MPA. The funding will enable them to conduct prototype development and test-bed their near market-ready solutions.

Over the next 12 months, the start-ups will be working on pilot projects in collaboration with PIER71’s maritime corporate partners, who will provide subject matter expertise, test data, as well as a platform to test-bed their solutions. Their grant applications were assessed based on the viability of their solutions in addressing maritime challenges focusing on technologies such as artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, blockchain, robotics and wearables. The start-ups are:

ABEJA ASA Development C-LOG Cerekon Dravam Kanda KoiReader Technologies Marified Megapixel Newton Services Research (local entity of Delvify) Performance Rotors Tropical Renewable Energy Engineering (TREE)

Speaking of two of the start-ups, Ron Fong, Regional IT Manager of Teekay said, “The use of Kanda’s VR solution to simulate a safety procedure known as Lock Out Tag Out will allow our crew to undergo training in a virtual tanker which is essentially a digital twin of the one they work on, without endangering their lives or damaging any equipment. We’re also working with Cerekon to explore a remote support system, that will enable our onboard engineers to use voice-activated head-mounted wearables to safely and more efficiently conduct equipment maintenance.”

Eight out of 13 of the previous grant recipients from Smart Port Challenge 2018 have completed their pilot projects, with the remaining five nearing completion. Ship Supplies Direct, a start-up focusing on improving marine logistics and supply chain, has reported up to 30 percent reduction in delivery costs and up to three hours less waiting time per delivery through their pilot project with PSA International. 

Aeras Medical, a start-up with experience in the healthcare industry, also completed a three-month onboard trial with OMC Shipping. Their vital signs monitoring solution was used to monitor and manage crew health remotely, and achieved high adherence rate among the crew.

ABEJA

ABEJA is one of the first start-ups specializing in machine learning and deep learning in Asia. The organization has deployed over 200 artificial intelligence (AI) projects across various industries and specializes in implementing computer vision solutions. For the maritime industry, ABEJA is using video analytics and deep learning to automate many routine tasks that are manual and tedious. With improved operations, companies can help their employees achieve greater productivity and focus on higher-level endeavors. Backed by investors including Google, Nvidia, Salesforce, ABEJA was the only Japanese start-up to be commended by CB Insights (AI 100: The Artificial Intelligence Start-ups Redefining Industries).

https://www.abejaglobal.com/

KoiReader Technologies

Checking and cross-referencing financial and declaration documentation is a labour intensive process in the maritime industry. KoiReader has developed an innovative machine learning visual recognition system that extracts contextual data from documents (image and text) and enters it into legacy and ERP systems as actionable operational data. This improves the accuracy of filling up logistics data for regulatory clearance, brings down the cost of document processing from $2.50 to less than few cents per page, and reduces operational risks such as those associated with mis-declaration of dangerous goods.

www.koireader.com

Megapixel

A massive amount of communication goes on as part of daily vessel operations. However, the absence of a system to track and tag real-time and past information makes the retrieval of historical data difficult and time consuming. Harnessing its rich development experience, Megapixel has developed a solution called Globarius which has already been successful in the construction industry and is being adapted for the maritime industry to provide port/terminal operators with a knowledge repository, using progress tracking tools to collect, organize and report data.

www.megapixel.sg

ASA Development

ASA Development, through a decade of refinement and testing, has created the Contego Productivity Platform, a tool that has helped many organizations improve their operational efficiency, through standardization of process and centralization of data from remote sites. Contego Audit has helped many offshore and maritime companies make sense of previously fragmented processes. Contego Document Management has enabled organizations to mobilize management systems so all company information is at the fingertips of the people who need it the most. ASA’s team is dedicated to making the maritime industry more efficient through the use of tools that make life easier.

www.contegoforbusiness.com

C-LOG

C-LOG is pioneering data collaboration in the maritime industry by making inter-organisational sharing of crew documentation easier and faster while respecting the data privacy of the seafarer. Addressing a challenge to develop a crew-centric platform that supports self-management and career development within the maritime industry, C-LOG is creating a solution that digitizes current paper-based processes by leveraging blockchain and AI. This would save the maritime industry between 30-50 percent of costs related to handling crew documentation.

www.c-log.io

Cerekon

Efficiency, safety and productivity are key concerns when it comes to the inspection and maintenance of vessels, particularly entire fleets. As a smart wearables solution provider, Cerekon’s AI based “Voice-driven Handsfree Inspection & Remote Support System” enables field personnel to conduct inspections, capture issues, conduct audits, diagnose problems and train staff, without the use of handheld devices or paper based systems. By wearing the specially designed wearables, personnel can safely conduct audits, identify leakages/cracks, access digital checklists, auto-generate job reports, by using simple human voice commands and live stream their work to seek remote assistance, without the need for bulky devices, leaving their hands free to carry tools/equipment or hold on-to hand rails for safety.

www.cerekon.com

Dravam

Dravam’s innovative fuel quality monitoring solution is an early detection system, scanning the entire bunker transfer for contaminants and currently providing near real-time information about the fuel quality. Installed seamlessly onto a vessel, this patented solution increases efficiency and assurance of bunkering operations, and addresses the industry’s need for faster fuel quality testing. With Singapore being the world’s first port to implement mass flow metering, to ensure quantity of bunker, the implementation of enhanced quality monitoring will enable Singapore port to ensure “Q&Q” (Quantity and Quality) of the bunker fuel.

http://www.dravam.com/

Kanda

Kanda is creating virtual and augmented reality platforms, coupled with machine learning to address the high costs associated with hiring and training within the maritime industry. Using a photo-realistic digital twin of an entire tanker, Kanda is building a virtual reality training session that allows crew members to move around the simulated tanker. Kanda has also created a unique technique that uses machine learning and situational judgment to validate how well a candidate’s response correlates to performance as part of the recruitment process.

https://www.kanda.dk/

Marified

Building on the success and traction its parent company, Edufied, had gain with its blockchain-based storage and verification solution for the education industry, Marified has created a digital wallet that secures a seafarer’s certifications against forgery and is accessible from anywhere in the world. This could reduce the administrative loads of flag states, port clearance authorities, shipowners, ship management companies and training centers by 90-97 percent. The use of blockchain technology also reduces the risks associated with hacking of current digital solutions.

www.marified.network

Newton Services Research (local entity of Delvify)

Delvify builds and runs predictive AI models for businesses. Using state-of-the-art, built in-house AI tools including computer vision, natural language processing and automated speech recognition we help maritime enterprises clean, categorize and analyze their data to optimize operational processes. We take data such as past customer actions, combine it with third party data to create a forecasting and decision-making platform to recommend actions to vessel operators looking to optimize roll-pools, pricing and loadings.

www.delvify.io

Performance Rotors

In-hull ship inspections are both time-consuming and risky due to confined spaces, heights, lack of oxygen or presence of toxic or flammable gasses. By bringing their confined drone technology with AI defect identification and non-destructive testing (NDT) to the maritime industry, Performance Rotors can help to minimize such risks and costs. Their method uses NDT technology in addition to video, to allow for detailed inspection, digitalization, data science and management, which leads to easier comparison of results for better prediction and maintenance program formulation.

www.performance-rotors.com

Tropical Renewable Energy Engineering (TREE)

TREE supports Singapore’s green port initiative by providing novel and innovative solutions towards Digital twin based marine asset health monitoring with real-time capability. TREE’s underwater drone-based solution aims to minimize downtime of marine assets by providing early information on potential failures of marine assets, to take timely preventive actions much faster than conventional maintenance methods. TREE also specializes in resource mapping and environmental impact of water bodies and coastal locations using novel sensor integrated surficial robots that provides vital information such as seabed bathymetry, water quality and tidal flow and wave conditions.

www.tree.sg

from Storage Containers https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/twelve-start-ups-to-bring-digital-solutions-to-market via http://www.rssmix.com/

[hudsonespie]

Twelve Start-Ups to Bring Digital Solutions to Market

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and NUS Enterprise, the entrepreneurial arm of the National University of Singapore, has announced funding for 12 start-ups.

The initiative is part of the Port Innovation Ecosystem Reimagined @ BLOCK71 (PIER71)’s Smart Port Challenge (SPC) 2019, and the 12 start-ups have each been awarded S$50,000 in grant funding from MPA. The funding will enable them to conduct prototype development and test-bed their near market-ready solutions.

Over the next 12 months, the start-ups will be working on pilot projects in collaboration with PIER71’s maritime corporate partners, who will provide subject matter expertise, test data, as well as a platform to test-bed their solutions. Their grant applications were assessed based on the viability of their solutions in addressing maritime challenges focusing on technologies such as artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, blockchain, robotics and wearables. The start-ups are:

ABEJA ASA Development C-LOG Cerekon Dravam Kanda KoiReader Technologies Marified Megapixel Newton Services Research (local entity of Delvify) Performance Rotors Tropical Renewable Energy Engineering (TREE)

Speaking of two of the start-ups, Ron Fong, Regional IT Manager of Teekay said, “The use of Kanda’s VR solution to simulate a safety procedure known as Lock Out Tag Out will allow our crew to undergo training in a virtual tanker which is essentially a digital twin of the one they work on, without endangering their lives or damaging any equipment. We’re also working with Cerekon to explore a remote support system, that will enable our onboard engineers to use voice-activated head-mounted wearables to safely and more efficiently conduct equipment maintenance.”

Eight out of 13 of the previous grant recipients from Smart Port Challenge 2018 have completed their pilot projects, with the remaining five nearing completion. Ship Supplies Direct, a start-up focusing on improving marine logistics and supply chain, has reported up to 30 percent reduction in delivery costs and up to three hours less waiting time per delivery through their pilot project with PSA International. 

Aeras Medical, a start-up with experience in the healthcare industry, also completed a three-month onboard trial with OMC Shipping. Their vital signs monitoring solution was used to monitor and manage crew health remotely, and achieved high adherence rate among the crew.

ABEJA

ABEJA is one of the first start-ups specializing in machine learning and deep learning in Asia. The organization has deployed over 200 artificial intelligence (AI) projects across various industries and specializes in implementing computer vision solutions. For the maritime industry, ABEJA is using video analytics and deep learning to automate many routine tasks that are manual and tedious. With improved operations, companies can help their employees achieve greater productivity and focus on higher-level endeavors. Backed by investors including Google, Nvidia, Salesforce, ABEJA was the only Japanese start-up to be commended by CB Insights (AI 100: The Artificial Intelligence Start-ups Redefining Industries).

https://www.abejaglobal.com/

KoiReader Technologies

Checking and cross-referencing financial and declaration documentation is a labour intensive process in the maritime industry. KoiReader has developed an innovative machine learning visual recognition system that extracts contextual data from documents (image and text) and enters it into legacy and ERP systems as actionable operational data. This improves the accuracy of filling up logistics data for regulatory clearance, brings down the cost of document processing from $2.50 to less than few cents per page, and reduces operational risks such as those associated with mis-declaration of dangerous goods.

www.koireader.com

Megapixel

A massive amount of communication goes on as part of daily vessel operations. However, the absence of a system to track and tag real-time and past information makes the retrieval of historical data difficult and time consuming. Harnessing its rich development experience, Megapixel has developed a solution called Globarius which has already been successful in the construction industry and is being adapted for the maritime industry to provide port/terminal operators with a knowledge repository, using progress tracking tools to collect, organize and report data.

www.megapixel.sg

ASA Development

ASA Development, through a decade of refinement and testing, has created the Contego Productivity Platform, a tool that has helped many organizations improve their operational efficiency, through standardization of process and centralization of data from remote sites. Contego Audit has helped many offshore and maritime companies make sense of previously fragmented processes. Contego Document Management has enabled organizations to mobilize management systems so all company information is at the fingertips of the people who need it the most. ASA’s team is dedicated to making the maritime industry more efficient through the use of tools that make life easier.

www.contegoforbusiness.com

C-LOG

C-LOG is pioneering data collaboration in the maritime industry by making inter-organisational sharing of crew documentation easier and faster while respecting the data privacy of the seafarer. Addressing a challenge to develop a crew-centric platform that supports self-management and career development within the maritime industry, C-LOG is creating a solution that digitizes current paper-based processes by leveraging blockchain and AI. This would save the maritime industry between 30-50 percent of costs related to handling crew documentation.

www.c-log.io

Cerekon

Efficiency, safety and productivity are key concerns when it comes to the inspection and maintenance of vessels, particularly entire fleets. As a smart wearables solution provider, Cerekon’s AI based “Voice-driven Handsfree Inspection & Remote Support System” enables field personnel to conduct inspections, capture issues, conduct audits, diagnose problems and train staff, without the use of handheld devices or paper based systems. By wearing the specially designed wearables, personnel can safely conduct audits, identify leakages/cracks, access digital checklists, auto-generate job reports, by using simple human voice commands and live stream their work to seek remote assistance, without the need for bulky devices, leaving their hands free to carry tools/equipment or hold on-to hand rails for safety.

www.cerekon.com

Dravam

Dravam’s innovative fuel quality monitoring solution is an early detection system, scanning the entire bunker transfer for contaminants and currently providing near real-time information about the fuel quality. Installed seamlessly onto a vessel, this patented solution increases efficiency and assurance of bunkering operations, and addresses the industry’s need for faster fuel quality testing. With Singapore being the world’s first port to implement mass flow metering, to ensure quantity of bunker, the implementation of enhanced quality monitoring will enable Singapore port to ensure “Q&Q” (Quantity and Quality) of the bunker fuel.

http://www.dravam.com/

Kanda

Kanda is creating virtual and augmented reality platforms, coupled with machine learning to address the high costs associated with hiring and training within the maritime industry. Using a photo-realistic digital twin of an entire tanker, Kanda is building a virtual reality training session that allows crew members to move around the simulated tanker. Kanda has also created a unique technique that uses machine learning and situational judgment to validate how well a candidate’s response correlates to performance as part of the recruitment process.

https://www.kanda.dk/

Marified

Building on the success and traction its parent company, Edufied, had gain with its blockchain-based storage and verification solution for the education industry, Marified has created a digital wallet that secures a seafarer’s certifications against forgery and is accessible from anywhere in the world. This could reduce the administrative loads of flag states, port clearance authorities, shipowners, ship management companies and training centers by 90-97 percent. The use of blockchain technology also reduces the risks associated with hacking of current digital solutions.

www.marified.network

Newton Services Research (local entity of Delvify)

Delvify builds and runs predictive AI models for businesses. Using state-of-the-art, built in-house AI tools including computer vision, natural language processing and automated speech recognition we help maritime enterprises clean, categorize and analyze their data to optimize operational processes. We take data such as past customer actions, combine it with third party data to create a forecasting and decision-making platform to recommend actions to vessel operators looking to optimize roll-pools, pricing and loadings.

www.delvify.io

Performance Rotors

In-hull ship inspections are both time-consuming and risky due to confined spaces, heights, lack of oxygen or presence of toxic or flammable gasses. By bringing their confined drone technology with AI defect identification and non-destructive testing (NDT) to the maritime industry, Performance Rotors can help to minimize such risks and costs. Their method uses NDT technology in addition to video, to allow for detailed inspection, digitalization, data science and management, which leads to easier comparison of results for better prediction and maintenance program formulation.

www.performance-rotors.com

Tropical Renewable Energy Engineering (TREE)

TREE supports Singapore’s green port initiative by providing novel and innovative solutions towards Digital twin based marine asset health monitoring with real-time capability. TREE’s underwater drone-based solution aims to minimize downtime of marine assets by providing early information on potential failures of marine assets, to take timely preventive actions much faster than conventional maintenance methods. TREE also specializes in resource mapping and environmental impact of water bodies and coastal locations using novel sensor integrated surficial robots that provides vital information such as seabed bathymetry, water quality and tidal flow and wave conditions.

www.tree.sg

from Storage Containers https://maritime-executive.com/article/twelve-start-ups-to-bring-digital-solutions-to-market via http://www.rssmix.com/