Ecommerce and retail markets are already leveraging AI.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being increasingly adopted by the shipping industry. After the impact of economy plummeting following the pandemic, almost all business started becoming more automated with AI applications.
Ecommerce and retail markets are already leveraging ways to bring AI into logistics. One of the major sources where AI is rapidly implemented is the monitoring of the supply chain. Goods travel from the manufacturing house to a retailer and then to a customer. The travel process involves a lot of hand-to-hand exchanges. Due to goods switching from one person to others, the supply chain is hard to monitor. But AI comes for the rescue.
AI has implemented automation monitoring process to track the shipment of products. The automation availability enables everyone like manufacturers, suppliers, and even customers to know the current location package. This has brought a sigh of relief to the industry. However, AI is also needed in other sectors of eCommerce for demand prediction, automated warehouse and autonomous vehicles.
The success of AI implementation in the sector has driven shipping industry close to choosing automation for all its troubles. Remarkably, shipping transactions and goods transport also involve similar mechanism as the eCommerce sector. According to Navis survey of global container terminal customers, around 83% of the shipping companies are planning to invest in AI or increase their investment.
AI unravels automated operation in shipping
The shipping industry is facing a lot of threats. The menace includes global cyber attacks alongside sustained pressure over environmental regulations. These furore has brought shipping industry close to digitisation, an indispensable alternative for the maritime sector. The shipping industry is proving the world that AI and human interaction can unleash a technological breakthrough. The implementation of automation has given spare time to maritime employees. This will make them engage in more complicated jobs leaving the easy once to digital hands. AI has the ability to become end-to-end automated in shipping. It can engage in tracking and finding shipment routes and handle containers in the terminal.
Some of the AI furnished job in the marine industry
Weather prediction for better shipment
Starting from titanic to the recent oil leakage from a Japanese ship in Mauritius Sea that has turned to be a major threat to the aqua livings and corals, the shipment has lacked the concept of prediction. Weather is an important part of sailing. However, it also poses threats. Changing of weather is a natural calamity, but predicting it is where humans can unveil AI. The applications of AI can perform predictive operations based on historical data.
The shipping industry can get the aid of weather predictions to allot a safe shipment time. This will also keep delays away. The predictions not just help the maritime workers, but also inform business people looking for the goods about accurate timing of arrival.
AI robots for terminal operations
AI robots are heavily deployed in the construction sector to subside human labour. AI has the power to take over several monotonous and heavy human tasks. The same could be utilised in shipment at the terminals. Ports need more human hand for logistic jobs. However, AI robots can eradicate the fact by implementing technology to do heavy logistic works. Machinery are already used in lifting and moving large containers in ports. Henceforth, AI adoption will further complement the work.
For example, cameras can be used at terminals to click pictures of the containers. The computer vision technology will further count the number of containers from the images. Using computer vision, AI can even monitor the quality of goods that has arrived. It can match product size, shape and colour with previous product data to detect any damaged and defective products.
Navigating clear routes for a safe voyage
Until now, a lot of shipment companies are taking the long route when it comes to navigation. They choose to discuss with navigating officer and helmsmen to find the best route for travelling. However, the AI system can optimise voyage planning by recommending safe and optimal routes based on recent malfunctions in water bodies and environmental information. Computer vision will add more help to the helmsmen by alerting them whenever it detects a ship near portals.
Following the eCommerce sector, the shipping industry is growing confidence in AI applications with its features on accurate weather prediction, assistance in port operations and navigation of optimal routes. The shipping industry faces many risks and threats on a daily basis. Henceforth, AI intrusion in the sector will help it overcome the basic menace.