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In an era where disruptions are the norm, supply chains face unprecedented pressure to stay resilient and adaptable. The DCSA State of the Industry Report 2024 underscores that digitalisation is no longer just a "nice-to-have"; it's an essential step toward reliability in unpredictable times.
Digitalisation gives cargo owners the visibility, flexibility, and control needed to navigate challenges smoothly, ensuring greater reliability despite market uncertainty. However, jumping into digitalisation without a clear roadmap can be as risky as avoiding it altogether.
Here’s what every cargo owner should consider to strengthen their supply chain and thrive in today’s volatile landscape.
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In an unpredictable world, reliable data is essential for effective decision-making. The DCSA State of the Industry Report 2024 highlights that incomplete or inaccurate data leads to costly inefficiencies, forcing cargo owners to waste time on extra cross-checks and corrections.
Without data integrity, visibility loses its value. For example, if your tracking relies on a single data source and that source goes down, you’re effectively running blind. A robust digital solution should aggregate data from multiple sources, cross-check for consistency, and integrate with ERPs or WMS to provide a unified, trustworthy view. Explorate’s in-app cargo tracker, for instance, combines data from OneStop, SeaRoutes, Marine Traffic, ShipsGo, and Vizion to deliver accurate, real-time shipment updates.
Takeaway: Look for solutions that aggregate and cross-verify multiple data sources and offer direct ERP or WMS integration, ensuring a reliable, single source of truth across your supply chain.
In today’s environment, real-time visibility is essential. The DCSA Report shows that 41% of cargo owners rank live data and supply chain visibility as top priorities. With actionable visibility, you can respond swiftly to disruptions, minimise costs, and make proactive decisions.
Digital solutions that integrate with ERPs create a single source of truth, providing clean, centralised data that reduces manual tasks and minimises errors. One Explorate customer shared they saved 12-15 hours a week in freight admin after we digitalised their supply chain—time now spent on strategic work instead of routine admin.
Takeaway: Seek solutions that offer live tracking, customisable dashboards, ERP integration, and a single view of your entire supply chain to stay ahead in an unpredictable market.
While digitalisation offers powerful benefits, diving in without a clear strategy can lead to new problems and inefficiencies. The DCSA Report shows that 90% of cargo owners feel ready to digitalise, yet two-thirds say they need external support to get it right. That’s because no two supply chains—or the teams managing them—operate in exactly the same way.
A tailored digital approach ensures that solutions address your specific challenges and enhance your workflows. It’s not about adopting the latest technology; it’s about choosing solutions that genuinely improve your processes and build resilience.
Takeaway: Start by mapping your current processes and setting clear goals. Partner with someone who takes the time to understand what’s working in your supply chain operations and what could be improved. The technology should adapt to your strengths, while offering opportunities to upgrade or replace what isn’t working. This approach ensures digitalisation is an asset for your team, not an added complexity.
When systems aren’t aligned, they become siloed, leading to communication breakdowns between departments or across regions. The DCSA Report shows that 85% of cargo owners recognise the need for digital standards to streamline operations and maintain consistency.
Standardising data, SOPs, and reporting enables smoother coordination and reliable data flow so teams can identify the levers that truly drive performance and collaborate better. Without this foundation, it’s like trying to compare apples and oranges—you’ll never reach your full potential.
Takeaway: Choose platforms that adhere to industry standards and/or offer field customisation to ensure compatibility and efficiency across your systems. Standardisation creates a stable, unified foundation that simplifies communication and keeps your supply chain resilient, even in unpredictable times.
Sustainability has become a cornerstone of resilient supply chains, with 65% of cargo owners in the DCSA Report prioritising energy efficiency as a key goal. But the role of digitalisation in supply chain sustainability extends beyond voluntary targets. Recently passed climate reporting laws in Australia now require large and medium-sized companies to disclose climate risks, opportunities, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across their entire value chains.
These new regulations will require supply chain leaders to collect accurate emissions data, optimise routes, and reduce waste—all while managing market shifts and improving operational efficiency. An integrated way to track and report the environmental impact of shipments is therefore no longer optional; it’s essential.
An integrated solution turns sustainability from an added task into a natural part of daily operations, embedding environmental accountability and informed decision-making at every stage of the supply chain.
Takeaway: Look for digital tools that can track and optimise your sustainability metrics, ideally to GLEC or ISO-compliant standards. Integrated platforms that combine emissions data with PO and shipment management make sustainability tracking seamless, giving you a competitive edge while building a resilient and responsible supply chain.
Digitalisation is more than a trend—it’s the path to building a resilient and reliable supply chain in uncertain times. By prioritising data integrity, visibility, standardisation, and sustainability, cargo owners can create supply chains that don’t just withstand disruptions but thrive through them.
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