What does a modern software solution for a carrier look like?

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Modern solutions are very different from legacy solutions which were primarily a collection of functional modules sitting on one or more databases. To meet current and future needs a solution needs to incorporate technology and functionality in the following SEVEN areas (we call these the 7 pillars of next-generation carrier technology - the unique blueprint of the Odyssey platform).

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1. Scope: No longer restricted to the internal requirement of a carrier, Odyssey supports the end-to-end process including customer, shipper portals, agents, ports, terminals and depots. A network approach ensures inter-operation, connectivity and ​​inter-enterprise workflows as well as providing added value to existing and new carriers as the network continues to grow.

2. Technology: Where legacy solutions were on-premise or hosted, Odyssey operates in the cloud - benefiting from ease of adoption, connectivity and collaboration as well as increased performance, availability and cyber-security. Delivering the software as a service (SaaS) eliminates many of the risks and costs associated with legacy and non-cloud solutions by avoiding technology and solution obsolescence and ensuring all carriers on the platform benefit from continued research, development and enhancements. Odyssey Connect is the powerful foundation for the Odyssey solution enabling digital connectivity while also accommodating new technologies such as APIs, IoT, AI, Machine Learning, Elastic Search, and Blockchain as a few relevant examples.

3. Integrity: A 'Single Version of the Truth' - real-time consistency of data at all times for all participants and all users. One up-to-date version of the Schedule, of Bookings, of Tariffs, of Equipment, of everything - for everyone!

4. Agility: Legacy solutions were often functionally rich but this functionality was often developed for a single carrier and implemented in a rigid way making it difficult to be adapted for another carrier or to reflect changes in requirements. Odyssey benefits from a technology foundation which allows significant levels of user-driven configuration and adaptability to minimize implementation time and cost and to ensure ongoing adaptation to new business processes and requirements.

5. Customer-Focus: Legacy systems often reflected the previous asset focus and commodity nature of the shipping business and therefore were primarily focused on the operation of the carrier alone. With carriers recognizing the need to offer increased customer service, Odyssey incorporates a comprehensive portfolio of customer-facing functions (typically white labelled with a carrier's brand), improved data quality and increased responsiveness designed to drive customer loyalty and to provide service differentiation.

6. Automation and Digitization: Data increasingly makes the world go round and a modern solution, therefore, needs to enable end-to-end digital operation, automation and ease of digital connectivity. Odyssey is unique in its powerful technology infrastructure which supports an extensive range of digitization options.

7. Intelligence: As data has become an asset (through consistency, real-time availability and quality), Odyssey has incorporated a range of decision support and intelligence tools to aid operational, tactical and strategic decision-making through the use of advanced analytics, algorithms, AI and Machine Learning.