Editor's Note: A previous version of this article said OOCL did not reply to a request for comment. OOCL did reply, but provided comments after press time. An article with the additional details can be found here.
Dive Brief:
- Microsoft Research Asia (MSRA) and OOCL will partner to train 200 artificial intelligence (AI) developers in the next year, with a mission to find use cases and efficiencies within the shipping industry.
- OOCL says it expects to save $10 million in operating costs through the partnership, based on a recent 15-week project with MSRA.
- The official partnership will last 18 months and extend beyond training developers. OOCL will also look to leverage MSRA's research expertise to develop new methods that "better address customer needs with advanced technologies and predictive anaytics."
Dive Insight:
It's one thing to "embrace AI," and another to create a team dedicated to finding and building specific use cases to optimize network operations.
Many carriers already use AI for a variety of tasks. AI can be used to automate data input processes, for example, or engage in live chat for customers.
OOCL, in the press release, recognized it currently uses the technology to process and analyze more than 30 million vessel data points, adding a layer of predictive analytics to forecast vessel schedules and berth activities.
But after 15 weeks of working with MSRA, which boasts its ability to create new algorithms specific to vertical industries, OOCL signed on to another 18 months and promised $10 million in annual cost savings.
It's unclear how and whether the cost savings will be passed on to shippers as benefits in customer service. OOCL did not provide a comment at press time.
