Splash247: Kaiko Systems says shipping must move beyond endless digital pilots

Published by Splash247

Maritime software specialist Kaiko Systems has argued the shipping industry’s digital transformation will now be defined by implementation rather than experimentation, warning that too many operators remain trapped in a cycle of disconnected pilot projects.

Fabian Fussek, CEO and co-founder of Kaiko Systems, said the industry no longer needs convincing that digital tools can improve operations, but instead faces the more difficult task of embedding systems consistently across fleets and shore organisations.

“Shipping’s pilot era is over,” Fussek said. “The focus now has to be on disciplined implementation. Digital tools only create lasting value when they are embedded into daily workflows, supported by clear procedures and used consistently across vessels, crews and shore teams.”

Kaiko said fragmented inspection processes remain a major weakness across areas such as SIRE 2.0 preparation, RightShip inspections, port state control readiness and superintendent reporting. According to the company, treating these as separate workflows limits operators’ ability to identify recurring operational weaknesses across fleets.

“These are not separate challenges,” Fussek said. “They are different views of the same operational reality.”

The company also warned that the growing excitement surrounding AI and predictive analytics risks outpacing the quality of operational data being collected onboard.

“Shipping does not suffer from a lack of information,” Fussek commented. “It suffers from a lack of continuity.”