Come May 2, the inaugural Geneva Dry will kick off with a whole afternoon devoted to digital, a chance for delegates to probe through the myths and hype, to explore what shipping’s myriad tech providers can actually do to improve owner and operator bottom lines.
It’s something that Matthew Costello, CEO of Voyager, an operations and demurrage management platform for charterers, is very happy about. Speaking with clients within the dry bulk space, he says the most important things asked of tech providers these days are honesty and transparency.
IT decision-making is being pushed down to the front line and many departments are making their first SaaS technology purchase, something Costello concedes can be daunting for a chartering manager or demurrage manager trying to figure out who is the best partner for the business.
“It’s important vendors are honest and transparent about what they have now, what they will have in one year’s time and what they plan to be in the future,” says the Voyager CEO, one of the 41 companies to have signed up as a sponsor to Geneva Dry so far.
Most dry customers, Costello says, will pick a vendor and stick with them for at least three years.
“Having an honest conversation about the roadmap, the ability to execute, and what it means to collaborate are critical,” Costello says.
The three digital sessions on the opening afternoon of Geneva Dry kick off with an hour on digital efficiency drivers with top names from Oldendorff Carriers and Cetus Maritime among the speakers followed by a workshop on making data actionable and finishing with what promises to be a lively debate on the future of fixing, moderated by Mandarin Shipping’s Tim Huxley with well known names from the likes of Bahri, Lauritzen Bulkers and Arrow as panellists.
“Every company at the conference will have experienced the frustration of seeing lofty proposed ROIs from vendors that never materialise,” says Costello, who co-founded Voyager in Houston in 2018 after nearly six years working on the chartering side for Stolt-Nielsen.
“Cargo and vessel owners are always thinking about ROI but historically, very few IT projects deliver a tangible ROI,” he admits, advising his peers that communication and clarity are key to standing out.
“It should be crystal clear in 30 seconds how your technology will solve a customer problem,” he says, something he will be trying to get across to the more than 110 companies – including 30 shipowning groups – already signed up as delegates for the first Geneva Dry.
Designed to be the annual global summit for the dry bulk shipping community, the event now boasts an extraordinary mix of shipowners, trading companies, miners and tech providers, all due to convene at the Hotel President Wilson on the shores of Lake Geneva on May 2 and 3 this year.
The high-level summit is split into relevant sectors to make delegates’ time more targeted and rewarding. Sessions also include minor bulks; agri-commodities; coal; iron ore; and decarbonisation.
The full Geneva Dry agenda can be accessed here.
Geneva Dry registration, at just $650, can be accessed here.
Special Geneva Dry rates at the President Wilson Hotel can be found here.
