What to consider when digitising your cargo management

Commodity companies looking to digitise and automate their cargo delivery with a built-for-purpose software solution have several choices, but not all the options measure up. In this article we’ll look at why some solutions excel, while others fall short.

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Commodity companies looking to streamline operational workflows, reduce costs and improve team dynamics know that using built-for-purpose software can help them gain a competitive advantage.

What’s sometimes less understood is the difference between a digital tool that will drive greater team productivity and value, and one that’s going to frustrate your users with poor design and lack of functionality.

Here’s what to consider.

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1. DEVELOPMENT AND DESIGN QUALITY

User-centred design. The effectiveness of a built-for-purpose solution often hinges on its design. Solutions that prioritise good user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) are more likely to be intuitive, efficient, and satisfying to use. Poorly designed solutions can lead to user frustration, inefficiency, and lower adoption rates.

Expertise and experience. The expertise and experience of a solution’s development team play a crucial role in the quality of a built-for-purpose solution. Teams with deep industry knowledge and technical proficiency are more likely to create robust and effective software. Conversely, inexperienced developers with limited knowledge of the industry they’re building software for may overlook critical aspects regarding usability resulting in sub-par solutions.

Robust development practices. High-quality development practices, including thorough testing, code quality, and commitment to best practices, are essential for creating secure and reliable solutions. Solutions developed with a focus on robustness and reliability are less likely to encounter bugs, security vulnerabilities and performance issues.

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2. SCALABILITY, CUSTOMISABILITY AND FLEXIBILITY

Adaptability to changing needs. High-quality built-for-purpose solutions are designed with scalability and flexibility in mind. They can adapt to the evolving needs of an organisation, allowing for seamless upgrades and integrations. Solutions that lack flexibility may quickly become obsolete as business requirements change.

Scalability. Scalability is crucial. Solutions that can grow and evolve with the needs of the user or organisation are more sustainable in the long term. Scalable solutions can handle increasing data volumes, user loads, and feature requirements without compromising performance. Also, a solution’s ability to scale quickly eliminates the need for frequent software replacements or upgrades, which can be expensive and disruptive.

Customisability. While built-for-purpose solutions offer out-of-the-box functionality that meets most user needs, those that offer customisable features have a significant advantage. This flexibility ensures the software remains relevant and cost-effective over the long term as business needs evolve. Solutions with limited customisation options may force businesses to alter their processes to fit the software, leading to inefficiencies and frustration.

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3. INTEGRATION CAPABILITIES

Seamless integration with existing systems. Effective built-for-purpose solutions will integrate seamlessly with existing systems and workflows to create a single accurate data source. This integration capability ensures that the solution enhances productivity and compliance rather than creating additional complexity or silos. Poor integration can lead to data inconsistencies, manual workarounds, and inefficiencies.

API and third-party support. Solutions that offer robust APIs and support for third-party integrations provide greater flexibility and extendibility. Rather than try to replace your existing tech infrastructure, this allows the new solution to slot into your existing framework, creating a more comprehensive and cohesive ecosystem.

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4. SUPPORT AND MAINTANANCE

Responsive vendor support. The level of support provided by the solution vendor can significantly impact the user experience. Vendors that offer comprehensive support services, including training, troubleshooting, and regular updates, contribute to the solution's overall effectiveness. Lack of adequate support can lead to prolonged downtime and user dissatisfaction.

Maintenance and updates. Regular maintenance and updates ensure that the solution remains secure, functional, and up to date with the latest technological advancements. Solutions that do not receive timely updates may become vulnerable to security threats and performance issues, reducing their reliability and effectiveness.

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5. COST-EFFECTIVENESS

ROI and value proposition. Built-for-purpose solutions are designed to address specific pain points and improve critical business processes. Solutions that deliver the benefits outlined in this article lead to improvements inefficiency, productivity, profitability, and decision-making, enhancing the overall ROI. Solutions that fail to deliver measurable benefits do not justify their cost, leading to poor investment outcomes.

Time-to-value. Efficient implementation processes reduce the costs associated with deploying the software. Solutions that require minimal customisation, offer seamless integration, and can be implemented with minimal disruption to business operations accelerate the time to value, enhancing the ROI of the software.

WHY COMMODITY COMPANIES SHOULD CONSIDER GLX CARGO

GLX CARGO has been designed and developed to automate key aspects of LNG and crude operations, delivering immediate value and ROI for your energy business. GLX CARGO delivers its users a sustained competitive advantage:

✅ GLX CARGO is built for commodity cargo management by commodity industry experts and in consultation with our commodity industry partners and customers.

✅ GLX CARGO is trusted and validated – it is currently used by some of the world’s leading energy companies.

✅ No other system as effectively or intuitively automates business-critical workflows – it’s UI and UX is unrivalled.

✅ GLX CARGO’s speed to market is unmatched – start realising ROI in as little as eight weeks.

✅ The system requires minimal configuration and is deployed securely via AWS Cloud.

✅ GLX CARGO integrates with all third-party systems – create a genuine single source of truth without having to replace your existing tech infrastructure.

✅ Gain organisation-wide transparency by connecting your front, middle and back-office with full auditability.

LIKE TO KNOW MORE?

Get in touch to discuss how GLX CARGO can add material value to your business and potentially save you tens of millions of dollars in value leakage.

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