Paul Østergaard, CEO & Founder of ShipServ
Record spend in 2014 set to be surpassed as maritime and offshore purchasers and suppliers embrace benefits of online procurement
APRIL 14, 2015 – ShipServ, the world’s leading maritime e-marketplace, has forecast that online spend by the shipping and offshore sectors through its platform in 2015 will reach $3 billion in value for the first time. This development confirms the changing nature of procurement as companies look to secure cost and operational efficiencies, and suppliers seek to raise the profile of their brands and win new business from purchasers around the world.
This predicted growth follows a record-breaking performance in 2014 that saw ShipServ further consolidate its position as the global market leader in delivering e-procurement solutions for the shipping and offshore sectors. Over 2.6 million RFQs(Request For Quotation) were sent through ShipServ in 2014, an increase of 15% from the previous year.
ShipServ’s 55, 000 suppliers benefited from 4.2 million searches for marine products and services in 2014, a 20% increase on 2013, and the total value of trade through ShipServ in 2014 was US$2.5bn.
Driven by the sustained demand for greater efficiency in the procurement process and the pursuit of cost-savings in all areas of business activity in the maritime and offshore sectors, ShipServ is predicting that the value of the transactions conducted through its platform in 2015 will grow by up to 20%.
Paul Østergaard, CEO & Founder of ShipServ commented:
”The fact that ShipServ has experienced exceptional growth at a time when the maritime and offshore sectors are facing the ongoing pressure of economic uncertainty, a fragile market recovery and tight operating margins, is evidence of the value of the e-marketplace. ShipServ has been able to connect hundreds of shipowners, managers and yards, representing over 9, 000 ships, rigs and vessels, with tens of thousands of suppliers, in order to facilitate billions of dollars of business.
“It is clear to see that the e-marketplace is enabling procurement teams to source and deliver cost-savings and operational efficiencies with unprecedented speed, whatever their requirements. Indeed, 50% of RFQs sent via ShipServ receive a response in less than 24 hours.”
Mr Østergaard firmly expects this trend to continue into 2015:
“We expect 2015 to be another exciting year as the adoption of e-procurement continues to widen and accelerate across the shipping and offshore industries. These sectors are seeing a rapid rise in the use of digital technologies, both at sea and onshore, and the rise of the e-marketplace is a fundamental part of this. This trend is set to continue through 2015 and beyond, not least because it allows both suppliers and buyers to react in the most agile and efficient way to changing market conditions, whether that is the positive impact of reduced fuel costs in the shipping sector, or the challenges posed for offshore operators by the sharp fall in oil prices.
“For suppliers, it is the single best way to put yourself in the global shop window, to build your brand, to showcase your credentials and competitive differences with purchasers all over the world and to respond quickly to RFQs. For purchasers, it is a proven tool that can integrate seamlessly with major maritime purchasing systems to deliver greater productivity and cost savings.”
ShipServ’s buyers include over 200 of the world’s biggest shipowners, managers and yards, including Anglo-Eastern Shipmanagement, A.P. Moller-Maersk, BW Fleet Management, Chevron Shipping, CMA Ships, Keppel Shipyard, MSC Ship Management, Princess Cruises, Scorpio Shipmanagement, Thome Shipmanagement, and Vroon Offshore Services.
ShipServ will be exhibiting at the Sea Asia Conference, taking place in Singapore on 21-23 April. To learn more, visit ShipServ at Stand 104, Hall B2.
About ShipServ
ShipServ is an e-marketplace that connects buyers in the maritime and offshore industries (shipowners, managers, yards and oil rigs) with suppliers of spares, stores and anything else that is used on a ship. In 2014, ShipServ facilitated US$2.5bn of annual trade from over 200 buying companies, managing over 9, 000 vessels and trading with over 55, 000 suppliers in over 100 countries around the world.
For buyers, ShipServ works with existing ship management software and helps shipowners, managers and yards to reduce vessel operating costs by enabling seamless trading with maritime suppliers globally.
For suppliers, ShipServ offers an effective way to build their brands and sell and market in the marine and offshore industries.
For more information visit: www.shipserv.com
1 comment
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