**London**: Closelink GmbH’s web-based procurement platform revolutionises the shipping industry by enhancing efficiency and reducing costs for approximately 1,500 vessels. The platform utilises data analytics to provide insights on lubricant management, significantly benefiting shipowners and managers in making informed, strategic decisions.
Digitalisation is significantly reshaping the shipping industry, with Closelink GmbH at the forefront of this transformation through its innovative web-based procurement platform for marine lubricants. This platform has become an instrumental tool for shipowners and managers, allowing them to develop informed purchasing strategies and optimise inventory management by utilising analytics derived from both current and historical lubricant usage data.
The Closelink platform currently supports the operations of approximately 1,500 vessels, helping to enhance efficiency and reduce operational expenditure (opex). Aneeshmon Thankappan, the regional business development manager at Closelink, highlighted the cost savings as a primary benefit of using the platform, stating that “as per our existing client’s experience, we deliver 5 to 15% tangible savings in lubricant opex.” A specific instance illustrating the effectiveness of the platform involves BW LPG, which achieved an 8% reduction in its annual lubricant opex by leveraging Closelink’s data-driven insights.
In addition to financial savings, the platform also streamlines the procurement process. Thankappan remarked, “Time is money in shipping,” emphasising the efficiency gained through less complex procurement procedures. He noted the notable improvements in simplicity, transparency, and efficiency provided by Closelink, which he believes empowers customers to transform their procurement processes. He draws from his extensive background in various roles within the shipping industry, asserting, “For our customers, people are core of their agenda, and they invest in our digital tool, which enhances people’s efficiency and effectiveness.”
Further enhancing the platform’s capabilities, Closelink introduced the Calculated Average Consumption functionality in 2024. This feature analyses the remaining on board (ROB) data and calculates the average daily lubricant consumption over a rolling 90-day period. The system integrates data from vessels’ noon reports, central data warehouses, or directly from fleet performance systems such as NAVTOR, allowing customers to make data-informed decisions for reliable supply management.
Thankappan continues to advocate for the importance of data integrations, insisting that its application enables customers to make optimal decisions regarding commodity supplies. He emphasises a commitment to digital sustainability that underpins Closelink’s approach.
Reflecting on his broader experiences within both the business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) sectors, Thankappan offers insights on customer relations. He believes that “kindness is often underrated in the business,” and stresses the significance of building trust and nurturing client relationships as vital components of success in the service industry. Through consistent analysis, regular reporting, and strategic partnerships, Closelink is poised to diminish the occurrence of last-minute deliveries, shifting procurement onto a more proactive rather than reactive footing.
Source: Noah Wire Services
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