AP Moller-Maersk is making good on its promise to focus on digitalised services as it starts a new collaboration with China’s Alibaba.
In a move that bypasses traditional middleman freight forwarders, Maersk now allows shippers to reserve space on its ships through the e-commerce giant, Reuters reports.
It started offering this service before Christmas on Alibaba’s booking website OneTouch.
While presenting the conglomerate’s new strategy in September, chief executive Soren Skou was clear about his intentions to focus on digitalised services through significant investments in technology.
The Alibaba service is currently offered on routes from eight Chinese ports, including Shanghai and Ningbo to ports in Europe and Asia.
Traditionally, shippers use freight forwarders to book space on boxships, but now Maersk allows cargo owners to make this booking online.
A spokesperson from Maersk told Reuters that more pilot programs on third party portals are to be launched.
More e-commerce companies are getting more seriously engaged in the logistics business. Amazon has also taken similar steps.
Alibaba revealed plans to spend $16bn in supply-chain investments last year.
