https://store-images.s-microsoft.com/image/apps.46338.80719830-9adf-43a8-86e7-505b8c4f1a7e.d4297410-7889-4654-9033-a0e94790d0e3.691f5eff-a81b-4c27-bd1c-4e322346ca87
SpotVessels
by SpotVessels GmbH
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Automatization, digitalisation and optimisation of the analogue inland waterway transport business.
SpotVessels is an award-winning first-of-its-kind platform based on breakthrough technology aiming to disrupt the
current business models in the inland waterway transport business.
SpotVessels links shippers and carriers, enabling them to automatically contract inland waterway freight transport
while optimizing free capacities based on intelligent data solutions. Our core optimisation module is covered by an
international patent application.
Significantly, the inland waterway bulk and heavy transport sector remains the last untapped domain for B2B SaaS
solutions, presenting a unique opportunity for growth and innovation.
PROBLEMS & MARKET OPPORTUNITY
Venture funds are investing billions of euros in B2B road transport platforms, making heavy truck transport more
accessible. This leads to rising traffic on the European highways and steadily increasing levels of air pollution and
CO2e emissions. The indirect costs of transportation in the EU are at record highs. At the same time, the inland
waterway transport, which has the lowest air pollution and CO2e emissions levels, remains underdeveloped and
dominated by large logistic conglomerates. Small carriers are cornered at the edge of survival. They look for
cargoes on the spot markets, on which transactions are still closed over the phone or via email. Intermediaries keep
the gates of large industrial companies. Therefore, we created the first-of-its-kind independent platform for
automated booking and optimization of inland waterway transport to increase the competitiveness of the inland waterway transport mode.
1. Closed markets - Access to the inland waterway transport market is limited to insiders, restricting the total
cargo volumes and blocking the optimization of ships' free capacities.
2. Time-consuming deal closure - Deals are still closed over the telephone or by e-mail. The booking of
cargo or free capacity is time-intensive and inefficient.
3. Scattered data and high inefficiencies - Fragmented access to hydrological information, AIS and GPS
data, required standard documents, and market data. High inefficiencies in the process of optimisation of
free capacities.
4. Untransparent pricing - Prices are negotiated and agreed upon bilaterally. As a result, there is limited
potential for price competition, and smaller companies are often disadvantaged. Direct contracting is
difficult, which increases the cost for both sides.
SPOTVESSELS – THE SOLUTION
We have experienced all these problems and therefore decided to offer a solution that can be beneficial for all
market participants and the entire ecosystem.
Our goals are:
Оpen and efficient market - SpotVessels offers a more transparent shipping market, a larger number of options
for transport service providers, and uncomplicated procedures for everybody. Bundling shipments with several
carriers, automatically offering free barge capacities to various customers, or selling slots on chartered vessels
improve the efficiency of inland waterway transport and reduce the costs for both sides.
Faster transactions at lower cost - We offer shippers and carriers the chance to automatically contract inland
transport deals between each other in a fast, easy, and cost-efficient way for a fraction of what is paid to freight
forwarders.
Smart data used to optimise the inland waterway transport - SpotVessels offers an innovative inland waterway
marketplace and structured access to hydrological, GPS, and market data, which is used in our models to optimize a
fleet's free capacities and performance.
Cost efficiency based on transparent pricing - SpotVessels is reducing the transaction costs of finding, booking,
and executing inland waterway logistics services by offering transparent pricing. All participants have access to
pricing data and a complete overview of current offers.
Awards
ENTRANCE - We are a winner of the EU ENTRANCE Open Competition (EU EU-funded, part
of which is the European Inland Waterway Transport Platform) for a first-of-its-kind project that can revolutionize the transport sector
with a high-impact disruptive business model.
EPG Rocket Club - We won first place at EPG Rocket Club, Germany, the competition for logistics start-ups that will shape
the future of logistics thanks to breakthrough technology.
At a glance
https://store-images.s-microsoft.com/image/apps.21937.80719830-9adf-43a8-86e7-505b8c4f1a7e.c590e1a8-4817-4d65-8899-36c62cc4e59e.876658c8-c76f-4c6d-921a-7c03368aa35b
https://store-images.s-microsoft.com/image/apps.43353.80719830-9adf-43a8-86e7-505b8c4f1a7e.c590e1a8-4817-4d65-8899-36c62cc4e59e.7ef51054-9c61-4b37-89d1-70ff1d98a236