So, you’ve decided it’s time to say goodbye to that legacy system and embrace a modern, capable commercial voyage management system (VMS). Maybe you’ve even assigned a timeline to the project, defined technical requirements, and engaged your key stakeholders. Before you enter into a formal evaluation, ask yourself, ‘Is one of my selection criteria loving my VMS?’  

If you’re telling yourself, ‘it’s simply not possible to love a VMS solution’, read on and allow us to change your perspective. Because VMS was made to simplify and improve the lives of maritime shipping stakeholders with attributes and capabilities they not only like… but love.  

Read on to discover some of the things we love most about VMS, and we think you will too.  

1. It has a user-centered interface for frictionless adoption. 

Voyage management systems are only as useful as they are usable, and lengthy user onboarding and training processes can often make ROI feel like a distant aspiration. Because VMS is built around the user, it feels natural and is exceptionally easy to use. Each feature and capability has been critically evaluated for its ability to 1) add value and 2) make each task easier than it was before. No steep learning curve, no layers of complexity—just your key stakeholders, free to do what they do best.  

2. It is cloud-based for anytime, anywhere access. 

The success of any voyage is dependent on seamless communication and collaboration across numerous stakeholders—often in remote locations or distant corners of the world. Made for the cloud from day one, VMS enables stakeholders to access key information when and where they need it most. Users can seamlessly share timely and accurate information with one another in a single, connected workspace. Outside of the business, key partners can be securely brought into the loop with read-only permissions—which can be easily changed and managed without developer intervention.  

3. It enables you to bring emissions into voyage decisions.  

Sustainability is top-of-mind for the entire maritime shipping industry, but it can be difficult to determine where it fits into your daily decisions. VMS brings emissions-related decision support into the chartering and operations functions, enabling stakeholders to understand the environmental impact of key voyage decisions. This transforms sustainability from an elusive industry priority into a tangible business reality.  

4. It lets you manage your data in your way. 

Every organization has its own specific requirements and preferences around data, reporting, and alerts. Embracing a VMS that has a rigid way of presenting data can actually distance your stakeholders from the information they need, complicating your workflow instead of simplifying it. VMS Grids make it easy to rapidly configure your view to your way of working—prioritizing the data that means the most to your business. Adjust the way you view your data as your business evolves; no costly development work needed.    

5. It delivers insight into competitor positions. 

Market information is integral to making strong, competitive decisions. But you shouldn’t have to leave your VMS to access the market insights you desire. VMS brings in AIS data, enabling you to gain targeted visibility into your own open positions and those of your competitors. Plus, it integrates seamlessly with other data solutions, including Veson’s very own Oceanbolt, for higher integrity market intelligence.  

6. It provides a cargo-centric perspective on voyage data. 

For organizations involved in commercial trade, cargo-centric visibility into data is very important, but can be difficult to achieve in a traditional VMS that exclusively caters to owner-operators. The Cargo Centric module within VMS enables commodity traders and tonnage charterers to easily track important cargo and financial data and update voyage details from a centralized workspace. This supports greater alignment between counterparties throughout the voyage lifecycle.   

7. It works the way you do, and not the other way around.   

Some of the fear factor associated with adopting a new VMS is due to a natural reluctance to change internal processes—particularly when those processes are working. Made to work the way you do (and not the other way around), VMS empowers you to enhance your existing workflows through technology without re-engineering them. This same principle applies to Q88’s data standardization approach, which has zero forced data entry. Using Lighthouse, business leaders can enforce data standards and quickly address missing information after the fact without slowing down their core workflow by requiring users to chase down missing information in the moment.  

8. It integrates with the solutions your organization depends on.  

Many technology solutions can be critical to the success of a voyage, including accounting systems. VMS enables organizations to quickly integrate with their core internal systems through both flexible APIs and out-of-the-box integrations with a variety of leading industry solutions. This enables organizations to achieve greater continuity, avoid duplicate data entry, eliminate costly errors, and establish a single source of truth throughout their maritime shipping business.  

What will you love about VMS? 

As a user-friendly solution built to simplify commercial voyage management workflows, VMS infuses maritime shipping businesses with new automation, information, efficiency, and connectivity. With utility-first capabilities designed to make it easy for stakeholders to achieve their goals, VMS is the perfect choice for wet and dry bulk owner-operators that are ready to make the leap to a VMS that is worthy of their love.   

If you’re still not convinced that you can love a VMS, hopefully you are confident that you can love what it does for you and your business. Book a free demo to see what VMS can do for you.