ONCOURSE 2025 was a reminder of the maritime industry’s history of resilience and the impact we can make when coming together. Hosted on Boston’s historic waterfront, we welcomed clients from around the world for a week of thoughtful discussions, product exploration, and meaningful connections. 

As event host, I had the privilege of welcoming speakers to the stage and guiding the audience through the packed agenda. It was a front-row seat to the energy, ideas, and momentum driving our community forward. 

Throughout the event, three themes consistently rose to the top: leveraging a single platform, harnessing data as a strategic asset, and integrating AI as a collaborative tool. As the pace of change accelerates across technology, regulations, and global trade, these priorities shaped every conversation and session. 

Here is an overview of the three main themes and why they’re essential for creating a decision advantage: 

1. A single platform matters more than ever  

The maritime industry has always faced waves of change, but as our President and COO Sean Riley emphasized in his opening remarks, “this change feels different—you’re seeing rapidly evolving trade, markets, and risk,” he shared.  

We’re no longer weathering a storm but operating in a new climate, where creating a decision advantage is essential. In my role overseeing global services and client success, I see this reflected every day in how our clients operate. The ability to make timely, strategic decisions grounded in context is what defines organizations’ success. 

This is where a single platform is changing the game for organizations. “A trusted platform matters more than ever, and it unifies data so you can make better decisions at the point of execution,” Sean added. “Our role is to ensure clients are not just equipped to manage what’s in front of them—but empowered to anticipate what’s next.” 

“Our role is to ensure clients are not just equipped to manage what’s in front of them—but empowered to anticipate what’s next.”

–Sean Riley, President and COO  

At Veson, we’re dedicated to being the standard platform that propels maritime commerce. Through the years, we’ve expanded this commitment by bringing data into context through acquiring products like VesselsValue, Shipfix, Q88, and Oceanbolt. With these comprehensive solutions, you can connect all the information you need to secure the next opportunity.  

2. Data is providing the context we need to make better decisions 

One of the most consistent messages from ONCOURSE 2025 was that data is only powerful if it’s accessible, validated, and applicable to the task at hand. Throughout the week, it was clear that clients aren’t just asking for data, but they’re asking for more of it, and for it to be easier to access, understand, and apply directly within their decision-making workflows. 

Sean put it plainly in the opening keynote: “We recognized with IMOS, we had a very powerful software platform, but more and more of our clients were asking for and wanting data at the point of decision.”  

This idea of ‘data at the point of execution’ surfaced throughout our client-led sessions and panels, especially around preparing for decarbonization regulations like FuelEU and the IMO’s new fuel intensity target.  

At the demo stations and client success suite, I watched firsthand how clients engaged with our team around data enhancements across IMOS X, Shipfix, VesselsValue, and beyond. We previewed workflows that connect internal and external sources more seamlessly—and perhaps more importantly, we reinforced the need to challenge the data we rely on. 

“One of my favorite quotes is that if you torture the data, it will confess,” shared Co-Founder and CEO John Veson. “That’s why this idea of intuition—asking questions, saying, ‘Does this feel correct?’—is so important. You can’t just blindly trust the data or it can be really dangerous.” 

Through tools IMOS X and Shipfix, and enhancements across our product suite, we are helping clients make better decisions with confidence, clarity, and context. 

3. Human-centered AI is transforming the way we work 

There’s a lot of buzz in the market right now about AI and how it’s changing the way we work, but ONCOURSE made clear that the real value lies in how we apply it—deliberately, ethically, and in partnership with the people using it. 

From IMOS X Claims CoCaptain to the Voyage Estimator, we explored live examples of how AI is streamlining workflows, removing repetitive work, and developing critical insights faster.  

“Our goal isn’t to replace users—it’s to help them focus on what really matters,” said Chief Product Officer Eric Christofferson. “AI actually makes us more human. It allows you to free up your time to build relationships and make better decisions” 

“AI actually makes us more human. It allows you to free up your time to build relationships and make better decisions.”

–Eric Christofferson, Chief Product Officer 

John echoed this sentiment: “We believe in people. AI doesn’t replace human judgment—it enhances it. What matters is that the data behind it is clean, validated, and structured, so you can trust the outputs and act on them.” 

At Veson, our approach to AI is intentional. We’re not building for the sake of it—we’re building for value. From enhancing pre-fixture workflows to simplifying claims management, our AI features are guided by user feedback and designed to solve real-time challenges. 

What’s Next for Veson 

ONCOURSE 2025 was a vivid reminder of what makes this industry special, from its complex nature to our resilience and commitment to evolving together. 

It was an honor serving the conference as host and witnessing our global community lean in by asking thoughtful questions, sparking candid conversations, and creating meaningful moments of shared learning.  

As Sean put it perfectly, “The things that have mattered always will, and that includes this idea of shared partnership and continuous innovation.”  

Looking ahead, we’re focused on continuing to evolve the platform—making it even more valuable, connected, and intuitive. By bringing together AI, data, and workflows in one place, we’re helping clients stay ahead of these ever-changing shifts and deliver the context they need to make smarter, more informed decisions at the speed of commerce. 

We hope to see you at another Veson event soon. Be sure to check our events page to see where the Veson team will be next!