Digitalisation should not be undertaken just for the sake of it – there should be a clear goal in mind. This was one of the key lessons shared by Topaz Energy and Marine chief information officer Kris Vedat in a session at Seatrade Maritime Middle East in Dubai.
Mr Vedat spoke about the digital transformation Topaz has undergone over the past three years since he took up his post at the oilfield services company.
Topaz’ digitalisation journey was presented as a case of evolution, rather than sudden drastic change, he said. Having clear objectives in mind for the process was one part of this; effective change management, so that all stakeholders understand why and how processes are changing, was another. Mr Vedat said it was important that the business is a part of, and not just aware of, change from day one. He advocated appointing business process owners whose duty is to ensure information on changes to their area of responsibility is shared down the chain.
Mr Vedat also noted that IT is becoming an outward-facing rather than back-office role, and highlighted the importance of partnerships and collaboration, referencing the example of collaboration with Orange Business Services to roll out its Maritime Connect service across the Topaz fleet. This service integrates voice, VoIP, data and internet access in one solution and allows shipping companies to integrate their fleet into the corporate network and provide access to the internet for crew and shipboard applications.
One successful chapter in Topaz’ story he shared was an app the company developed that allows management to create reports on vessel visits as they happen, taking advantage of smartphone capabilities such as built-in cameras that allow photographs to be seamlessly integrated into the report the moment they are taken, resulting in a paperless report and avoiding having to fill out PDFs or physical paperwork after the fact. This data is fed directly into a dashboard that allows for visualisation of data.
Topaz use Microsoft's Power BI business analytics service for this, which can be used to create interactive visualisations and dashboards to present data transmitted via the cloud to users. The system also has data warehouse capabilities, allowing for storage of current and historical data in one place. Topaz uses the automated dashboard functionality to clearly display key performance indicators, including vessel visit reports, enabling teams to monitor and verify data and encourage lateral learning and continuous improvement. The company produces leaderboards with monthly dashboards sent out recognising high-performing vessels and teams.
Mr Vedat also highlighted the importance of having the right infrastructure and services to facilitate digitalisation, adding “Any digital initiative will fail without prerequisites in place.”
Topaz vessels transmit a wide range of data to shore, including AIS data such as position, weather conditions and draft, but also data relevant to operators, such as planned maintenance data and condition monitoring information from sensors; to customers, such as position and average speed; and to both, such as fuel consumption.
Looking to the benefits of embracing digitalisation that Topaz has experienced, Mr Vedat highlighted the creation of efficiencies and subsequent cost savings; improved safety standards; market differentiation, from vessel provider to marine logistics; and better partnerships with clients, with greater transparency and the ability to align with client objectives more closely.
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