Case Study: Implementing CargoWise in Japanese Headquarters

Project Summary

For a long time, Seino Logix had used a customized SuperBay System by OBIC for its operations and used Kanjo Bugyo as ERP for their accounting system.

However, SDGs and COVID-19 accelerated digitization throughout society, and the shipping industry was faced with an urgent need of digital transformation. In this environment, it was determined that the current system would be insufficient in providing services that fully meet clients’ needs in the future. Furthermore, these systems prevented making flexible proposals and improvements when rapidly expanding businesses, thus creating a need for new systems for operations and main accounting.

Because of these factors, the company requested developing a new system once every few years to a third party, but time passed without any of these projects becoming successful. This was when they made major managerial changes looking ahead to medium to long-term growth and decided to install CargoWise packaging software, a forwarding software with the best track record in the world.

Project Title

CargoWise Fully Implemented as Main Operational Systems

Solution / Module

CargoWise　(CargoWise One)

• Accounting (general ledger, accounts receivable management, accounts payable management, bank data management)
• Forwarding (sea import/export operations)

CargoWise data integration and development

• Web portal for customers (service schedule search function and booking system are connected to CargoWise)
• Web portal for internal management (data integration for bank deposit/cancellation data with CargoWise)
• Toyo Signal (data integration of voyage schedule data, including vessel movement information)

Development of a total of 17 other (large and small) data integrations.

(Booking page in CargoWise, and vessel schedule search screen on Seino Logix’s web portal)

Project Duration

5 months (October 2020 to March 2021)

Project Objectives and Post-Installation Goals

• Update the new core system and have it running on time despite the short deadline to improve the level of service provided to customers.

• Achieve a minimum of 30% improvement in operational efficiency through global data integration with the systems of overseas agents, major shipping companies, and vendors.

• Improve the level of employee efficiency through acquiring standardized workflows and functions led by the new system

Project Organization, Structure, and Personnel

• Five full-time project staff (a project manager, a project leader, an export operator, an import operator, and an accounting staff formed a team of five. They were supported by two IT staff members)

(A picture of the project team’s core members- Center: Mr. Arima, the Director and Project Manager. From the left to right at the front: Mr. Nakata, Mr. Yonehara, Mr. Arima, Ms. Kawato, and Ms. Iwamura)

About the Project and the Challenges it Faced

• There was much pressure on my team to complete the project on a short deadline.
• As the old system was almost fully custom developed while this was a transfer to a packaged system, it involved challenges of adjusting the gap between the system and operational processes, as well as obtaining an internal consensus.

The Key to Project Success

• Being able to establish sound teamwork and trust between internal project team and our partner.

• Particular attention was paid to: 1) Powerfully sharing objectives, 2) Not backing down, 3) Discussing and listening to people frequently to get people involved with a sense of ownership.

• Good points: 1) Members spent a long time together and shared joys and hardships, 2) Our partner provided quick collaboration and support, and 3) Solid hypotheses were made and fully verified.

Imapacts and Benefits of Implementation

• The workflow was simplified by adapting to the packaged solution.

• Old ways of thinking were discarded for new creations in the future.

• Automatic integration of data and systems. (container automation and workflow triggers)

• Maximizing the utilization of cloud services (accessible from different locations like home, especially with situations like COVID-19).

• Release and subsequent updates quickly executed after the package is implemented.

Why Seino Logix Chose Calsoft?

• Calsoft was chosen for having track record in Japan and the sense of reassurance that they would understand Japanese culture. (aside from technical reliability, we also valued the attitudes and communication skills of the Calsoft representative)
• The level of familiarity with forwarding operations.
• Team composition and management structure

We want to continue strengthening our partnership with Calsoft, including additional developments, further digitization, holding joint workshops, etc.

During the CargoWise implementation project for Seino Logix, we found three things standing out in particular: 1) The strong leadership of their manager, 2) How they created an effective team atmosphere, and 3) their understanding of the plans, additional budgets, and the speed in selections and approval. In the course of the project, both companies faced various issues and challenges, but we never wavered in our commitment to move forward. As a result, we managed to create a new system that is essential for the operations through the close cooperation between the internal and the external team to create a new system and operations. As a partner, we are delighted that we could establish a trusting relationship of such an advanced degree with our client. We feel a great amount of gratitude towards the Seino Logix project team and management. Thank you, and we hope to continue our partnership for a long time moving forward.