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Information Technology
Company Profile
​​​​​​​​​​​​​Information Technology & Digitalization

OOCL understands that information and digital technology is playing an increasingly vital role in the global supply chain and OOCL has always been at the forefront and a leader in the use of such technologies.


Over the years, OOCL is entrenched in the forefront of the latest IT and digitization technologies and applications to provide cutting-edge solutions for the industry.


OOCL has five information technology (IT) development centers located in San Jose, Shanghai, Zhuhai, Manila and Hong Kong. These centers are dedicated to the development of unparalleled enterprise-scale business applications, providing superior customer-centric solutions.


We have been leveraging the latest technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and blockchain to optimize our business operations and create greater value for customers. For example, advanced machine learning and optimization techniques have been applied in the areas of container inventory management to more accurately forecast empty container inventory and provide optimal container repositioning plans.


Moreover, our vessel network control capability provides total visibility of the global network for traffic control and disruption recovery, thus resulting in better overall vessel utilisation and proactive disruption management.

OOCL’s Digital Transformation Journey

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2021

Aiming at fostering data exchange and digital transformation in the shipping industry, Global Shipping Business Network (GSBN), a non-profit making platform by leveraging blockchain technology announced its official establishment. The GSBN is supported by OOCL, COSCO SHIPPING Lines and other major global carriers and terminal operators.
​To enable OOCL customers to make bookings instantly with space and equipment protection at secured freight rates, OOCL rolled out an advanced online platform FreightSmart.

2019

​To streamline container inventory management and empty repositioning, OOCL applied advanced machine learning and optimisation  techniques in the Equipment Pool System. This system also helped OOCL  and COSCO SHIPPING Lines achieving great synergy in equipment management.

​To bring an unprecedented level of transparency, visibility and convenience to shippers when they manage their reefer cargo shipments with OOCL, new advances to MyOOCLReefer (MOR) which leverages the latest technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), mobile and telematic devices were introduced.

​In anticipation to expanding business needs, a hybrid cloud strategy has been adapted. It provides the company with agility, improves our infrastructure resilience, strengthens our cyber security protection and empowers enterprise digital collaboration to deliver further productivity and efficiency gains.

2018

​To explore further improvements on network operations and aiming to achieve further efficiencies within the shipping industry, OOCL announced a partnership with Microsoft Research Asia, the world-class research arm of Microsoft, to jointly develop a solution leveraging cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence (AI).

​Following the implementation of the dual-brand strategy, OOCL and COSCO SHIPPING Lines focused on realizing synergy in various areas such as the integration of Network Control Center and the global IT standardization and centralization management covering data centers, global  infrastructure, and  cyber security.

2017

​By working with Pivotal Labs and successfully integrating with Microsoft Azure and Oracle Cloud Computing technologies, OOCL developed all the basic capabilities to further build on its cloud-native applications – one that leverages the as-a-Service advantage and is highly portable among cloud operators and the company’s data centers.

2015

​The first iteration of an Intelligent Assembly Line for Bill of Lading production was commissioned, delivering high levels of service and quality assurance.

2014

​IRIS-4, OOCL’s in house IT management system in its fourth generation, rolled out in 2014 to replace IRIS-2 to bring about further efficiencies and transparencies to operational management.

2013

​To enable better forward planning abilities, efforts were continued in upgrading both the operating system and our data analytics capabilities. The application of this forward planning capability ensured better yield management decisions, more efficient equipment management, superior transhipment handling and service fulfilment.

2012

​The Global Vessel Voyage Monitoring Centre (GVVMC) was established to monitor and process massive amounts of data on vessels and ports status in real time. This enhanced visibility of maritime data played a vital role in our marine operations and enabled us to achieve operational efficiency.

2009

​OOCL launched the online interactive product My OOCL Center in March 2009. My OOCL Center was designed to offer OOCL customers advanced capabilities that help them lower their business costs, save time and offer total transparency and maximum control in their supply chain.

​OOCL continued to implement systems that allow us not only to create value for our customers, but also achieve synergies across different lines of applications - liner (IRIS-2), logistics (PODIUM®) and industry portals  (CargoSmart) - with common technologies and compatible platforms.

​In 2009, a robust enterprise IT infrastructure that allowed us to provide customer services 'Anytime Anywhere' was delivered. The delivery of new equipment solutions enabled OOCL to optimize equipment flow and maximize utilization of equipment and vessel space.

2004

OOCL had focused on investing in its IT capabilities as a means of achieving greater customer satisfaction and cost efficiency through “Simplification, Standardisation and Automation”. Automation enabled us to free staff from the constraints of day to day process management and to concentrate upon exception management and  the  continuing  improvement  and broadening of our customer services.

​OOCL launched SchedulingSmart which provides a central location for shipmasters, local offices and corporate offices to update and view the latest and most accurate sailing schedules.

​In the same year, OOCL also introduced OperationSmart, an application for local facility operations, corporate offices and external vendors to update and monitor equipment inventories.

2000

​OOCL signed an agreement with a major third party carrier to license its proprietary information system, IRIS-2.  As a result, the resources and effort committed to IT development by OOCL had achieved a standard sufficient to receive endorsement by the container liner industry.

CargoSmart™, an independently-operated company with OOCL investing in the development of its innovative solution platform, was introduced in October 2000 to enhance customer-service capabilities and operational efficiency for all transportation partners.

1999

​OOCL launched the Integrated Regional Information System, known as IRIS-2. By integrating the business processes of all OOCL offices, customers' shipments and financial information into one system, IRIS-2 changed the way we think and do business. With the groundbreaking achievements with IRIS-2, OOCL was a finalist for the coveted Computerworld Smithsonian Awards in the same year.

1994

​With the introduction of local platform architecture provided by the UNIX system, OOCL started the second phase of its IRIS-2 project which was an evolution of all existing systems to an object oriented technology, providing more front-line empowerment and decision making management system to over 3,000 PC users world-wide.

1993

​OOCL became one of the first in the industry to offer interactive e-commerce applications (EDI), allowing customers to perform online rate inquiries, book and track cargo, check sailing schedules and process B/L from the OOCL website platform.

1992

​OOCL awarded Hewlett-Packard a US$12.5 million contract in its first step towards an open systems architecture, an advanced improvement in its information systems and a move towards local platform. HP’s UNIX-system based HP 9000 system was used to support over 2,000 PC-end users in its cargo handling, freight documentation, and E-mail systems.

1988

​OOCL installed direct computer links with US Customs to offer customers electronic clearance.

1987

​OOCL invested US$2.6 million in its information systems equipment upgrade. An IBM 3090 mainframe was installed in Hong Kong and linked to computers in London, UK and Oakland, USA. The system provided a central database for customer inquiries.

​OOCL started up an EDI program with vendors, customs agencies, and customers. HIT was the first terminal to go on-line and by the end of the year all the US terminals were also on-line.

1984

​The F-DOC system was introduced to handle all freight documentation, such as Bills of Lading and cargo manifests.

1983

​OOCL made the first major investment in information system with the purchase of an IBM 4361 mainframe for Hong Kong headquarters.

1977

​OOCL developed the Maritime Information System on Data Point to control accounts and crew information on a global basis. The Data Point computer equipment had been purchased in 1976 in order to develop a software program for world-wide operations and logistics systems.