ZILCH Forwarding and TradeWindow have both reached critical milestone recently in the development of their respective technologies that further the digitalisation of maritime supply chains.
In the case of ZILCH, a global freight forwarding company based in Australia, its specialists took matters into their own hands to improve the state of environmental standards in their industry.
The company has created a transport and logistics enterprise built around clean supply chains, certified carbon neutral by Climate Active.
ZILCH Forwarding is the brainchild of Michael Blake, his father Paul Blake and a team of industry-leading experts who are extending on the experiences and ambitions of their logistics emissions advisory group, Scope3, to make sustainable, global freight forwarding simple.
Michael Blake said, “ZILCH is an off-the-shelf freight forwarding solution that has sustainability and the reduction of carbon emissions at its core, rather than as an option to choose from or one that costs you more than the standard service.
“One of the key reasons we started ZILCH is, when we were giving companies advice [as Scope3], we noticed they were having trouble integrating the capability into their own supply chains due to other priorities – sustainability priorities or otherwise.
“We created ZILCH so shippers can take meaningful action now to clean up their supply chain without the headaches and costs of bringing the skills into their business.”
Despite their start-up status, ZILCH already has the runs on the board to make a real difference immediately, as evidenced through Scope3’s world-first logistics emissions transparency and management project with Swinburne University.
This project involved the development of a real-time greenhouse gas measurement system for all modes of road transport, with the intention of equipping service providers with the information required to meet the growing expectations of their clients.
Meanwhile in New Zealand, TradeWindow has raised NZ$15 million in new capital as trade tilts towards digitalisation for the region’s importers and exporters.
The private capital raise was over-subscribed by $3 million, reflecting strong demand as TradeWindow demonstrates growth in customer numbers and value on both sides of the Tasman.
Leading the investment round were existing strategic shareholders ASB Bank (owned by Commonwealth Bank of Australia) which provides trade finance to hundreds of New Zealand exporters, and Quayside Holdings Ltd – majority shareholder of the Port of Tauranga.
TradeWindow’s CEO, AJ Smith says the capital will support the next phase of development for the rapidly-scaling business which has grown to 75 employees.
TradeWindow’s solutions facilitate more than 1.5 million TEU container movements and 89,000 tonnes of air freight per year.
Mr Smith said, “We are delighted with the strong continuing interest and support from strategic investors.
“We believe there is potential for a steep uptake of digital solutions as Australasia’s largest exporters wean off out-of-date paper systems and on to digital solutions in search of the productivity gains which many exporters are seeking out in the face of global supply pressures, rising inflation and likely impact of rising interest rates.”
The company has developed a digital platform known as TradeWindow Cube, which uses distributed ledger technology (also known as blockchain) which acts as a trusted intermediatory and “single source for the truth” for all the parties who make trade happen including importers, exporters, customs departments, transport and finance providers.
TradeWindow has recently led successful pilot digital trades between New Zealand and Singapore, Taiwan and the United States in collaboration with leading exporters and Government agencies in each of these bilateral trade lanes.
The company is accredited by the New Zealand Government to issue Certificates of Origin and as an official storage solution certified by New Zealand Customs. It is also the official Australia and New Zealand representative of the Pan Asian E-Commerce Alliance, the influential regional body driving the digitisation of trade across Asia-Pacific.
Mr Smith said the latest capital raising will help the company continue to win market share in New Zealand and Australia.
