Unexpected events can have devastating impacts on supply chains. Whether it’s a collapsed bridge blocking access to a major port, an earthquake halting operations in a key manufacturing hub, or rebel attacks rerouting ships along vital maritime routes, shippers need to understand these events’ potential impacts quickly and decisively. With the looming East Coast port strike, these types of disruptions are top of mind for many global companies.
When these crises hit, project44 steps in to provide clarity, helping customers identify affected shipments, evaluate potential ripple effects, and quickly determine how to mitigate negative impacts. More than just offering shipment-level visibility, project44 delivers crisis-specific insights within hours, helping customers make fast, informed decisions. As the supply chain landscape continues to evolve unpredictably, it’s this agility that sets our customers apart.
Agility powered by crisis-specific insights
The first step in responding to any crisis is understanding which shipments are impacted. However, to manage the situation effectively, businesses need more than just a list of affected containers—they need detailed insights on inventory, rerouting activity, and alternative solutions to avoid bottlenecks. project44 provides these insights through crisis-specific “suggested views” in our Movement platform.
In the case of the looming East Coast port strike, project44 has preemptively deployed insights cards to help customers monitor their shipments arriving at or departing from affected ports. These views allow shippers to pinpoint exactly which containers might be caught in the strike and take action before delays wreak havoc.
For example, during the Baltimore port disruption caused by the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge earlier this year, project44 provided filters for shippers to immediately identify all shipments rerouted due to the incident. Within hours of the news breaking, customers could see which of their goods were impacted, identify alternate routes, and communicate with stakeholders accordingly. Similar approaches were applied during hurricanes in the US and rebel attacks in the Red Sea, where project44 equipped customers with tailored insights to mitigate potential delays.
The ability to drill down from a macro view of the disruption—such as a map of affected shipments—into individual shipment details means that companies can move from identifying the problem to implementing a solution within minutes, rather than days.
How customers are staying ahead
To understand how these tools translate into real-world agility, let’s look at how two of our customers are using project44’s insights to stay ahead of the potential strike of East Coast port workers in the U.S.:
A global shipper expedites high-priority shipments
Once it looked likely that the strikes would occur, a major shipper customer set up an internal incident team to monitor potential supply chain disruptions. In preparation for the anticipated strike, the company used project44’s ETA data to identify several products that would likely arrive after the strike’s expected start date. With this information, they made the strategic decision to expedite key shipments via air freight to ensure that the most critical items arrived on time.
Although this move came at a cost, the company viewed it as a necessary step to safeguard its supply chain. In their words, project44’s insights provided the confidence they needed to prioritize the most critical shipments and gave them peace of mind in the face of potential delays. By continuously reassessing the situation in real time in Movement, they remain agile, ready to adjust their approach as the crisis evolves.
A leading manufacturer works ahead of port strikes
A global manufacturer customer used our new p44 insights card for this incident to stay ahead of the potential strike. They monitored containers discharging at affected ports and determined that any container not gated out of the terminal before midnight on October 1 would be assumed to remain stuck until the labor situation is resolved.
To prevent this, the company proactively collaborated with its drayage providers to ensure that every container on the ground was moved out as quickly as possible. Using project44’s ETAs and discharge data, they were able to keep their demurrage queues clear and ensure that no product got stuck in a bottleneck during the strike.
As other shippers scramble at the last minute to move their containers out of port, this manufacturer was a step ahead, avoiding the chaos. By acting early and leveraging the power of real-time data, they minimized the risk of costly delays and disruptions.
The power of speed and clarity in a crisis
When supply chain disruptions happen, every second counts. Customers using project44 have immediate access to real-time data, crisis-specific insights, and interactive views that allow them to quickly identify impacted shipments and make informed decisions.
While other shippers may be caught off guard by disruptions—leading to unnecessary air expedites, missed delivery windows, or stalled production lines—project44 customers can stay agile, reduce risk, and keep their supply chains moving smoothly.
Our goal is to empower supply chain leaders with the insights they need to respond swiftly and effectively to crises. Whether it’s a looming labor strike or an unforeseen global event, project44 helps customers stay ahead of the curve, ensuring business continuity even in the most challenging times.
Stay ahead with project44
Ready to learn more about how project44 can help you navigate disruptions and maintain agility? Explore our Visibility solutions or reach out to our team today.
