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I'm surprised no-one has automated shipping yet, I was pretty surprised how huge the margins were (usually 100% profit) and how big the shipping industry is. T
by andy_ppp 7y ago
I'm surprised no-one has automated shipping yet, I was pretty surprised how huge the margins were (usually 100% profit) and how big the shipping industry is.
The right startup in this area could be very effective I think.
- namibj 7y agoFlexport? Or do you mean a different angle of automate?
- andy_ppp 7y agoFlexport do freight forwarding which is the organising of getting cargo from one place to another, not the actual shipping.
- juskrey 7y agoMargins are high because there are A LOT of risks, starting from superexpensive vehicles and equipment which is never evenly loaded, and ending with bureaucracy, incredibly punishing contracts and weather.
- deleted 7y ago[deleted]
- bennyelv 7y agoThey actually kind of have... the crew on a big ship do very little “shopping” and a hell of a lot of maintenance. The open sea is a very hostile place and most of the work involved is keeping the ship healthy in that environment.
- Workaholic_87 7y agoAgreed. Nowadays the majority of the crew's time is spent either doing maintenance or filling out paperwork to satisfy regulatory requirements - very little involvement with cargo operations (w/ the exception of some specialty liquid cargoes)
- Workaholic_87 7y agoI've never heard any one classify maritime shipping as high margin. Having spent over a decade in both ocean and inland waterways operations, my experience has suggested more on the order of 5-10% net margin at best