HarborLab's 1st Agent Summit

HarborLab, the disbursements account maritime software company, has successfully concluded its first Port Agent Summit that was held on October 26th and 27th, 2023, in Athens. The two-day exclusive event brought together HarborLab’s closest partners, the Port Agents, who have been integral to the company’s journey. The summit served as a platform for the Port Agents to gain deeper insights into HarborLab’s mission and future plans, as well as the new tools and solutions being developed to enhance their capabilities to deliver quality services, expand their clientele and explore new market opportunities.

Port Agents from 22 countries across the globe gathered at the summit, openly shared their thoughts and provided valuable feedback on their experiences with HarborLab’s platform.

As the maritime industry evolves, two key priorities have emerged: automation/digitalization and environmental responsibility. HarborLab, being a technology-driven company, is committed to supporting Port Agents and Principals alike in optimizing their processes through digital tools.

Online Marketplace

HarborLab’s exponential growth strategy includes the ‘democratization’ of local port markets. The Agent Summit marked the launch of HarborLab’s online marketplace, a platform that brings together Principals that seek a wide range of in-port services with Agents and Vendors that are ready and available to offer them. Agents are empowered with new business opportunities, access to a specialized audience, and seamless communication with decision-makers in Principal organizations. HarborLab highlighted the quality of the audience it will attract, the increasing volume of business it can cover, and the seamless communication between Agents and Principals it can foster. Agents were also provided with strategies on how to excel on HarborLab, including actively maintaining their profiles, responding promptly to communication, and delivering exceptional in-port services.

Evaluation Tool

One of the major announcements at the summit was the introduction of the evaluation tool. Recognizing the need to support local Agents in expanding their market share, HarborLab is equipping them with the means to stand out. This tool will enable Agents to differentiate themselves based on quality rather than price. Principals will also have a reliable mechanism to trust and engage with new Agents based on evaluations from their peers.

Green Agents concept

Another groundbreaking initiative introduced during the summit is the concept of ‘Green Agents’. To help Agents differentiate themselves in competitive environments, Harbor Lab is promoting environmentally friendly practices, such as adopting electric vehicles or modern/green launches. Harbor Lab aims to support “Green Agents” by connecting them with Principals interested in reducing in-port emissions and providing reports to measure their environmental impact.

An insightful panel discussion

A panel discussion brought Principal stakeholders into the spotlight. Moderated by the Chief Operational Officer of HarborLab, Alexandros Trachanas, the distinguished speakers, Capt. Nikos Svoronos (Agents Manager of Starbulk S.A.), Capt. Costas Constantinidis (Operations Manager of GoldenPort Ship Mangement Ltd.), Mr. Michalis Michaloliakos (Head of ICT/Cyber Security Strategy & Business Development of TMS Group) and Mr. Simon Hinsen (Senior Commercial Manager of Zeaborn Ship Management) shared their perspective on the above matters. They emphasized the importance of the Agent evaluation tool, which combines performance metrics and real-time reviews to foster transparency. Also, they recognized the increased efficiency from the digitalization and standardization of the SoF and the potential competitive advantage that the adoption of greener practices can bring to Agents in the future.

The summit’s interactive format allowed Agents to voice their opinions, share the challenges they face, and collaborate on solutions to tackle daily issues. HarborLab remains dedicated to transforming the maritime industry, hand in hand with Port Agents and Principals.