Christchurch based Jade Software has big plans for its Master Terminal business to become the worlds top supplier of operating systems for mixed cargo ports.
The company has already found success in the Middle East and North America over the past two years.
Chief executive David Lindsay says being able to handle mixed cargo rather than containers alone is a competitive advantage for Master Terminal’s port management system.
“We view it as a quite substantial opportunity – it’s not often you get that opportunity to take the number one position,” Lindsay told BusinessDesk. “If we stopped growing, we’re basically profitable, but we do want to drive and accelerate growth as much as possible.”
Lindsay told BusinessDesk the mixed cargo ports have big greenfield opportunities, with about 40% of ports around the world still using paper-based systems.
“What we’re seeing is higher growth in mixed cargo terminals – they’ve got growth in volumes, they’ve got different cargo types coming through, and they’re struggling with a lot of pressure from shipping companies wanting turnaround more quickly,” he says. “From our point of view, that’s driving demand for our systems.”
Jade’s Master Terminal unit has gone from one US customer in 2012 to seven, and expects to add another three in the near future, with “that rate of growth continuing,” says Lindsay.
The company is developing a new product which can be used by inland terminals, which Lindsay says will probably be ready for commercial release early next year. It also wants to expand its product range and working with customers to find what they want.
Lindsay says the growth phase for Master Terminal will be over the next three to five years, which will likely see it develop into a broader logistics company, and would probably been channel partners to help with global expansion.
