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Tilla Technologies: Transforming Crew Change Logistics in the Maritime Industry

4–6 minutes

source : https://www.tilla.tech/

Shipping companies face a multitude of deeply entrenched pain points in managing crew changes. The process was traditionally reliant on a tangled web of manual workflows, including spreadsheets, emails, and phone calls. This fragmented approach created significant operational bottlenecks. Fleet managers grappled with a lack of real-time visibility, making it nearly impossible to track a seafarer’s journey effectively or react swiftly to travel disruptions like flight delays or visa issues. The reliance on manual data entry across disparate systems was not only time-consuming and labor-intensive but also highly prone to human error, which could lead to missed vessel departures and costly logistical emergencies. This lack of centralization also made it exceedingly difficult to analyze spending, compare the performance of different crewing agencies, or identify opportunities for cost savings, contributing directly to the billions lost annually to industry-wide inefficiencies.

Tilla Technologies is a Berlin-based maritime software startup that launched to revolutionize the way crew changes are managed across the global shipping industry. With over 500 vessels already using its platform, Tilla offers an end-to-end digital solution that replaces manual workflows and disconnected tools with a fully integrated, intelligent system. Managing crew changes one of the most critical and costly processes in the shipping industry has historically been plagued by inefficiencies. Every year, millions of seafarers are rotated globally, with costs exceeding 8 billion dollars. Yet, disconnected systems and manual workflows often lead to higher expenses, operational disruptions, and unnecessary stress for crew managers..

The story of Tilla began in 2021 as part of a venture studio initiative by Flagship Founders, an incubator dedicated to solving critical maritime industry challenges. The founding team, consisting of Niklas Weidmann, a seasoned travel tech expert, and Narayan Venkatesh, a business strategist with a consulting background, worked closely with industry players such as Peter Döhle Schiffahrts-KG to validate their product concept through real-world testing and feedback. What started as a series of workshops quickly turned into a working prototype and eventually, a full-scale operational platform that is now used by fleet managers and operators across the globe.

At the core of Tilla’s product is a platform built to manage the entire lifecycle of crew changes. It includes a planning module that allows operators to compare port options, cost scenarios, and agent networks. The execution interface simplifies everything from flight booking, visa processing, and travel planning, to managing documents and agency tenders in one centralized dashboard. One of the most valuable features is Tilla’s real-time travel intelligence, which automatically identifies delays, tracks bookings, and suggests alternatives all tailored to the needs of maritime logistics. Moreover, operators have access to customizable insights and cost reporting tools, which provide actionable data on operations, agency performance, and savings over time.

Tilla’s innovation and impact have attracted strong investment backing, helping it secure a total of approximately USD 1 million in institutional funding. The fundraising is led by its primary investor, Flagship Founders, which has supported the startup from inception, with additional investment from Starthub Ventures. These funds were used to scale the engineering team, expand product capabilities, and onboard new customers.

A compelling case study involves Seatrade, a major shipping operator, which reported significant efficiency improvements and double-digit cost savings across its fleet of 52 vessels after adopting Tilla. Seatrade, a shipping operator, faces significant logistical challenges with its crew changes. These difficulties arise from a combination of factors: its crews, primarily from Russia and the Philippines, often have poor flight connections to the vessel routes, and its crewing teams are decentralized across Vladivostok, Manila, and Groningen. The Tilla Technologies platform addresses these issues by creating a centralized system that integrates all necessary data, such as vessel schedules, crew information, port data, and real-time flight availability. The platform automates the crew change process by finding and booking the best flights, providing real-time updates to all parties, and managing the entire workflow from planning through to invoicing. It is designed to work seamlessly with existing crew management systems and multiple travel agencies.


source : https://www.tilla.tech/#solutions-section

Similarly, Wilson ASA, which operates over 100 vessels, integrated Tilla into its operations to improve transparency, reduce repetitive tasks, and centralize cost tracking. Another major client, Stödig Ship Management, manages between 6,000-8,000 crew changes annually through Tilla, using the platform to optimize logistics and reduce errors caused by manual entry.

The inherent challenges common to crew management software also create clear opportunities for a provider to stand out. The complexity of integrating with a client’s existing legacy systems, presents an opportunity to develop a platform with superior, API-driven connectivity that creates a truly unified operational dashboard. Similarly, the industry’s resistance to change and difficult user adoption can be overcome by designing an exceptionally intuitive and user-friendly interface that minimizes training time and demonstrates immediate value in reducing manual tasks. By perfecting the process of seamless data migration and delivering a product that simplifies, rather than complicates daily workflows, Tilla has transformed traditional points of friction into powerful competitive advantages and drivers of customer loyalty.

Tilla Technologies has positioned itself as a critical digital enabler for the global shipping industry. By addressing long-standing inefficiencies with a modern and intuitive platform, it empowers shipping companies to optimize operations, save costs, and provide a smoother experience for seafarers and crew managers alike. As the maritime industry continues to modernize and digitize, solutions like Tilla will play an increasingly vital role in ensuring efficiency, transparency, and resilience across complex global supply chains.

Citation

Contributor : Dyah Ayuning Tyas
Reviewer : Imam Buchari, David Ratner

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