Softship Data Processing GmbH Ltd - the global provider of liner and agent software applications – has expanded its global sales team with the appointment of a new Sales Director
for its operations across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and South America. The move follows the launch of the company’s ‘Softship Advanced Port Agency Solution’ (SAPAS) software, a cloud-based workflow management system designed specifically for ship agents.
Nik Wittern takes up the role of Sales Director with primary responsibility for developing the company’s regional profile amongst ship agency businesses. He joins the Hamburg-headquartered global IT company with a wealth of sales, marketing and project management experience across the maritime and logistics industries spanning ship owners and container leasing companies through to ports and engineering companies.
Softship, which provides a range of software solutions for container lines, break-bulk and ship agency businesses both large and small, claims that increased demand for its SAPAS software is a response to sustained pressure on ship agents and their ability to operate at a profit.
Nik Wittern, commented: “Ship agency is not a high margin business, but these companies – which are critical to the entire shipping supply chain – face sustained pressure on their ability to operate at a profit and provide a high-quality service. Softship’s SAPAS technology, which is designed specifically for ship agency businesses, can enable them to operate every element of their business efficiently. From rapidly generating automated offers through to managing port calls and sending flawless disbursement accounts while they are on the move in port. This gives them a significant advantage over agency businesses that cannot operate with the same agility.”
Softship’s range of software solutions have been installed in more than 120 shipping companies worldwide, and are designed to streamline and deliver efficiencies to the many processes that comprise shipping operations, from commercial, operations, equipment control, finance and more. The company’s modular solutions are tailored to meet the needs of each business, and also provide a range of business management tools that allow shipping executives to carefully analyse their commercial and operational activities.
The company is headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, and has been listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange since 2001 (ISIN: DE0005758304). It also operates offices in Miami, Manila and Singapore and employs around 100 people, all of whom have in-depth shipping knowledge.