BIMCO has launched a new solution for editing contracts. It is called SmartCon, and is intended to make contractual work easier. A special focus has been put on cyber security.
»SmartCon is a brand-new approach to contract editing, we believe that it will significantly ease the w[ds_preview]ork life of our current users and will attract new users to BIMCO‘s contract universe,« says Grant Hunter, Head of Contracts and Clauses at BIMCO.
The SmartCon features are built into a Word document, which will integrate and merge seamlessly with the normal workflow of shipping professionals and legal staff. The contracts can be shared until it is fixed, without security risks, as everything is protected and authenticated by Microsoft‘s Cloud security infrastructure.
»A full ecosystem for shipping professionals«
The SmartCon contract editing software has all of IDEA‘s software features, but is now based on an encrypted Word-document, which provides additional security, significantly enhanced editing functions and dramatically reduces complexity. In addition, it has context sensitive explanatory notes, direct access to eLearning modules and members can write directly to BIMCO‘s Support & Advice function. »We see it as a full ecosystem for shipping professionals working with contracts,« says Grant Hunter.
An authentic contract can be opened using the software, and then edited and changed as required, however the editing does not compromise the integrity of the document. The changes can be seen by both parties and the core features, which make it a binding legal document, cannot be removed.
Focus on cyber security
BIMCO has used a suite of Microsoft‘s Cloud technologies to offer a »solution as a service« product, which eliminates existing internet bandwidth issues and increases the number of potential users. The development of SmartCon was made possible by several recent advances in the Microsoft universe, including the advent of Office Groups.
»With today‘s focus on cyber security, we believe this tool is very timely. It provides the best security possible and ensures users always work on authentic BIMCO documents,« Grant Hunter says.
SmartCon customers can use multifactor identification, for example through Microsoft‘s app, where opening a document requires an additional code to be sent to the user‘s phone. In SmartCon, BIMCO does not store user information – everything is in Microsoft‘s cloud and protected by Microsoft‘s technology.
BIMCO is is best known for drafting standard contracts and clauses for the maritime and offshore industry. Providing the contracts in an editor is a »natural extension« of that focus. SmartCon replaces IDEA, which handles close to 40,000 contracts a year, and was introduced in 2000.
