Procurement is a significant cost factor in shipping. New online platforms are being set up in hope
for profitable business opportunities. One of them: GermanyÃs Roobeo, a kind of maritime ebay
Founded last summer by MichÈl-Philipp Maruhn, Roobeo was initially conceived as an online sales platform for building materials of[ds_preview] all kinds, covering the needs of more than 15 trades ñ for agriculture and forestry, civil engineering and road construction, or joineries: Through the integration of around 500 suppliers, more than 500,000 articles are available in this virtual shop ñ whether for large companies or medium-sized businesses.
Roobeo is the interface between seller and buyer, an intermediary like ebay. Sorted by categories, articles or goods are presented according to availability and price, while the name of the potential supplier does not appear in this ªhidden´ marketplace at all. Everything is handled via a single customer account, which is best known from ebay or Amazon.
ªWe donÃt set the prices, but provide an overview of all products and information such as data sheets and thus ensure transparency,´ says Maruhn. ItÃs all about tools, clothing, electrical and sanitary products, materials for dry or metal construction and many more items. ªThese are all things that are needed in shipbuilding or on board as well,´ says Maruhn.
The young entrepreneur has had little contact with the maritime world before, apart from his sailing hobby. But now he is going to expand his business to the oceans.
Today procurement in many mid-sized shipping companies is largely transactional (purchasing). Staff deals with material requirement coordination, logistics arrangement (many urgent deliveries), contract management and purchase-to-pay processes. Already the tactical level of procurement with category management for the main spend items, tendering, negotiation strategies, performance management etc. receives too little attention. The only way, some of them deal with, is by using buying consortia and/or e-procurement platforms.
It is estimated that the buyers in the companies spend up to 30% of their time sending enquiries, comparing offers and placing orders. Maruhn promises that Roobeo can significantly shorten this process, make it cheaper and automate it.
Compared to purchasing from stationary wholesalers, 94% of the time and 87% of the costs could be saved if deliveries would come ªjust in time´ and without any additional effort. A size and quantity calculator is also provided. With Roobeo, recurring orders can be stored ñ the products will be automatically delivered to the company when required. The logistics behind is again with the supplier, even if the customer triggers the transport via Roobeo. The portal provides the database and interfaces and ensures data exchange.
So far, Maruhn has 30 employees in Berlin and sees his company still in the start-up phase. ªIt will take two years to open up the market,´ he says.
