ClearMetal Unveils First Predictive Intelligence Platform for Shipping Logistics

SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwired - February 24, 2016) - ClearMetal, a predictive logistics company, today announced the launch of the first predictive intelligence platform built to solve a top shipping industry problem - knowing how to manage all assets efficiently. Using a groundbreaking approach, the ClearMetal Predictive Intelligence Platform drives profitability by eliminating uncertainties and giving carriers extremely accurate forecasts to optimize asset allocation, repositioning and utilization. 

"Asset allocation is one of the largest problems in shipping," said John Dillon, former CEO of Navis and SalesForce.com. "In an industry where software is needed more than ever, ClearMetal is solving this problem with an unprecedented technology and approach."

Without container-level prediction and accurate forecasting, carriers lose hundreds of millions of dollars every year in profitability and produce detrimental carbon waste from empty repositioning, excess storage, needless hauling and underutilized vessel space. Meanwhile, the largest global retailers still struggle to ship goods cheaply, efficiently and on time.

"ClearMetal's method for solving the equipment and repositioning problem is the next big thing to transform container shipping. Using artificial intelligence to comprehend millions of data points and container contingencies, it leverages computing power unavailable in the last decade," said Jim Schreitmueller, former global head of sales for Navis and International Asset Systems. "It's no surprise the ClearMetal platform has yielded millions of dollars in incremental savings for large carriers and has produced results far superior to any other equipment optimization or business intelligence solution."

Before ClearMetal, predicting precise container demand, inventory and vessel utilization was impossible due to the overwhelming complexity and uncertainty of global trade. Analyzing and forecasting uncontrollable factors such as port congestion, booking changes, and the behavior of all customers and commodities in the world is too complex to manage with intuition, spreadsheets or generic systems. Other forecasting and optimization technologies have proven inadequate given the scale and intricacy of the modern shipping landscape.

Closing a multi-million dollar investment from top venture capitalists, ClearMetal helps the world's largest shipping carriers drive tremendous efficiencies-reducing costs, increasing revenue, streamlining operations and promoting sustainability.

ClearMetal uses a fundamentally different, data-driven approach. Leveraging cutting-edge data science and machine learning, the ClearMetal Predictive Intelligence Platform resolves over 75 elements of uncertainty across the shipment cycle and layers on 17 external signals (like weather and trade rates) to generate highly accurate predictions of equipment, trade, vessel and shipper needs with a granularity that was previously impossible.

For example, ClearMetal could tell a shipping carrier that exactly 36 empty containers will be ready for dispatching at container depot #2 in Memphis to carry cotton to Shanghai six weeks from now on Tuesday-- factoring in predicted port congestion, an upcoming typhoon that will delay ships in the South China Sea, and an anticipated twelve percent increase in last minute customer cancellations.

"Shipping carriers are the backbone of the global economy but have had to deal withastronomical costs as a result of inadequate tools to handle today's complexity," added Adam Compain, CEO and founder of ClearMetal. "We are partnering with the smartest carriers to usher in a new era of efficiency and asset management by providing the most sophisticated technology available."

ClearMetal will be showcasing its Predictive Intelligence Platform February 28 through March 2, 2016 at the Trans Pacific Maritime (TPM) Conference in Long Beach, California. Please visit Booth #9 to learn more.

About ClearMetal

ClearMetal is a predictive logistics company that uses predictive intelligence to unlock unprecedented efficiencies for global trade. The ClearMetal Predictive Intelligence Platform forecasts the future with certainty-- enabling carriers to increase profitability through precise asset allocation and predictive trade management. Based in San Francisco, ClearMetal is funded by global VC firm NEA, Beijing-based Skyview, and Eric Schmidt's Innovation Endeavors. Learn more at www.clearmetal.com.