{"id":409009,"date":"2020-12-02T10:53:38","date_gmt":"2020-12-02T09:53:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pulse.microsoft.com\/?p=409009"},"modified":"2020-12-09T17:56:25","modified_gmt":"2020-12-09T16:56:25","slug":"fa2-maersk-and-onomondo-a-partnership-thats-making-all-the-right-iot-connections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pulse.microsoft.com\/en\/transform-en\/manufacturing-en\/fa2-maersk-and-onomondo-a-partnership-thats-making-all-the-right-iot-connections\/","title":{"rendered":"Maersk and Onomondo: a partnership that\u2019s making all the right IoT connections"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cI suppose you could say we were dating at first<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span>\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/span>says<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Michael Karlsen, CEO\u00a0<\/span><\/span>and c<\/span><\/span>o-founder\u00a0<\/span><\/span>of\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Onomondo<\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>as he recalls<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>his company\u2019s<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>first m<\/span><\/span>e<\/span><\/span>eting<\/span><\/span>\u00a0with<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Danish shipping behemoth<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>A.P. Moller – Maersk\u00a0<\/span><\/span>in February 2019<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

He admits that\u00a0<\/span>the two companies\u00a0<\/span>were<\/span>\u00a0an unlikely\u00a0<\/span>corporate\u00a0<\/span>couple<\/span>:\u00a0<\/span>t<\/span>he\u00a0<\/span>small<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0Copenhagen-based\u00a0<\/span>start-up\u00a0<\/span>IoT operator\u00a0<\/span>Onomondo<\/span>\u00a0with less than 20 employees<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>the massive<\/span>, 79,900-strong<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Maersk<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>with\u00a0<\/span>its<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>global\u00a0<\/span>fleet of over 700 vessels<\/span>\u00a0and 3.5 million containers<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The match was made by the Danish Energy Authority<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0\u201c<\/span>They\u00a0<\/span>knew\u00a0<\/span>we\u00a0<\/span>were very interested in how\u00a0<\/span>new technologies could give\u00a0<\/span>us more flexibility in the way we consume connectivity<\/span>,<\/span>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0e<\/span>xplains\u00a0<\/span>Klaus Bruun Egeberg, Head of Mobility and Connectivity<\/span>\u00a0at Maersk<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0\u201c<\/span>And\u00a0<\/span>Onomondo<\/span>\u00a0could offer us that.<\/span>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u00a0<\/span>is<\/span>\u00a0a relationship that has developed quickly<\/span>\u00a0and today\u00a0<\/span>Onomondo<\/span>\u00a0provid<\/span>es<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>device-to-cloud\u00a0<\/span>connectivity for the<\/span>\u00a0many<\/span>\u00a0refrigerated containers<\/span>\u00a0(<\/span>\u2018reefers\u2019<\/span>)<\/span>\u00a0that Maersk uses to deliver perishable cargo around the world.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWith\u00a0<\/span>Onomondo<\/span>, we have a much<\/span>\u00a0more open\u00a0<\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>modern\u00a0<\/span>kind of\u00a0<\/span>relationship<\/span>\u00a0tha<\/span>n\u00a0<\/span>we\u00a0<\/span>would\u00a0<\/span>have<\/span>\u00a0with\u00a0<\/span>a\u00a0<\/span>traditional<\/span>\u00a0network operator,<\/span>\u201d says\u00a0<\/span>Musaddique Alatoor,\u00a0<\/span>Maersk<\/span>\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0Head of Equipment Innovation.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>And that gives us<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>the flexibility\u00a0<\/span>we need<\/span>\u00a0to navigate the industry going forward<\/span>.<\/span>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Looking for a more open operator relationship<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

\u201cIn a<\/span>\u00a0traditional\u00a0<\/span>network operator<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>relationshi<\/span>p, you are married to that vendor from the moment\u00a0<\/span>you put the SIM card<\/span>\u00a0into\u00a0<\/span>your\u00a0<\/span>device<\/span>,\u201d explains Alatoor.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo, whether you are happy with it or not,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>you have to live with it for the rest of the device lifetime<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>And if<\/span>\u00a0something better\u00a0<\/span>comes\u00a0<\/span>on<\/span>to<\/span>\u00a0the market<\/span>, you can\u2019t access it. You are stuck with your initial network operator, for better or worse.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Onomondo<\/span>\u00a0is\u00a0<\/span>not\u00a0<\/span>a traditional network operator<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u201cAs in any relationship, we believe that the best way to show your love is by setting your partner free,\u201d says\u00a0<\/span>Karlsen<\/span>\u00a0with a smile.\u00a0<\/span>T<\/span>hat is exactly what his company does<\/span>:<\/span>\u00a0using IoT\u00a0<\/span>tech<\/span>nology<\/span>\u00a0to empower businesses\u00a0<\/span>in<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>what used to be a space for\u00a0<\/span>only\u00a0<\/span>cellular solutions.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWith us you can change everything about the SIM<\/span>, at any time<\/span>,<\/span>\u201d explains Karlsen<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u201cYou can change the networks it<\/span>\u00a0accesses<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>the operator behind it<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>how communication channels behave<\/span>, a<\/span>nd how security behaves.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

That gives\u00a0<\/span>Maersk\u00a0<\/span>the ability to<\/span>\u00a0control data steering and security from within the network. There\u2019s no device logic. No worries about device overheads, add-ons or hardware set-up.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Everything is handled from the network and is flexible across the<\/span>\u00a0company\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0entire fleet<\/span>,<\/span>\u201d says Egeberg.<\/span><\/p>\n

No strings attached<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>connectivity with Azure<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

\u201cIn the same way that Airbnb sells accommodation but doesn\u2019t own\u00a0<\/span>homes<\/span>, we sell connectivity, but don’t operate any antennas,\u201d explains\u00a0<\/span>Anders<\/span>\u00a0Buchmann,\u00a0<\/span>Onomondo<\/span>\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>CCO<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Through software, we have created a global network \u2013 built for IoT \u2013 that extends the power of Azure to every single connected device, no matter where it is in the world.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEssentially, we provide Maersk with an \u2018Azure SIM\u2019 \u2013 made by\u00a0<\/span>Onomondo<\/span>.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Because\u00a0<\/span>Onomondo\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0global network is specifically built for IoT<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>it\u00a0<\/span>empowers businesses to operate globally without roaming, giving full transparency and control of any device deployed,\u00a0<\/span>at\u00a0<\/span>any<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>time<\/span>, from\u00a0<\/span>anywhere.<\/span><\/p>\n

But\u00a0<\/span>Onomondo\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0offering goes beyond global\u00a0<\/span>connectivity<\/span>. It is also\u00a0<\/span>about<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>futureproofing<\/span>\u00a0that connection.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA typical I<\/span>oT device<\/span>\u2019s lifespan is\u00a0<\/span>between\u00a0<\/span>2<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and<\/span>\u00a015 years,<\/span>\u201d explains Karlsen. \u201cThat makes it<\/span>\u00a0nearly impossible to plan for future business needs and changes in tech<\/span>nology<\/span>\u00a0over a\u202fdevice<\/span>\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0lifetime.<\/span>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0But because\u00a0<\/span>Onomondo<\/span>\u00a0enables post-deployment changes of any device, Maersk is\u00a0<\/span>free to operate as it chooses\u00a0<\/span>\u2013<\/span>\u00a0even switching operators on\u00a0<\/span>Onomondo<\/span>\u00a0SIMs<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>that have already been\u00a0<\/span>deployed<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>A<\/span>lthough\u00a0<\/span>there<\/span>\u00a0are<\/span>\u00a0many companies that connect devices<\/span>,\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>adds<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Buchmann,<\/span>\u00a0\u201c<\/span>there\u2019s nobody enabling smart businesses<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>smart IoT solutions to connect to smart cloud solutions\u00a0<\/span>in quite the way\u00a0<\/span>that\u00a0<\/span>we do<\/span>\u00a0at\u00a0<\/span>Onomondo<\/span>.<\/span>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Benefiting from flexibility and a<\/span><\/span>n impressive IoT toolbox<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

The freedom\u00a0<\/span>that\u00a0<\/span>Onomondo\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0unique service<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>gives M<\/span>ae<\/span>r<\/span>sk\u00a0<\/span>has been<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>intrinsic<\/span>\u00a0to the evolution of\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>integrated container logistics\u00a0<\/span>company\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Remote Container\u00a0<\/span>M<\/span>anagement (RCM)<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0which<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>monitors and controls<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>reefer\u00a0<\/span>environm<\/span>e<\/span>nts to ensure\u00a0<\/span>that\u00a0<\/span>the<\/span>ir<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>contents arrive in the best possible condition.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe RCM project has been up and running for five years now<\/span>,<\/span>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>says<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Altoor<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u201c<\/span>I<\/span>nitial deployment was in data centers<\/span>\u00a0but n<\/span>ow we\u00a0<\/span>operate everything<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>in<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>the cloud<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>W<\/span>ith\u00a0<\/span>Onomondo<\/span>\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0help<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0we have improved our solution from both a coverage and\u00a0<\/span>a\u00a0<\/span>cost perspective.\u00a0<\/span>Thanks to them we<\/span>\u00a0have more freedom to operate<\/span>, with<\/span>\u00a0the flexibility to always choose the best operator\u00a0<\/span>to give us the\u00a0<\/span>best coverage at the best price<\/span>.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

And w<\/span>ith\u00a0<\/span>Onomondo\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>suite of IoT tools,<\/span>\u00a0Maersk\u00a0<\/span>has everything it needs\u00a0<\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>customize its solution \u2013<\/span>\u00a0delivering\u00a0<\/span>better flexibility and security parameters\u00a0<\/span>when\u00a0<\/span>connecting to Microsoft Azure, even after deployment.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>That’s really the essence of what we’re trying to do<\/span>,\u201d\u00a0<\/span>explains\u00a0<\/span>Karlsen<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u201cT<\/span>o\u00a0<\/span>empower\u00a0<\/span>smart companies using\u00a0<\/span>Microsoft technology<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0We\u00a0<\/span>provide<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>tool<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0to\u00a0<\/span>globally\u00a0<\/span>connect Microsoft’s brilliant IoT service\u00a0<\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>brilliant IoT hardware solutions<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>so that<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>great<\/span>\u00a0new<\/span>\u00a0things<\/span>\u00a0can happen<\/span>.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>The benefits for\u00a0<\/span>us at\u00a0<\/span>Maersk depend on\u00a0<\/span>which of the\u00a0<\/span>Onomondo<\/span>\u00a0tools<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>we use<\/span>,\u201d\u00a0<\/span>adds<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Egeberg<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u201c<\/span>Connectivity is es<\/span>sential<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and close a<\/span>s<\/span>set<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>integration makes our products\u00a0<\/span>more<\/span>\u00a0cyber<\/span>–<\/span>safe.\u00a0<\/span>But w<\/span>e can\u00a0<\/span>also\u00a0<\/span>localize<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>SIMs<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>by\u00a0<\/span>making local data connections to save costs.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>there are\u00a0<\/span>many\u00a0<\/span>more tools in the box that we’ll be exploring as we go along. The\u00a0<\/span>fundamental<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>thing here is\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>choice that we have and the\u00a0<\/span>operational freedom it gives us<\/span>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

A<\/span><\/span>\u00a0relationship<\/span><\/span> that is set to grow<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

Despite the\u00a0<\/span>considerable\u00a0<\/span>difference in both corporate age and size<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0there is an atmosphere of shared culture and\u00a0<\/span>ambition<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>between the two teams<\/span>\u00a0at Maersk and\u00a0<\/span>Onomondo<\/span>\u00a0\u2013<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>a result of the container giant\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>invest<\/span>ment<\/span>\u00a0in\u00a0<\/span>Onomondo<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>in\u00a0<\/span>late\u00a0<\/span>20<\/span>19<\/span>\u00a0through<\/span>\u00a0its<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Corporate Venture arm\u00a0<\/span>Maersk Growth.<\/span><\/p>\n

It was an investment that came on the back of Maersk choosing\u00a0<\/span>Onomondo<\/span>\u00a0as its global connectivity partner earlier that year<\/span>, and it\u00a0<\/span>led to<\/span>\u00a0Maersk\u00a0<\/span>reaching<\/span>\u00a0out to its long-standing strategic partner Microsoft\u00a0<\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>explore<\/span>\u00a0how\u00a0<\/span>Onomondo<\/span>\u00a0could<\/span>\u00a0scale and build more value into their solution<\/span>. Since then,\u00a0<\/span>Onomondo<\/span>\u00a0has become\u00a0<\/span>a\u00a0<\/span>Microsoft\u00a0<\/span>partner<\/span>, further strengthening the relationship between all three companies.<\/span><\/p>\n

It is clear that the relationship is on course to\u00a0<\/span>deliver further innovations.\u00a0<\/span>\u201cWe<\/span>\u00a0are\u00a0<\/span>looking\u00a0<\/span>at<\/span>\u00a0the most efficient way to manage all these SIMs globally,\u201d explains\u00a0<\/span>Siddhartha Kulkarni, Head of Equipment IoT at Maersk.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u201c<\/span>So<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>we have been working with\u00a0<\/span>Onomondo<\/span>\u00a0on a subscription management platform where we can jointly view the full details of our SIMs\u00a0<\/span>and<\/span> change subscribers at the click of a button.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHelping\u00a0<\/span>Maersk\u00a0<\/span>with their RCM solution\u00a0<\/span>is<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>only\u00a0<\/span>the start of it,\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Karlse<\/span>n<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>adds<\/span>. \u201cOur\u00a0<\/span>IoT\u00a0<\/span>toolbox is always evolving and we have many more game<\/span>–<\/span>chang<\/span>ing tools\u00a0<\/span>in the pipeline<\/span>\u00a0\u2013<\/span>\u00a0g<\/span>lobal connectivity is simply the foundation on which we\u00a0<\/span>build\u00a0<\/span>them.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>As I see it, o<\/span>ur\u00a0<\/span>journey together has just\u00a0<\/span>begun<\/span>,<\/span>\u201d\u00a0<\/span>he\u00a0<\/span>concludes.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>A<\/span>lthough\u00a0<\/span>On<\/span>o<\/span>mondo<\/span>\u00a0may only\u00a0<\/span>be\u00a0<\/span>a small speedboat next to the\u00a0<\/span>giant<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>liner<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>ship\u00a0<\/span>of Maersk, what we have achieved together\u00a0<\/span>so far\u00a0<\/span>has validated our\u00a0<\/span>partnership and paved the way for greater collaboration going forward.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

A.P. Moller – Maersk is an integrated container logistics company<\/span><\/i>, c<\/span><\/i>onnecting and simplifying trade to help\u00a0<\/span><\/i>its<\/span><\/i>\u00a0customers grow and thrive.\u00a0<\/span><\/i>The<\/span><\/i>\u00a0flexible connectivity solution from\u00a0<\/span><\/i>Onomondo<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/i>will help<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/i>the company<\/span><\/i>\u00a0deliver best<\/span><\/i>–<\/span><\/i>in<\/span><\/i>–<\/span><\/i>class solutions not only today but also in the future<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Onomondo<\/span><\/i>\u00a0takes all that is good from cellular and redesigns all that should be rethought for a society reshaped by IoT. The result is a global, scalable, secure and\u00a0<\/span><\/i>cost effective<\/span><\/i>\u00a0network that changes what is possible within IoT and eliminates borders and barriers.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

To learn more about A.P. Moller – Maersk, visit\u00a0<\/span><\/i>their website<\/span><\/i><\/a>.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0For more about\u00a0<\/span><\/i>Onomondo<\/span><\/i>, their website<\/span><\/i>\u00a0is\u00a0<\/span><\/i>here<\/span><\/i><\/a>.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cI suppose you could say we were dating at first,\u201d\u00a0says\u00a0Michael Karlsen, CEO\u00a0and co-founder\u00a0of\u00a0Onomondo,\u00a0as he recalls\u00a0his company\u2019s\u00a0first meeting\u00a0with\u00a0Danish shipping behemoth\u00a0A.P. Moller – Maersk\u00a0in February 2019. He admits that\u00a0the two companies\u00a0were\u00a0an unlikely\u00a0corporate\u00a0couple:\u00a0the\u00a0small,\u00a0Copenhagen-based\u00a0start-up\u00a0IoT operator\u00a0Onomondo\u00a0with less than 20 employees,\u00a0and\u00a0the massive, 79,900-strong\u00a0Maersk\u00a0with\u00a0its\u00a0global\u00a0fleet of over 700 vessels\u00a0and 3.5 million containers.\u00a0\u00a0 The match was made by the Danish Energy Authority.\u00a0\u201cThey\u00a0knew\u00a0we\u00a0were very interested […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":665,"featured_media":409012,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1804,1911],"class_list":["post-409009","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-customer-stories-en","category-digital-transformation-en","specials-transform-en","verticalIndustries-manufacturing-en","stories-how-can-i-make-my-company-more-innovative","stories-innovation-en","businessPriorities-digital-transformation"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pulse.microsoft.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/409009"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pulse.microsoft.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pulse.microsoft.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pulse.microsoft.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/665"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pulse.microsoft.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=409009"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/pulse.microsoft.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/409009\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":412387,"href":"https:\/\/pulse.microsoft.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/409009\/revisions\/412387"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pulse.microsoft.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/409012"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pulse.microsoft.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=409009"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pulse.microsoft.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=409009"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}