Maximizing IT Investments and Streamlining Accounts Payable Lifecycle: A Case Study on Ocean Network Express

Ocean Network Express (ONE), the world’s seventh-largest container carrier, was formed following the merger of Japan’s three largest shipping lines in 2017. The merger led to a complex and disjointed process architecture, with a lack of communication between departments and systems posing a significant challenge. The accounts payable process, critical for timely vendor payments, was particularly inefficient, involving three different sub-departments within the finance team. The process was primarily decentralized, managed manually, and often involved a lengthy paper trail. The finance team used spreadsheets to keep the process on track, but it was difficult to manage and standardize. The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated these issues, as the shift to remote work made the process unmanageable and hindered seamless communication between the finance sub-departments and systems. The team needed a platform, system, or tool to fit all of their processes in this new reality.

Ocean Network Express (ONE) is a global shipping leader, founded following the merger of Japan’s three largest shipping lines in 2017. As of 2023, ONE has a global fleet of over 250 vessels, 244 port calls around the world, and more than 170 weekly services to 120 countries. The company is headquartered in Singapore with regional headquarters in Hong Kong, Singapore, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Brazil. ONE is the world’s seventh-largest container carrier with active participation in all major global trade lanes and a combined 14,000 onshore and offshore employees. The company's core values include teamwork, reliability, quality, and customer satisfaction.