Case Study: Willbox Reduces Vessel Tracking Time by 75% with MonCargo! Achieves Communication Efficiency with Sharing Features.
Ayana CEO
After graduating from the Faculty of Literature at Kobe University, she joined Rakuten Inc. to learn the fundamentals of e-commerce. Later, she switched to a foreign manufacturing company and faced challenges from the manufacturer's perspective. While studying business strategy in an evening MBA program, she developed an interest in marketing for luxury brands rather than FMCG (Fast-Moving Consumer Goods). This led her to study abroad at ESSEC Business School in France. Upon returning to her home country, she worked as an EC Manager for a foreign cosmetics manufacturer, served as a CMO for a startup, and eventually founded MonCargo.
Willbox Co., Ltd., a developer and operator of international logistics platforms, has released a vessel tracking feature utilizing MonCargo's API. We spoke with Ms. Anesaki, who handles vessel tracking operations at Willbox, to learn more about this update.
Overview of This Article
Objective
Streamline complex vessel tracking operations and reduce workload.
Provide customers with accurate and timely information.
Challenges
Manually checking vessel statuses and schedule changes was time-consuming.
Managing updated information and sharing it internally and externally required significant time and increased communication costs.
Post-Implementation Impact
Vessel tracking operations reduced by approximately 75% using MonCargo's management interface.
The shared URL feature enables customers to check information independently, significantly reducing the time spent communicating with external customers.
(Left) Gosho, MonCargo (Right) Ms. Anesaki, Willbox
Ms. Anesaki's Profile
After experience as a secretary and in web advertising agencies, Ms. Anesaki joined Willbox. She initially handled corporate operations and office relocations before taking on support for sales team booking operations.
Could You Tell Us About Willbox’s Business?
Willbox develops matching platforms to solve logistics industry challenges and optimize logistics structures. We operate two services:
Giho: An international logistics platform connecting shippers directly with database-listed logistics providers.
Container EC: A platform offering comprehensive tools to view, search, compare, and book ocean freight rates and schedules from multiple shipping companies.
By leveraging MonCargo's API, Container EC centralizes the management of ocean container search, comparison, booking, and vessel tracking operations. This service simplifies the complex process of arranging containers, while also sharing valuable content such as the latest shipping company news and tips on maritime transport.
For More Information：https://willbox.jp/CEC-1
What Are Your Main Responsibilities?
When I first joined, I focused on corporate and administrative tasks. Around November 2023, I began handling trade operations, including vessel tracking and B/L issuance, though I’m not directly involved in bookings.
Vessel tracking was particularly challenging as each shipping company's website has different layouts, formats, and terminology—all in English. Initially, it required patience and energy. Over time, I learned to consolidate information from various sources, but it was a demanding task.
What Challenges Did You Face Before Using MonCargo?
Previously, we manually checked vessel statuses on each shipping company's website for individual cases.
We used a dedicated spreadsheet to manage cases, with shipping company URLs saved within. Daily tasks included filtering cases in the spreadsheet, opening URLs, copying and pasting numbers, checking statuses, and updating any changes. This repetitive process took considerable time.
B/L issuance often delayed vessel tracking tasks, sometimes pushing them to as late as 7 or 8 p.m. In cases with many tasks, I prioritized urgent cases and postponed others until the following morning, which occasionally resulted in delayed updates for customers.
Sharing schedule changes involved extracting relevant cases after completing vessel tracking, sharing internally, and then notifying customers individually. Customer inquiries in the mornings also added to the workload.
How Has MonCargo Helped Address These Challenges?
MonCargo significantly improved operational efficiency. Tasks that previously required navigating multiple URLs can now be completed via MonCargo’s management interface. What once took up to two hours per day now takes less than 30 minutes, reducing workload by over 75%.
The shared URL feature was particularly well-received by customers. When we first informed them about the feature, the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Customers appreciated the convenience of viewing consolidated information in a single link, reducing the need for individual updates for minor changes and significantly lowering communication costs.
What Are Your Favorite Features in MonCargo?
Case-specific ID Management: The ability to assign our case numbers for easy tracking is invaluable.
Change History: Viewing past updates and automatically reflecting the latest values simplifies customer communication.
Gantt Chart View: This makes it easier to manage B/Ls and bookings visually.
Notification Customization: Alerts for vessel changes and other criteria can be tailored, enhancing usability.
What Improvements Would You Like to See in MonCargo?
I hope MonCargo can incorporate CUT date changes in the future. It’s essential information and challenging to manage without centralized functionality. Addressing this need would make the platform even more user-friendly. I believe many people would benefit from MonCargo’s continued expansion and support its growth wholeheartedly.
Featured Company
Willbox Inc.
2-3-1, Minatomirai 2-chome, Nishi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 220-0012
Queens Tower A 14th floor
https://willbox.jp/
MonCargo Comment
This time, we had the pleasure of speaking with Ms. Anesaki from Willbox Co., Ltd., who is in charge of B/L issuance and vessel tracking. Hearing her firsthand experience, we truly felt the significant reductions in both vessel management costs and customer communication costs.
Moving forward, MonCargo aims to continuously improve its services based on feedback from users like Ms. Anesaki, ensuring we remain a trusted and valuable tool for everyone.
Thank you for sharing your valuable insights with us!
Contact Information
MonCargo Inc.
Email: info@moncargo.io