Industry
Maritime Transportation
Solutions
Port Agent
About the client
Monson is a shipping agency that specializes in bulk commodities such as coal, iron ore, alumina, caustic soda, mineral sands and more.

How Monson Cut 90% of Email Noise to Streamline Port Calls

Discover how Monson Agencies transformed their shipping agency communication tools and achieved operational efficiency through smart email automation. It enabled Monson to reduce email overload whilst enhancing team coordination in vessel scheduling and port operations efficiency.

"We created this monster with a million different rules for every team and individuals across different locations. We had to make up various rules so that all the sent messages would be forwarded to the team - and it was filling up our servers because of the sheer volume of emails."
Monique Costantino
Commercial Manager
Before Sedna
After Sedna
1.8 million emails/months, impossible to find information
90% reduction in email volume
Non-responsive terminals impacting productivity
Automatically sorted, easy-to-search email allows scheduling port calls faster with less noise

The Challenge: Shipping Agency Communication Strained by Email Overload

Monson Agencies Australia, a leading bulk shipping agency with over 100 employees globally, faced critical challenges with their traditional email management system. Their port operations efficiency was severely hampered by overwhelming email volumes that threatened their ability to maintain excellence in vessel scheduling and customer service.

1.8 Million Monthly Emails Undermined Email Accessibility and Searchability

Before implementing automated inbox for logistics solutions, Monson was drowning in an unprecedented volume of maritime communications. This massive influx of emails created significant barriers to email accessibility, making it nearly impossible for team members to locate critical vessel information, port call details, and scheduling updates when needed most.

The lack of efficient shipping agency communication tools meant that essential information was buried in overflowing inboxes, leading to delayed responses and missed opportunities in their fast-paced maritime operations environment. As highlighted in our guide on breaking the good enough trap in maritime email management, traditional email systems simply cannot cope with the demands of modern shipping operations.

Manual Rules and Non-Responsive Terminals Slowed Team Coordination in Vessel Scheduling

Monson's legacy email system created bottlenecks that directly impacted their team coordination in vessel scheduling. Manual email sorting rules proved inadequate for handling the complex communication patterns inherent in maritime logistics, while system freezes and non-responsive terminals disrupted critical scheduling workflows.

These technical limitations prevented seamless collaboration between team members, creating information silos that hindered effective port call scheduling and reduced overall operational responsiveness.

Lack of Email Automation Hindered Port Operations Efficiency

Without sophisticated email automation capabilities, Monson's team spent countless hours manually processing, sorting, and searching through communications. This manual approach not only consumed valuable time but also increased the risk of human error in critical scheduling decisions.

The absence of intelligent email management meant that urgent vessel updates, port notifications, and scheduling changes were often delayed or overlooked, directly impacting their ability to maintain competitive advantage in the maritime industry. This challenge is particularly acute for port agents operating in 24/7 operational environments.

The Solution: An Automated Inbox for Logistics and Shared Scheduling

Sedna's Stream platform transformed Monson's communication infrastructure by introducing cutting-edge email automation and intelligent workflow management. This future-ready platform delivered enterprise-grade solutions specifically designed for maritime operations, enabling Monson to achieve unprecedented levels of operational efficiency.

Shared Inbox for Vessel Scheduling Boosted Team Collaboration and Visibility

The implementation of a shared inbox for vessel scheduling revolutionised how Monson's teams collaborate on port operations. This centralised communication hub provided complete visibility into vessel movements, scheduling updates, and customer communications, enabling seamless handovers between team members and eliminating information gaps.

Stream's live chat functionality alongside each message created a comprehensive audit trail, ensuring that all team members could access complete context for every vessel interaction, dramatically improving team coordination in vessel scheduling.

Automated Email Tagging and Sorting Reduced Email Noise for Better Scheduling

Sedna's intelligent automation capabilities delivered the key to reduce email noise for better scheduling. Advanced AI-powered email tagging automatically categorised incoming communications by vessel, voyage, customer, and priority level, ensuring that critical information reached the right team members at the right time.

This smart categorisation system eliminated the manual effort previously required to sort through thousands of daily emails, allowing Monson's scheduling teams to focus on high-value activities rather than administrative tasks. The impact of advanced AI email tagging on port call capacity has been transformative for agencies like Monson.

Integrated Shipping Agency Communication Tools Improved Operational Efficiency

Stream's open API architecture enabled seamless integration with Monson's existing agency vessel appointment system, creating a unified ecosystem of shipping agency communication tools. This integration enriched incoming emails with contextual data and automatically prioritised communications based on business rules and vessel schedules.

The ultra-fast search capabilities meant that users could instantly locate records for individual vessels or voyages without switching between systems, dramatically improving response times and customer service quality.

The Result: Faster Port Call Scheduling Through Streamlined Email Management

Since implementing Stream by Sedna in 2017, Monson has achieved remarkable transformation in their maritime operations, demonstrating the powerful impact of enterprise-grade email automation on shipping agency performance.

90% Drop in Email Volume Empowered Scheduling Teams

The dramatic reduction in email volume transformed Monson's daily operations, giving team members precious hours back each day to focus on providing superior customer service and handling more complex scheduling challenges. This efficiency gain directly translated into improved port operations efficiency and enhanced competitive positioning.

Where their previous system would freeze under the weight of high email volumes, Stream's scalable architecture maintains smooth performance regardless of communication volume, ensuring consistent productivity across all maritime operations.

Email Automation Enabled Real-Time Coordination and Faster Customer Service

The implementation of sophisticated email automation capabilities enabled Monson to achieve real-time coordination across their global operations. Automated prioritisation and intelligent routing ensured that urgent vessel updates and customer inquiries received immediate attention, significantly improving response times.

This enhanced responsiveness strengthened customer relationships and positioned Monson as a technology-forward shipping agency capable of meeting the demanding requirements of modern maritime commerce.

Boost in Port Operations Efficiency with Less Manual Input

By eliminating manual email processing and implementing intelligent automation, Monson achieved substantial improvements in port operations efficiency. The reduction in administrative overhead allowed their experienced maritime professionals to focus on strategic decision-making and complex problem-solving rather than routine email management.

This transformation created a more agile organisation capable of handling increased port call volumes while maintaining exceptional service quality and operational accuracy.

Transform Your Maritime Email Workflows Today

Ready to achieve similar results for your shipping agency? Discover how Sedna's enterprise-grade email automation can revolutionise your port operations efficiency and transform your team coordination in vessel scheduling.

Book a Demo to See How Sedna Enhances Team Coordination and Port Efficiency

Join industry leaders like Monson Agencies who have already transformed their maritime operations with intelligent email automation. Explore more case studies here.

Frequently Asked Questions About Email Automation in Shipping Agencies

How does email automation improve port call scheduling efficiency?

Email automation improves port call scheduling efficiency by automatically categorising and prioritising vessel communications, eliminating manual sorting time, and ensuring critical scheduling updates reach the right team members instantly. This reduces response times from hours to minutes and prevents important communications from being overlooked in busy inboxes.

What are the benefits of using a shared inbox for vessel scheduling?

A shared inbox for vessel scheduling provides complete visibility into all vessel communications, enables seamless handovers between team members, maintains comprehensive audit trails, and eliminates information silos. This enhanced collaboration ensures consistent customer service and prevents scheduling conflicts or missed updates.

How can automated email solutions reduce email overload?

Automated email solutions reduce email overload by intelligently filtering, categorising, and prioritising incoming communications using AI-powered algorithms. This technology can reduce email volume by up to 90% while ensuring important messages receive immediate attention, allowing teams to focus on high-value activities rather than email management.