“Innovation is about transforming good ideas into real customer value”, says WSS Director at Leadership Forum

Andrew Sheriff, Business Director Safety at Wilhelmsen Ships Service (WSS) spoke to leading cruise industry representatives at last week’s CLIA Leadership Forum in Miami, explaining what drives his team when it comes to continuously developing its portfolio.

During his presentation “Navigating Change - Innovation on equipment and life cycle”, Sheriff offered views on innovation from a supplier’s perspective. He stated that only by creating real value through the development and implementation of new ideas would WSS, as the world’s largest ship supplier, be able to pass on tangible benefits to its global cruise customers. He said:

“When we look at developing products, services and the wider business, we look closely at industry trends and ask what factors are driving the need for change. Ultimately, though, we can see that the changing demands of our customers in relation to their commercial operations have the most influence. Cruise operators are looking to streamline operations and ensure that they stay within budget while standing up to the rigours of increasingly complex regulation.”

Sheriff cited the Liferaft Exchange (LRE) concept for the safety market as one business model developed by WSS which has had significant success. Today, this game-changer, offering faster, more efficient and highly cost-effective ways for owners and operators to manage their liferaft servicing and replacements has become somewhat of an industry standard in addition to the traditional liferaft servicing model. He said:

“This kind of innovative thinking allows us to take a small idea and ensure that it has a big impact on the business lifecycle. Our customers expect the best from us. So we must always look for better ways to deliver on their expectations. Programmes such as LRE strengthen our portfolio so it matches the needs of our customers.”