ZPMC Talks Disruption

Chinese equipment manufacturer ZPMC is embracing the digital age, and Judson Althoff, Microsoft’s worldwide commercial business lead, and Song Hailiang, ZPMC’s vice president and former chairman, explore the company’s digital transformation in the video above. 

More than 300 ports in 100 countries use ZPMC’s cranes and heavy-duty machinery, and the company is partnering with Microsoft to create new products, services and models. ZPMC is leveraging the Microsoft Cloud to build an Internet of Things platform that connects equipment, analyzes real-time data and informs a global monitoring hub. The company is integrating machine learning and advanced analytics for predictive maintenance and building remote monitoring, servicing and operations systems that boost efficiency, safety and customer satisfaction.

The company is also creating a customer portal for new shipping services, from tracking equipment orders online to tracking shipments to their final destination. 

“We used to sell equipment, but now we are selling systems; we used to sell hardware, and now we are selling software and service,” says Song.