Hapag-Lloyd Expands Global Presence with New Technology Center in India

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The esteemed German container shipping company, Hapag-Lloyd, has recently announced the auspicious inauguration of their latest technology center in Chennai, India, on November 22, 2023. This represents a significant milestone for the company as they endeavour to cultivate state-of-the-art software solutions for the maritime sector.

The Hapag-Lloyd Technology Center (HLTC) will serve as the headquarters for a team of 180 esteemed IT professionals who will be exclusively focused on crafting innovative software solutions tailored to the distinct requirements of the maritime industry. Strategically located at the World Trade Center Chennai, the establishment of the HLTC is the outcome of a collaborative venture forged by Hapag-Lloyd and the Indian technology company, Solverminds, earlier this year. A prominent figure in the realm of management solutions for the maritime industry, Solverminds has been a valued collaborator of Hapag-Lloyd since 2017, providing invaluable assistance in IT operations and software development.

Donya-Florence Amer, Chief Information Officer and Chief Human Resources Officer at Hapag-Lloyd, conveyed her enthusiasm for this new undertaking, stating, “Within the Hapag-Lloyd Technology Center, we will consolidate our strengths and competencies. The HLTC will thus play a pivotal role in our technological transformation. We are steadfast in the expansion of our global IT presence and are positioned to deliver industry-leading software solutions.” The company has ambitious plans for the expansion of the technology center in the foreseeable future. Amer further remarked, “In the medium term, we aim to bolster the team at our HLTC to between 300 and 400 specialists – thereby enhancing the talent pool and allure of the entire company in the times ahead.”

Balamurugan Palanivelu, Chief Executive Officer of the newly established technology center, underscored the strategic importance of Chennai as the chosen location for the center. “As a port city, Chennai has perennially served as a vital business hub and, in recent times, has emerged as a prominent hub for software solutions,” he expounded. “The convergence of these elements – port, business, software – furnishes us with the ideal environment for our technology center and the development of intelligent software solutions.”

It is noteworthy that Chennai will join the esteemed ranks of Gdansk (Poland) and Hamburg (Germany) as the third Hapag-Lloyd IT Technology Center. The decision to establish a presence in Chennai is a testament to the company’s acknowledgement of the city as a thriving hub for highly skilled IT professionals and a promising market for prospective growth prospects.

This move is a strategically calculated one as it attests to Hapag-Lloyd’s confidence in the potential of the Indian market. With a formidable fleet of 264 containerships and a total transport capacity of 2 million TEU, Hapag-Lloyd stands as a trailblazer in the liner shipping industry and perceives India as a pivotal region for the acquisition of highly qualified IT talent and the expansion of their global footprint.

In summation, the inauguration of the Hapag-Lloyd Technology Center in Chennai represents a landmark achievement for the company and embodies their dedication to propelling technological innovation in the maritime sector. This initiative not only solidifies Hapag-Lloyd’s presence in India but also underscores the company’s steadfast commitment to maintaining a competitive edge in the swiftly evolving digital landscape of the shipping industry.

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