British ferry and logistics firm P&O Ferries has extended its relationship with Danish data solutions firm Netcompany and will install its “PULSE” system as a “legacy replacement programme”. 

The artificial intelligence leveraging system is a modular product designed to enable better process and workflow digitisation to improve business efficiency and in the long-term, to enable the use of new machine learning and AI-powered solutions, according to Netcompany. 

A key goal of the new system, according to P&O, is decarbonisation of its fleet. The digitalisation of its process is said to help streamline its environmental priorities. 

“We are delighted to expand our partnership with Netcompany as we enter a critical part of our digital transformation programme. Modernising our legacy systems is a key part of remaining competitive in the fast-changing ferries landscape. 

“Netcompany has proven over the years that they prioritise service delivery at scale and have the innovative technology to enable current and future operations-sensitive initiatives,” said P&O’s head of IT Chloe Friend. 

Netcompany said the first use of the PULSE platform will be to “build and safely deliver a minimum viable product (MVP), to provide an integration layer for both legacy applications and a new suite of business applications.” 

Once this MVP is showcased operational on one ferry route, the tech firm said it would be rolled out on all of P&O’s routes. 

PULSE works with the same modular technology used to interpret and display data as AIRHART, Netcompany’s solution with its ‘home’ airport in Copenhagen. 

Damien Venkatasamy, Netcompany’s UK-based partner, explained the benefits of such technologies. 

“The most exciting part of this legacy replacement programme is the opportunities it opens for P&O Ferries in the future. Using PULSE as a platform means they will be able to maximise and streamline any new technological, or data-driven innovation and sustainability efforts P&O Ferries may want to initiate in the future,” he said.