Products
Module
MAINTENANCE
PROCUREMENT
CREWING
Products
MAINTENANCE
NS UNITED KAIUN KAISHA, LTD.,
a world-leading Japanese shipowner and operator with a large, diverse fleet of bulk carriers, tankers, and specialized vessels.
With a global fleet and a commitment to operational excellence, NSU's procurement process was managed by capable teams but relied on multiple, disconnected systems. This created data silos between departments, limited strategic spend analysis, and involved significant administrative overhead.
NSU undertook a strategic digital transformation project, implementing PRIME Marine's fully integrated procurement platform, including the core Procurement Module, Supplier Management, Supplier Portal, and Automated Invoice Processing.
10% Reduction
in total procurement spend through strategic sourcing and data analytics
15% Improvement
in average On-Time Delivery (OTD) from key suppliers
50% Faster
end-to-end invoice processing and payment cycle time
100% Visibility
into fleet-wide spend and supplier performance
As one of the world's premier shipping companies, NS UNITED KAIUN KAISHA, LTD. (NSU) operates at the highest standards of quality and reliability. However, their procurement and accounts payable workflows, while robust, were fragmented across several legacy systems and manual processes. This made it challenging to get a single, real-time view of their entire global procurement operation.
"Our teams are excellent, but their tools were not connected," says Mr. Kenji Tanaka, General Manager of the Procurement Department at NSU. "Our procurement data was in one system, our supplier performance was tracked in spreadsheets, and our invoice processing was a separate, manual workflow. We couldn't easily analyze our total global spend with a supplier or see the direct link between a purchase order and a final payment without significant manual effort. We needed a single, integrated platform built for the realities of modern shipping."
The goal was clear: find a unified solution that could streamline the entire procure-to-pay lifecycle, from initial requisition to final invoice payment.
“We were looking for a long-term technology partner who understood the maritime industry and could support our vision for a more data-driven, efficient, and integrated procurement process.”
Mr. Kenji Tanaka,
General Manager,
Procurement Department,
NS UNITED
After a thorough evaluation, NSU chose PRIME Marine for its fully integrated platform and deep maritime expertise. The implementation focused on deploying the entire procurement suite to create a seamless data flow.
"The implementation was a true partnership," Mr. Tanaka notes. "The PRIME Marine team understood our high standards for data integrity and worked closely with us to ensure a smooth transition. The ability to see the entire lifecycle of a request in one place—from the vessel's initial requisition to the supplier's acknowledged PO, and finally the automatically processed invoice—was the transformation we were seeking.
“The implementation was a true partnership," Mr. Tanaka notes. "The PRIME Marine team understood our high standards for data integrity and worked closely with us to ensure a smooth transition. The ability to see the entire lifecycle of a request in one place—from the vessel's initial requisition to the supplier's acknowledged PO, and finally the automatically processed invoice—was the transformation we were seeking.”
By unifying their procurement process on the PRIME Marine platform, NSU unlocked significant benefits across their organization.
1. Data-Driven Strategic Sourcing
With a complete, real-time view of their fleet-wide spend, NSU's procurement team was able to analyze purchasing patterns and identify opportunities for consolidation. This data-driven approach allowed them to negotiate stronger contracts with key suppliers, resulting in a 10% reduction in their overall procurement spend.
2. A More Reliable and Collaborative Supply Chain
The use of data-driven Vendor Performance Scorecards and the transparent communication facilitated by the Supplier Portal led to a15% improvement in On-Time Delivery from their strategic suppliers. It fostered a more collaborative, partnership-based relationship.
3. Revolutionary A/P Efficiency
The Automated Invoice Processing module was a game-changer for the finance department. By eliminating manual data entry and automating the three-way match, they achieved a 50% faster invoice processing and payment cycle time, reducing administrative burden and improving relationships with their valued partners.
“With PRIME Marine, our procurement team now spends less time on manual administration and more time on high-value strategic analysis. We have better control, better data, and stronger supplier partnerships. It is the foundation of our modern procurement strategy.”
Mr. Kenji Tanaka,
General Manager,
Procurement Department,
NS UNITED
