AI Agent Aims to Fix Supply Chains

The project44 Ocean Exceptions Agent operates by monitoring shipments at transshipment ports, where the risk of "rolling" is highest. It autonomously detects potential disruptions, contacts carriers to confirm the risk, and then gathers alternative voyage options. A structured recommendation is then sent to human operators who make the final rebooking decision. This automated process can condense the time it takes to detect a rolled container and prepare for rebooking from several hours down to under five minutes. Early results from project44 show that the AI agent can identify the risk of a container being rolled up to 35 hours before the carrier officially provides an update. This early warning gives shippers a critical advantage in securing space on subsequent vessels, which can prevent costly delays and the need for expensive contingency plans. The AI agent is part of a broader suite of "Multi-Agent Orchestration" tools from project44. These agents are designed to work together to automate various logistical tasks and resolve supply chain exceptions. In the past year, project44's agents have initiated nearly one million automated communications with carriers to address issues like visibility gaps and data quality. The need for such tools is underscored by worsening schedule reliability in ocean freight. In early 2025, on-time cargo arrivals plummeted to just 6.7%, a significant drop from 36% in 2024. Furthermore, nearly 64% of shipments during that period were delayed by more than three days, highlighting the intense pressure on global supply chains. This AI is built on project44's logistics data graph, which connects approximately 259,000 carriers and tracks 1.5 billion shipments annually across 186 countries. This vast dataset allows the AI to make predictions based on verified execution data rather than relying solely on static shipping schedules. While the Ocean Exceptions Agent focuses on rolled containers, project44 has also launched an AI Freight Procurement Agent. Early deployments of this tool have shown a 4.1% reduction in freight spending and a decrease of up to 75% in the time it takes to source new shipping options. Customers can configure the operational parameters for the Ocean Exceptions Agent, including setting triggers and carrier filters. The system maintains a complete audit trail of all automated outreach and carrier confirmations, ensuring transparency while still allowing logistics professionals to retain final control over bookings.