ERP Software: An Efficient Tool for Maritime Recruitment

Handling a maritime business can be complex. From managing operations and overseeing seafarers, to recruiting new talent, the responsibilities can feel overwhelming.

We understand how a shipowner, recruitment officer or crew manager like you juggles these tasks so we are here to share some tricks with you to help lessen the load on your shoulders.

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solutions have emerged as a game-changer, offering powerful tools to streamline operations, enhance fleet management, and revolutionize maritime recruitment. 

This article explores how ERP software is transforming the maritime sector, with a focus on its impact on recruitment processes and overall operational efficiency.

Understanding ERP in the Maritime Context

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems are comprehensive software solutions that integrate various business processes into a unified platform. 

In the maritime industry, ERP solutions are tailored to address the unique challenges faced by shipping companies, crew managers, and recruitment agencies.

Key Features of Maritime ERP Solutions:

1. Centralized database for crew and vessel information
2. Real-time data access and analysis
3. Automated recruitment and crew management processes
4. Integrated financial management tools
5. Fleet management and vessel tracking capabilities

Key Roles of ERP in Maritime Recruitment

If you're having trouble filling your vacant jobs at sea, having ERP software might just make the process more convenient.

The software can aid you in finding, screening, and getting to know your potential candidates and eventually hiring the best seafarers.

ERP solutions offer several benefits that significantly enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of maritime recruitment:

Streamlined Candidate Management

Recruitment can be a tedious and stressful process involving client and candidate relationship-building.

On top of that, research and information gathering are done as part of this long hiring process.

Here at Martide, we can help you organize your candidates' profiles. You can easily monitor the people who have applied for a job with you or whose profiles were created by your company, employees, or co-workers.

You'll have the ability to easily edit, add notes to, import, create assignments, and filter their profiles.

You can also utilize the data templates that you can find in our website to add the necessary details for your job vacancy like info about the vessel, your budget and the contract.

Automated Screening and Matching

Advanced ERP solutions incorporate artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to automate the initial screening of candidates. These systems can:

• Match candidate profiles with job requirements
• Flag potential issues or discrepancies in qualifications
• Rank candidates based on their suitability for specific roles

This automation not only speeds up the recruitment process but also helps ensure that only the most qualified candidates are considered for each position.

Centralized Database

ERP platforms provide a centralized database for storing and managing candidate information. This allows recruiters to:

• Easily search and filter candidate profiles based on qualifications, experience, and certifications
• Track application status and communication history
• Store and manage important documents such as resumes, certificates, and medical records

By centralizing this information, ERP systems reduce the time and effort required to manage candidate data, enabling recruiters to focus on more strategic tasks.

At Martide, we have a Dashboard feature that can do just that. It gives you an instant overview of what’s happening with your vessels and crew.

You can easily retrieve data about your upcoming crew changes within the next 30 days – including how many vessels you have, crew you currently have on board, and the different nationalities you have on board.

All of your vessels and their details can also be found here.

To keep a strong relationship with your crew, you can even see which of your seafarers has a birthday in the next 30 days.

This feature can help you make timely decisions and maintain good organization.

Improved Planning

ERP software can take note of crucial details of your operations. This highlights areas that need attention or improvement.

Recruitment uses data to help ensure that future plans can predict employment turnover especially in critical roles.

Obtaining easy access to data helps the recruitment team to make connections to business goals and its requirements.

Our Planning page will help you view your status at a glance. This enables you to easily plan your vessels and seafarers.

When it comes to your vessels, you can search for your vessels using filters such as All Vessels, All Vessel Types, All Clients, All PIC (Person in Charge), All Statuses, etc.

Seafarers' data is also accessible and easily monitored by searching for your seafarers using the drop down boxes labeled such as All Seafarers, All Ranks, All Flags, All ECDIS, Planned Start Date, Planned End Date, and many more.

It gives you the exact information you need without wasting time.

Easily Manage Workload and Resources

ERP can also be used to monitor tasks and the processes involved.

It helps you stay organized and makes it easier for you to know what you need to do as part of your maritime recruitment process.

Our My Tasks feature helps by allowing you to see your upcoming, overdue, and current tasks. You can also track the date that the task is due.

Tasks are easily monitored as they are efficiently color-coded. Labels here include Document Approval, Interviews, Negotiations, Contract Sign, and Update Passport.

Increased Seafarer Retention

Talent management tools are one of the significant investments for a successful business and retention also plays a key role in the recruitment process – keeping an outstanding talent is just as important.

Knowing that you have capable and tested seafarers returning to your crew after their contracts are up can save you a lot of time, money, and effort.

This means onboarding processes, specifically the recruitment experience, are vital when considering an ERP software.

Building relationships and establishing good communication with your crew and seafarers are important so that when they're about to go back onboard, they will not think twice about signing back with you after their resting period – they'll gladly return to your business.

We understand that whole process and we can help pipeline every recruitment, assignment, or vacancy you create.

You can also rely on our Seafarer Pools feature which has been designed to help shipowners and crew managers like you be more organized by creating groups that contain specific seafarers, especially those who you find capable at sea.

Enhanced Communication and Collaboration

ERP platforms often include built-in communication tools that facilitate seamless interaction between recruiters, candidates, and other stakeholders. Features such as:

• Integrated email and messaging systems
• Automated notifications and reminders
• Shared calendars for scheduling interviews and assessments

These tools help improve communication efficiency and reduce the likelihood of miscommunication or missed opportunities.

Compliance Management

The maritime industry is subject to numerous regulations and compliance requirements. ERP systems help ensure compliance by:

• Tracking and managing certifications and licenses
• Automating document expiration alerts
• Ensuring that only qualified candidates are considered for specific roles

This not only reduces the risk of non-compliance but also saves time and resources that would otherwise be spent on manual compliance checks.

Wrapping it up

ERP solutions are transforming the maritime industry, offering powerful tools to streamline operations, enhance recruitment processes, and improve overall efficiency. By centralizing data, automating key processes, and providing real-time insights, these platforms enable shipping companies to make better decisions, reduce costs, and stay competitive in an increasingly challenging market.

As the industry continues to evolve, the adoption of cloud-based ERP software will likely become a key differentiator between successful maritime companies and those struggling to keep pace. By embracing these technologies and implementing them effectively, shipping companies can position themselves for long-term success in the global maritime landscape.

To give you more idea about this, you can take a look at Martide’s maritime software and get a 360-degree view of your operations, helping you manage your business better to achieve your company’s objectives.

Whether you’re a shipowner, ship manager, or a manning agent, don’t hesitate to sign up on our website and we’ll be more than happy to assist you in attaining your goals in maritime operations.

This blog post was originally published on December 23rd 2022 and updated on February 11th 2025