CSN Adonis Violaris face-to-face with Agostino Fiorentino, CEO of Arribatec Marine
With 25 years of experience developing and executing IT strategies for the Maritime Sector, Agostino is a result-driven, self-motivated, and enthusiastic professional with extensive knowledge of ERP systems.
After two decades of experience at one of the most well-known IT companies in the industry as Customer Support and Professional Services Director, Agostino has gained a considerable understanding of software applications and has developed a particular sensitivity towards customers’ needs and the market’s demand concerning digitalisation.
He joined Arribatec Marine (former IB Influencing Business) in 2017 as Managing Director of its Cypriot subsidiary, becoming CEO of the Company in 2022.
Arribatec Marine claims to be a leading company dedicated to providing high-level marine maintenance software and consulting for the technical management of strategic assets. What are the specific services provided, and how can you upgrade the company’s efficiency?
Arribatec Marine offers ERP system solutions and professional services to simplify daily technical operations management processes through modern cloud-based software applications, easily adaptable to any kind of fleet and ship type.
Our 35-year expertise in enterprise asset management systems allows us to provide solutions that capitalise on the experience and help with supporting clients to stay competitive in terms of vessel performance efficiency, energy governance, and data standardisation.
Infoship, our own developed software suite, is a modular cloud-based system, which comprises Maintenance & Procurement, Quality & Safety, Project Management, MARPOL Electronic LogBooks, and Performance solutions. It’s a unique platform to streamline different technical management processes within one or more fleets, depending on the company’s needs. That makes the system absolutely well-suited for ship owners and ship managers.
When and why did you choose Cyprus as your company’s base, and what are the advantages that came out of this?
Our Cypriot office was opened in 2017, simply because we were already working with some local maritime organizations at the time. We have always argued that having a local and stable presence is important to offer your customers constant support. So the decision to open an office here came pretty necessarily.
Cyprus is a maritime hub of international importance, not only within the Mediterranean area but globally too. Many valuable companies are located on this island, surrounded by a lively and interesting cultural context, led by maritime associations and industry groups, which animates the market with stimulating debates and networking events.
It is a growing country, at the forefront of other European realities.
So being here is essential.
What is Cyprus offering in the maritime industry? Are there any more unexplored possibilities in the local shipping market?
Well, I don’t think there’s anything left unexplored. Cyprus offers interesting opportunities within the Maritime and Energy sectors.
How do you design a more effective and cost-wise saving management in the shipping and maritime business?
The Digitalization of a company’s technical operational processes is the starting point to ensure reliable data, which are the backbone for any kind of analysis a company could need to make. Increasing Operational ship efficiency through a better understanding of data is the key to dramatically gain advantageous savings on operations costs on a single ship and – therefore – at the overall level of the fleet.
Infoship supports companies in a real step-up in marine operations, bringing ship owners to a different level of control of their vessels, turning data into meaningful and accurate information: a booster for strategic ship management decisions.
Could you elaborate a bit further on your top offering services?
Designed to deliver highly-configurable fleet management, the Infoship platform includes different modules to specifically manage several technical aspects of a daily operational vessel’s routine, which comprises: Maintenance, Procurement, Hotel Defect management, Quality & Safety, Project Management, MARPOL Logbooks, and Performance monitoring. Working in a stand-alone dimension or in multi-connected scenarios; it can be easily linked to any accounting system, marketplace software, 3rd party logistics software (freight forwarders or agents, etc.).
Do you have experience in other industries other than the Maritime one?
The Maritime industry is so peculiar and constantly evolving that it requires complete dedication; that’s why we are totally focused on it.
Let’s find our now who the man is behind Agostino Fiorentino. How would you describe yourself in 5 words?
I am a simple man, discreet, objective, and very motivated at work.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
I had to grow up fast and learn to get by on my own. I never had my head in the clouds, and being a practical person, I worked on my passion, Information Technology, making it my profession. I wanted to be good at what I did. This was my target.
How did you get involved with Shipping?
It was all very casual: I was very young when I had the opportunity to gain experience in a large IT company operating in the maritime sector. From there, it has been a constant growth. I have never known anything other than that linked to the maritime world.
What has been the most rewarding aspect of working in maritime for you?
Gratitude and trust.
The people who work in this industry are extraordinary.
What is the biggest lesson you have learned in life?
“Never stop learning. Because life never stops teaching”. This is a kind of mantra for me.
What are your hobbies and what do you do in your free time?
I am a dog trainer and an animal lover. Being in contact with them gives me a lot of energy. In addition, I like to challenge myself, so I often find new activities in my free time, such as playing on the stock market or dedicating myself to fitness.
What type of music do you listen?
I listen to music in general, but according to my Spotify, I prefer Pop and Classic music.
Why is it important for Arribatec to have a base in Cyprus?
Cyprus offers interesting opportunities within the Maritime and Energy sectors. Many valuable companies are located on this island, surrounded by a lively and interesting cultural context, led by maritime associations and industry groups, which animates the market with stimulating debates and networking events.
So it’s a very inspiring environment.
What do you look forward for Arribatec in 2023?
Arribatec Marine is the marine vertical of a larger IT group, Arribatec (a Norwegian-based multinational company specializing in ERP solutions and professional services). Through our Parent company, we could improve our offering, including a wide range of additional services in the field of Cloud services, ERP systems, Enterprise Architecture, and Business processes, giving a greater competitive value to our customers. We strongly believe in our corporate mission, which is to simplify complexity, through a one-stop choice to achieve maximum impact and value from investments in logistics, finance, supply chain, and IT operations. Someone can define it as “one supplier”, we call it “One Solution”.
