Shah Irani, Chief Technology Officer, addressed tech industry partners at both the Amazon Web Services (AWS) summit and the CIO Innovation Forum in Hong Kong this May. He shares his reflections on how collaboration, cross-industry learning, and thoughtful technology partnerships are shaping Fleet’s approach to innovation.
At Fleet Management, our focus has always been on solving real-world challenges through practical, scalable solutions. The Amazon Web Services (AWS) summit and CIO Innovation Forum in Hong Kong provided an excellent platform to exchange ideas, learn from other industries, and reflect on the progress we are making through collaboration.
Partnerships that Drive Progress
Innovation does not happen in isolation. Working with leading technology companies allows us to build faster and more effectively. We benefit not only from advanced tools, but from the experience they bring, experience that spans industries and offers valuable insight into what works and why.
By adopting proven best practices in areas like security, usability, and system resilience, we raise the standard of our internal platforms. That allows our teams to focus not on reinventing the wheel, but on applying those ideas to our unique operational challenges.
The Role of Cloud Solutions in Our Ecosystem
Amazon’s cloud computing services, the ‘Amazon Web Services’ ecosystem, serves as a strong foundation for our products and systems, offering us the building blocks we need to build, adapt, and scale. It empowers us with comprehensive support ranging from storage and security to AI and advanced analytics, allowing us to focus our efforts on experimenting, integrating and iterating more efficiently across our digital ecosystem.
Our technology platform, PARIS, leverages the advanced capabilities of AWS services. The recent deployment of AI features, for example, demonstrates how we can deliver meaningful improvements quickly when we work with the right partners. While AWS is a core part of our infrastructure, we are not tied to a single partner. Given the pace of change, we also have the flexibility and are open on working with other cloud-based solutions and providers to ensure we are utilising the most effective tools to handle Fleet’s business challenges.
Learning from Other Sectors
One of the most valuable insights from the Summit was the opportunity to explore how other industries are solving similar problems. The maritime sector does not need to start from scratch. Instead, we can make use and proactively learn from others to avoid repeating the same hurdles in the learning curve.
By incorporating best practices and use case sharing across various sectors including Aviation, Retail, and Banking which have successfully implemented new technology, automation, and AI at scale, we gain invaluable insights and reference points. These help us determine how we can help enhance safety, efficiency, and user experience in the maritime context.
Although our environment is unique, particularly the challenge of working with remote, mobile assets, it is not an excuse for delay. With the right mindset and the right partnerships, we can adapt proven approaches to suit our needs. Being a more traditional industry can, in fact, be an advantage by being able to leapfrog certain technology phases. Just as some countries were able to jump from no phone lines to mobile networks, we too can bypass legacy systems and move straight into smarter, integrated platforms.
Sharing and Scaling Ideas
The CIO Innovation Forum offered a valuable chance to connect with peers leading transformation across a wide range of sectors. While the technologies discussed varied - cybersecurity, low-code platforms, AI integration, the core questions were the same: How do we scale innovation safely? How do we ensure agility without compromising reliability? How do we use technology to support people?
It was encouraging to see the same themes echoed at both events. From global logistics to utilities and insurance, many organisations are on the same path, exploring how to combine human expertise with digital tools to create better outcomes.
A Shared Challenge, A Shared Opportunity
Innovation happens when we bring together the right people, the right problems, and the right mindset. Events like the AWS Summit and the CIO Innovation Forum remind us that the future is not about technology alone, but how we use it collaboratively, thoughtfully, and with a clear purpose.
Fleet Management’s focus remains on building safer, smarter operations powered by people and enhanced by technology. When we connect across industries, test ideas at pace, and stay grounded in real-world challenges, we unlock the potential to do just that.
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