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ADVANTUM proudly participated in the Caribbean Maritime University (CMU) Industry Conference 2025, held October 1–2 at The Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, Jamaica. Honoured to be part of the discussions, Mrs. Tsahai Morgan, Communications and Marketing Executive for ADVANTUM, the Caribbean’s leading logistics software technology and IT managed services provider, joined the conference as a panelist in one of its most dynamic and influential sessions.

Organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, the conference, themed “Embracing the Blue Economy: Navigating the Future Through Sustainable Practices”, brought together global leaders, innovators, and policymakers to explore strategies for a more sustainable and technologically advanced maritime sector. The two day event was streamed live on YouTube, allowing audiences across the globe to participate virtually.

Central Theme: Blue Economy and Sustainability

The conference emphasised the vital role of the blue economy, a concept that harnesses ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and environmental protection. Discussions revolved around sustainability, innovation, and regional collaboration as the Caribbean positions itself as a hub for maritime development.

Highlight Session: Innovative Technology for Sustainable Maritime Operations

One of the most compelling segments of the conference was the panel discussion titled “Innovative Technology for Sustainable Maritime Operations”, moderated by Prof. Delroy Chevers, Dean of the Faculty of Shipping and Logistics at CMU.

Panelists:

• Mrs. Tsahai Morgan, Communications and Marketing Executive, ADVANTUM, Jamaica
• Dr. Stephen Rhoden, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Technology, CMU, Jamaica
• Lt. Cmdr. Wayne Mykoo, Deputy Director, Maritime Affairs and External Relations, Antigua and Barbuda
• Ms. Gosia Uminska, CEO, Geniox, Florida, USA
• Mrs. Carleen Lyden-Walker, Co-Founder/CEO, North American Environment Protection Association, USA

Advantum’s Tsahai Morgan Highlights Trust, Training, and ROI in Maritime Technology at CMU Industry Conference

On the panel ‘Innovative Technology for Sustainable Maritime Operations’, Morgan underscored that effective communication, workforce upskilling, and data-led innovation are vital to sustainability. She added that trust and measurable results remain central to adopting new technologies in shipping and logistics.

Building Trust Through Communication

In responding to a question from Prof. Delroy Chevers on the best strategies for building trust among regional stakeholders when introducing disruptive technology, Morgan emphasised that ultimately, successful adoption depends as much on people as it does on the technology itself.

“Any strategy that we have in terms of building trust has to start with building trust among the people who the technology will reach or touch,” she said. “It’s all about communication.”

In addition, she explained that at ADVANTUM, being the leading technology developers in the logistics space in Jamaica and the Caribbean, communication is central – not just at the technical level, but in terms of the personal impact technology has on each person who interacts with it.

“We have to speak at the CEO management level, we have to speak to the finance person – how does this affect my bottom line?– we have to speak to the operations managers- how does this affect my workers?– and we have to speak to the end user of the technology,” she added.

At the same time, according to Morgan, one of the most common fears surrounding “disruptive technology” is job security.

“A lot of times when we hear the term ‘disruptive technology’, one of the things that comes across in workers’ minds is: ‘Is this here to take my job?’ or ‘Is this here to make my job more difficult?’,” she explained. “That’s usually the mindset as employees question: ‘Why do I have to change what I am doing?’”

To address these concerns, she stressed that clear communication helps reassure employees that technology is not intended to replace them, but rather to support and enhance their roles by speeding up processes and improving accuracy.

Equally important, Morgan noted, is training and upskilling both the existing workforce and future professionals.

“CMU is doing a fabulous job of training the future workforce, but we also have to think about training the current workforce – those who are already employed and doing the things year upon year,” she said. “Technology is here to co-exist with people. Therefore, we have to now train each person in how they can co-exist with this technology, and communicate effectively to ensure successful adoption.”

Communicating ROI and Sustainability

In a follow-up question, Prof. Chevers asked how logistics technology providers can effectively communicate the return on investment (ROI) of sustainable innovations to stakeholders focused primarily on short-term costs.

Morgan explained that the key lies in speaking the stakeholder’s language.

“When we are communicating with anyone, we have to speak their language. And if their language is short-term gains, we have to speak that language first before going into the long-term gain,” she stated.

She observed that ports, warehouses, and freight forwarders are primarily concerned with how innovations will affect their bottom line – not necessarily sustainability goals.

“Their first thought isn’t necessarily: ‘How will this save the planet?’ or ‘How will this help me go green?’ – especially in a space where there may not be penalties for non-compliance,” she explained. “Therefore, the technology itself has many advantages beyond just the sustainability aspects of it, and we have to communicate those first and foremost.”

Morgan added that marketing sustainability alone can sometimes seem like a burden or just another compliance requirement, but technology offers additional benefits that must be highlighted – especially in terms of data.

“When we are paper-based and manual, it is harder to harness all of that data. And data is king, in terms of monetary gains and technology,” Morgan said. “When we interact with Amazon or Shein, the technology behind it is not just about what you purchase – they can predict your next move before you do because of the data they have harnessed.”

She explained that shipping and logistics similarly hold vast amounts of valuable data. With interconnected systems now speaking to each other, companies must move beyond focusing solely on process efficiency to exploring predictive analysis and other advanced applications.

“Maybe we need more maritime data analysts to tap into that rich data source, or more AI prompters,” she suggested. “We have to start thinking like the ports, predicting four or five years from now what else will be needed, based on the trends. That data is also hitting your bottom line.”

Morgan concluded that the monetary gains from properly utilising data extend well beyond sustainability.

“There is much more monetary gain even now because of the data that we have at hand,” she said. “Beyond the day-to-day improvements for sustainability, there are financial and operational benefits that we probably have to look at just as much.”

Through her remarks, Tsahai Morgan reinforced ADVANTUM’s reputation as a leader in driving digital transformation across the Caribbean shipping and logistics sector. Her insights made it clear that trust, communication, upskilling, and demonstrating tangible ROI are essential to ensuring the successful adoption of innovative and sustainable maritime technologies.

Watch the Full Discussion

The Caribbean Maritime University Industry Conference 2025 offered powerful insights into the future of sustainable maritime operations. To hear Tsahai Morgan and the other distinguished panelists share their perspectives in full, we invite you to watch the CMU livestream.

You can view the session on Innovative Technology for Sustainable Maritime Operations from 7:10:21 to 8:02:12 at this link: Watch the panel discussion here.

Discover More with ADVANTUM

As the Caribbean’s premier software technology and IT managed services provider for the shipping and logistics industry, ADVANTUM is dedicated to delivering innovative solutions that drive efficiency, transparency, and sustainability.

To learn more about the ADVANTUM Software Suite and how it can transform your operations, we invite you to book a demo with our team. Experience firsthand how our digital solutions can help streamline processes, unlock valuable data insights, and future-proof your logistics operations.