By Filippa Hector, Kristina Nilsson, Halley Rainer Wallén , William Bergh, Eden Yates
- Documentation For The Win
- A Fortuitous Shipment Incident
- Cling’s Operations
- Raising Industry Standards
The battery industry's lack of standardisation is a natural symptom of a nascent market. The lack of proper documentation, on the other hand, is an unnecessary problem that is hampering the market growth and maturity. Getting documentation right might turn out to be one of the biggest levers to accelerate the transition to sustainable energy.
A Fortuitous Shipment Incident
To exemplify, we had a battery shipment that failed to meet the agreed terms earlier this year. The issue was caused by vague communication and poor documentation (and overlapping vacations). The lack of documentation and pictures caused time-consuming investigations and efforts to map the whole situation. It all ended well, but it was exhausting for the sellers, buyers and logistic companies.
Fortunately, this incident provided some critical lessons and reminders:
- Always facilitate clear communication between all stakeholders.
- Always have pictures of the goods*.
- Always have documentation. Signed whenever possible.
- Always have direct feedback after completed delivery.
Cling’s Operations
These lessons have strengthened our commitment to deliver more thorough and reliable practices. To that end, we are continually working to improve our processes to create frictionless circularity.
In our previous article “Behind the Scenes: The Complexity of Stakeholders and Documentation in Battery Logistics”, we examined the complex network of stakeholders and documentation involved in battery logistics. Up to 15 documents can be needed for one single trade! When a specific document from a trade needs to be accessed, instead of sifting through old email threads, CRM systems or WhatsApp conversations, Cling keeps it all organised in one place - the Activity Hub. It's an internal tool today but let us know if you are interested to learn more or try it out.
We have also introduced a picture guide aimed at helping you capture essential details of batteries and batches. By following this guide, you will learn how to take photos that:
- Clearly show the entire battery and batch, highlighting packaging details, labels, connectors, and any visible defects.
- Eliminate distractions, focusing on the correct angles and surroundings to capture the best perspectives.
- Consider important factors such as proper lighting, safety, and other critical elements to ensure high-quality images.
Are you interested in the photo guide? Follow this link to receive the guide.
Raising Industry Standards
In the trading industry, trust is essential, and transparency is the key to earning it. Transparent processes and well-documented supply chains are vital for building and maintaining this trust, which in turn accelerates the growth and maturity of the battery market.
By committing to comprehensive and consistent documentation, we can collectively elevate the standards of transparency and accountability across the entire battery ecosystem. This creates an environment where counterparties can trade with confidence, assured that the condition of each battery is thoroughly documented and transparent.
Imagine a tool that makes this level of transparency the norm, providing a straightforward way to maintain records on unique assets. The wait is almost over—battery passports are coming soon...
What do you think are the biggest challenges in battery documentation? Share your thoughts below, and let's keep the conversation going!
For more information, get in touch: info@clingsystems.com
