Asia Blockchain Review recently spoke to Junxian Lee, CEO of Moovaz, a global mobility platform that aims to solve the pain points of the global mobility and cross-border logistics industries by leveraging on digitization and a back-end optimization core. Lee talked about using data analytics and machine intelligence to aid the logistics sector, his plans to develop the company’s technology for future growth, and how Moovaz is transforming relocation services for everyone.

Asia Blockchain Review: Can you tell us about the inspiration for founding Moovaz?

Junxian Lee: Jerry Chua (Co-Founder and Chief Revenue Officer), Vishnu Vasudeven (Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer), and I had an ambitious and optimistic idea of disrupting the traditional way global relocation was done in today’s world. 

Having studied, worked, and lived overseas over the course of our careers, we’ve had our fair share of dealing with relocation companies. Sometimes the experience can be good, but mostly they were rather unpleasant, stressful, and confusing. Despite this, we noticed that in this digital age, we are faced with an opportunity to bring cutting-edge technology to democratize the existing relocation services market and, by extension, the logistics industry. 

Additionally, consumption habits of relocation professionals were changing due to cost containment measures, and ‘gig economy’ millennials were demanding sleeker and swifter online solutions. Juxtaposed against our research, which uncovered the nascency of the logistics technology industry in our region, and the emerging trends in the United States, we made a call to start Moovaz.

ABR: What are the major pain points in the logistics sector?

JL: I can think of two main areas for improvement. 

The first is cutting down on transport costs, and to do so in a way that is efficient. It’s really about getting the most stuff delivered per mile and per minute. This is because, at Moovaz, we’re always trying to provide a more affordable and reliable way for our clients to transport their belongings. 

Cutting a few corners here and there does not always help in meeting the cost-cutting goals for transportation. Adopting a strategic approach to eliminate or reduce bottlenecks can prove pivotal in revamping network designs and consequently cutting down on transportation costs.

The second is offering segmented, customized services. Due to the advent of globalization, logistics management is transforming into a multi-layered job, where managers are expected to stay updated on multiple supply chains simultaneously. It’s no longer only about delivering goods on time, but also offering customized services to different customers in terms of packing and pricing. With the increase in customer expectations, some top-rated relocation companies are striving to consistently provide maximum consumer satisfaction.

The keyword for success in this scenario is flexibility. Logistics operators need to offer personalized experiences to multiple segments of customers. Using a logistics management software that can automate the process of projecting different services to different customers can not only save time and effort at the managerial level but also bring added accuracy to data compilation and compliance.

ABR: What was the most important thing you gained from your experience in e-commerce? How has that affected the operation of Moovaz?

JL: It is all about customer experience, and being obsessed with it. At the end of the day, you can create this amazing product and market it in the most creative manner. But, if your customer journey is far from seamless and, as a result, your customers are not satisfied, then your business will suffer. 

So at Moovaz, we dedicate a lot of time to understanding exactly what the relocation journey is like from our customer’s perspective, and how we are able to make it as stress-free and enjoyable as possible. We want to be able to build strong customer loyalty, and I think this takes precedence over technical developments (at least for now), as this will give us a longer-term competitive advantage. 

ABR: Who are the members of your team, and what are the areas of their expertise?

JL: Jerry is the Co-founder and Chief Revenue Officer of Moovaz. I first met him back in our undergraduate days at NUS Business School. Despite first starting his career in global banks and some of the world’s largest MNCs (multinational corporations), Jerry eventually found his passion and purpose at the opposite end with startups. Jerry was one of the earliest businessmen to see the opportunities in Myanmar and co-founded several initiatives there. 

He was the Principal Consultant at Infra Capital Myanmar, where he researched, funded, and launched sustainability projects with the backing of major UK development funds. He was also the Managing Director of IFG Asia, where he paved the way for trade channels for physical commodities around the region, as well as developed infrastructure projects in the telecommunications and hospitality industries.

Vishnu is our Co-founder and Chief Operations Officer of Moovaz. I first met him on exchange in Vienna in my undergraduate days. Vishnu is one of the earliest tech entrepreneurs I know. Upon graduation, he founded Reizo, a tech startup for bespoke online tailoring, which was subsequently acquired with a very decent upside. Together with Jerry, he went on to co-found and launch Infra Capital Myanmar and operated their projects in the region. Vishnu also comes with a strong foundation in the logistics industry. He runs Tech Asia Logistics, one of Singapore’s most acclaimed sub-contractors in the logistics and moving industry, and runs one of the strongest crews in the country. 

Vishnu is what you might call a highly driven visionary. He finds joy in the arduous process of building projects from the ground up and has the proven tenacity to see even the toughest times through. He believes in putting in his best in whatever he pursues and always strives to be ahead of his competition.

ABR: How can blockchain help improve the logistics sector? Can you tell us more about how Moovaz utilizes blockchain platforms?

JL: Operating in a predominantly static landscape, the logistics and relocation industry is challenged by slow, expensive, and opaque processes involving multiple intermediaries. Moovaz has a forward-looking vision to redefine the logistics of relocating professionals by building a one-stop online aggregator platform that fulfills all relocation needs. As a user, one simply needs to input basic information such as the origin and destination addresses, move date, and volume of the move. The system then aggregates a list of service providers based on the given criteria.

Blockchain technology enables companies to utilize smart contracts that automate the entire purchasing process. This ultimately saves time and costs. Furthermore, blockchain makes the supply chain more secure and improves transaction flow. Each product receives a specific tag, enabling firms to secure their supply chains with only a few clicks. A single ledger allows you to store information on authenticity, origin, property certificates, place of storage, and records. Therefore, all the important information and facts you need are stored in a single location which is easily accessible. This, in turn, makes the entire supply chain very transparent. Apart from this, blockchain also helps to reduce the amount of and possibility for fraud and cargo theft.

ABR: How can big data and machine learning enhance the operational efficiency of the relocation process?

• Machine intelligence — We harness the power of big data and machine learning to enhance the operational efficiency of the relocation process. All that is required is for you to input the origin and destination cities, move size (volume) and move date. Our system aggregates and processes numerous data points, including key variables such as demand, seasonality, and geography, using real-time decision-making algorithms to formulate an optimal package based on your given criteria.
• Vendor management system — Numerous intermediaries are involved in bringing a single move to fruition, making it difficult to manage and track. Our dynamic scoring system ensures that partners are accountable for their service levels and that consumers have an avenue to provide detailed feedback for the services rendered. This helps to build a transparent and vibrant ecosystem where good moves are recognized and rewarded because we want you to benefit from the best service.

ABR: What other projects and developments can we expect to see from Moovaz in 2019-2020?  

JL: The key milestones for Moovaz in the next 6 months are to expand into the Australian and Hong Kong markets and to develop a stronger brand presence in those regions. We believe that there is a strong opportunity for growth as a lot of relocation activity takes place in those countries. So far, the entry has been very successful, as we have secured a good number of sales over the past month already. 

ABR: What is Moovaz’s role in transforming relocation services?

JL: We started Moovaz to bring the world closer together by enabling a seamless and truly moving experience for everyone. We believe that there is a more efficient way to get people from one place to another and this process does not have to be complex and stressful. Hence, Moovaz was built with customers’ needs in mind — to make moving and relocating more affordable, faster, and more transparent. Only by breaking down these barriers can we then fulfill our promise in delivering a ‘Life Well Moved’. We are not just movers; we are life movers.

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