Published on Linkedin, February 7, 2024 (source)
Over the past year diving into the Palm Oil Industry, I've racked up some pretty interesting experiences. Starting out, my market research took me from Riau to places like Peranap, an 8+ hour drive from Pekanbaru, and Bungo, another long stretch from Jambi. These trips might not seem like a big deal to some, but for me, they were a whole new ball game.
I ended up chatting with a mix of Agents and Smallholders, and even Ramp Agents. These conversations were gold mines for insights and sparked a bunch of ideas I believe could really make a difference. From what I gathered, suppliers in these areas are on another level compared to those in Jambi and Sulawesi.
One of my standout meetings was with a top Agent who also runs multiple ramps. The guy’s work ethic blew me away. It got me thinking about how everything he does is so manual, and it sparked ideas on improving operational efficiency and the potential for digitisation. Just one chat with him and my brain was firing on all cylinders.
This guy manages 8 loading ramps, each under the watchful eye of his most trusted subordinates. He's got CCTV cameras set up, allowing him to monitor each ramp's activity from his screens, sometimes staying up until 2 or 3 in the morning just to keep tabs on the transactions. Seeing the extent of his dedication and the manual effort involved, it hit me: why not leverage technology to lighten his load? This could significantly streamline operations, making the monitoring process more efficient and less taxing.
Then there's the story about one of the big suppliers who got the President of Mitsubishi to visit the backwoods of Sumatra, straight from Japan. That was a reality check on the influence and operational scale some of these players have. When I started piecing together the cost of their operations and the sheer size of their setup—imagine a parking and workshop space as big as a football field—it was a wake-up call. I had never imagined the scale of operations could be that massive.
This past year has been a crash course in the industry, packed with eye-opening insights and a steep learning curve. It’s reshaped how I see the Palm Oil sector and its potential for tech and efficiency improvements. Sharing these experiences, I hope to connect with other young professionals looking to make their mark in this space. There’s a lot we can do here, and I’m pumped for what’s next. Maybe I can pick 1 of those ideas, start building and see if we can get a proof of concept.