UnionBank tech firm inks deal with Shiptek Solutions.

UBX, the fintech arm of Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank), and Shiptek Solutions Co. (Shiptek), a homegrown logistics company and owner of online platform XLOG, recently inked a new partnership agreement in a bid to increase the platform’s global footprint and bolster UBX’s network of international partners.

In a signing ceremony, UBX and Shiptek made official their partnerships with Dubai-based Future Green Commercial Brokers, Sri Lanka-based technology solutions provider Quadd Solutions, and Malaysia-based Antah Group.

The group will utilize XLOG to make their logistic operations more efficient and streamlined.

Shiptek chief operating officer Joey Ynion welcomed the new partners and said: “This is a very important milestone for us here at Shiptek and UBX.”

“We are very excited to digitize the industry logistics with you,” he said, referring to their new partners.

Ynion expressed belief that while the logistics sector has no problem with the processes that are currently in place, the industry is now at a crossroads.

“Do we take the safe and defined path, or do we take the road less traveled? With the support of our partner Union Bank, and now with all of our new partners, I say we take the road less traveled and begin to forge a new era in digital logistics,” he said.

UBX president and CEO John Januszczak said that with new partners on board, the fintech company has taken a step closer to its goal of making invisible banking accessible to all, not just to consumers but also to businesses.

“I want to thank our new partners from Sri Lanka, from Malaysia, and from the Middle East for sharing in the vision of UBX, which is to provide greater opportunity and access for all businesses not just in the Philippines, but now across Asia,” Januszczak said.

Future Green chief executive officer Muneer Al Azri said he sees XLOG as a platform that will provide interconnectivity among companies in Dubai and neighboring territories.

“The main interest that we had when we were introduced to XLOG is basically it will complete the holistic approach for logistics in Dubai. Dubai is the main hub of the region. If we start introducing XLOG in Dubai, it will automatically spread out through the region. Dubai is the key city for logistics,” he said.

Quadd Solutions CEO and director Chandana Gunasekara said they initially wanted to study blockchain as part of their digitization, but with the emerging technology being innately part of XLOG, he said they don’t have to anymore.

“It was a blessing to meet XLOG and we hope that we can have a long-lasting partnership,” he said.

The Prince of Malaysia, Tunku Naquiyuddin, who holds top executive positions across companies in the Antah Group, said they are very happy to be the partner of XLOG in Malaysia.

He highlighted their expansive portfolio of businesses that include healthcare, biotechnology, retail, insurance benefits, mining, plantations and renewable energy.

“Having so many businesses opens our doors to so many people, which I’m sure we will be able to help and through our network, we will certainly be able to open up the market as established end-to-end solutions for shippers, freight forwarders, and service providers,” Naquiyuddin said.

XLOG is a pioneering on-demand, cloud-based online platform developed by Shiptek that provides a wide range of end-to-end logistics solutions in one app — from shipping, tracking, warehousing, brokering, management of accounts, receivables and payables, and trade financing, among others. XLOG is free and is available for iOS and Android.

Earlier this year, UBX inked an investment deal with Shiptek, acquiring a 30-percent stake in the Filipino-owned logistics company.