XLOG: A million opportunities from one

Eugenio Ynion jr. It is 100% developed in the Philippines by a Filipino who dreams of simplifying the shipping and logistics by bringing the two industries in the digital age by creating an online marketplace for both companies that offer and companies that require such services.

XLOG’s is not a typical story about turning a misfortune into an opportunity.

It is one that creates a million opportunities above that of its founder, Shiptek Solutions founder and CEO Eugenio Ynion Jr., whose XLOG is now the world’s first fully-integrated blockchain-based end-to-end shipping and logistics platform, which aims to solve all logistics challenges by simplifying processes, improving tracking and security, and easing of transaction documentation.

But more important, XLOG is 100 percent developed in the Philippines, by a Filipino with big dreams of bridging the shipping and logistics industries into the digital age through an online marketplace for companies that offer and require such services.

Ynion compared his XLOG with Traveloka for shipping lines, Uber for trucking, and the Airbnb for warehousing.

What is not comparable, however, is his vision to provide a million job opportunities to the Filipino working class through his company.

“I had this vision in 2006 when my business was down. I was so poor, I did not even have money for my kids’s diapers,” Ynion shared.

“My taxi business went bankrupt. I was praying for another chance, and I promised to do my best to repay by giving back to those who are in need,” he said.

Through perseverance and commitment to his vow, Ynion used his misfortune as an inspiration to grow his business.

Epiphany came to Ynion after his chance meeting with a neighbor who is into IT (information technology) and programming.

With him, he shared his vision of “disrupting” the shipping and logistics industries, including his own plans and dreams.

“It was like something that was heaven-sent when I met that neighbor,” Ynion said. “I told him that I am actually looking for an IT person, because I had this idea about a blockchain project that aimed to disrupt my own business, but would have eventually got things going for me. If you will look at the mission and vision of XLOG, it is really about creating a million jobs.”

The Daily Tribune sat with Ynion to discuss XLOG.

Ynion: “XLOG aims to help shipping companies and shippers (exporters/importers) realize savings and operational efficiency by directly connecting them with tghe service providers in the global logistics industry. XLOG leverages the latest technologies for a seamless experience. It creates complete documentation of door-to-door shipment from the country of origin to country of destination. It also provides instant access to both historical and current shipments.”

“Because all XLOG data will be uploaded on the blockchain, it is nearly impossible to tamper with or manipulate information, making the system ideal in preventing shady transactions.”

“More important, all transactions using our system could be tracked using military-grade GPS and importers can pinpoint the exact location of their goods at all times.”

“Our platform is also an effective way to prevent and eliminate smuggling with the built-in security features. Who will attempt to engage in smuggling when the paper trail can be easily traced? XLOG does not allow fictitious identities, addresses, and businesses as practiced by smugglers in cahoots with corrupt Customs personnel.”

DT: How is XLOG the equivalent of Traveloka, Uber, and Airbnb?

Ynion: “XLOG is the Traveloka for shipping lines, Uber for trucking, and the Airbnb for warehousing because the online marketplace has demand for storage, trucking, shipping, containerized services, etc.”

“XLOG works like Traveloka for freight forwarders where they can make it their virtual sales office. The same goes for shipping lines. The vessels that are being chartered by these ship operators can actually think similar as to having to operate their own vessel. They would eventually earn more because the platform will allow them to hire a captain and will not need a shipping line that only charters vessels.”

“But for big businesses. They won’t be relying on freight forwarders or brokerage firms that are just using them for their licenses.”

“This is also not about the big structures you usually see in these industries. You can have an idle land that you can register on the platform and transform it to a-spot-basis parking lot for trucks. While the ports are busy, the trucks can park in your idle land while waiting. Or if you have an extra garage or a covered place, those closed areas can be temporary warehouses for XLOG. So, that’s an Airbnb kind of service.”

DT: How will you create one million jobs?

Ynion: “Because we envision XLOG as the Traveloka, Uber, and Airbnb of the logistics and shipping industries, we will be linking several services that will create job opportunities to ordinary people.”

“Like I mentioned, you only need some vacant property, like land or covered areas that you can register with XLOG as parking areas for trucks or temporary warehouses. You don’t need large a large space for warehousing.”

“Look at Uber, how many jobs did Uber create just for the platform? How many small entrepreneurs and the number of cars had been registered? How many businessmen are there who want to engage in the trucking business but cannot buy the a truck? You can start small, but think like a big businessman. You can start by buying a tractor head and register in XLOG, the same way as Uber. Customers with trucking needs can book their trucking requirement through our platform and hopefully get their trucks booked.”

“How do I create a million jobs? Let’s ask Uber, how many jobs they created? How many Airbnb operators are earning money now? We are talking about three similar platforms, fully integrated into one single powerful digital software.”

DT: How does XLOG eliminates corruption and promote transparency in transactions?

Ynion: “Because it is very transparent. It is decentralizing all the steps in trucking and logistics chain. Since you are decentralizing it– one free forwarder, one logistics company– you are talking now to different people trying to also speak about the same transaction. With this, there is so much transparency, and of course, it’s going to be seen openly. You cannot manipulate the documents with this.”

“The key in XLOG is to know your customers (KYC). The KYC has to be stringent because we are going to be using blockchain technology. You do not even need SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) to verify your documents because it is on the blockchain. The BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue) will soon be on the blockchain. But right now, the transformation towards the blockchain concept is there. Everything is in a distributed and shared ledger.

Ynion: “Because it is coming from the real source, it is coming from the shipping lines. So, it (document) cannot be faked. The only way you can falsify the documents is if you can just alter the contents and what’s written on the bill of lading. But they cannot tinker with that because the papers are already on the blockchain.”

DT Note: A blockchain is an openly distributed ledger that can record transactions between two parties efficiently and in a verifiable and permanent way. By design, a blockchain is resistant to modification of the data.

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