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Interview with Don Miller: Co-founder of Zenze
Interviewee's name: Don Miller
Interviewee's website: https://zenze.io
Q: What inspired Zenze’s approach to container safety through technology?
A: After more than a decade of conversations with shipping lines, common concerns kept surfacing: the misdeclaration of cargo, the insertion of illicit drugs into containers, and the lack of real visibility in the supply chain. These challenges consistently highlighted the need for a solution that could deter risks while creating value for all stakeholders.
Q: What’s the role of predictive analytics in preventing container-related incidents?
A: By leveraging IoT device timestamps and location data across hundreds to thousands of shipments, we can identify anomalies—such as when a container’s journey takes longer than expected. When this is combined with local traffic data, it becomes possible to assess whether smugglers may have had time to tamper with the container. Beyond security, predictive models can also identify operational risks: for instance, combining temperature readings with local weather forecasts allows us to project if container conditions will exceed safe thresholds in the coming hours.
Q: How do you work with insurers or regulators to validate your safety tech?
A: Similar to how IoT devices are certified today—for example, to monitor South African citrus shipments—we provide comparable datasets for validation. This includes both controlled lab tests and extensive real-world trials designed to stress-test all possible failure points. Only through this combination of rigorous sampling and validation can insurers and regulators gain confidence that the technology meets their requirements.
Q: What’s the biggest misconception about container safety in the industry?
A: That container safety is not a minor issue. In reality, it is one of the industry’s most urgent challenges. Fires on vessels caused by mis declared cargo, the continued trafficking of illicit drugs even after customs scans are conducted, and the rise of cargo misdeclaration incidents are all at unprecedented levels.
Q: What will you discuss during your session at Intermodal Europe?
A: I will demonstrate how a simple, low-cost electronic seal (eSeal), when combined with Artificial Intelligence, can create a robust chain-of-custody solution. This approach helps deter and prevent the illicit insertion of drugs into shipping containers—improving safety, security, and trust across the global supply chain.