Digitization in Maritime Industry: Coping with a Vessel's Engine Failure

Digitization in the maritime industry is expected to transform businesses. The recently introduced mobile technologies in inter-organizational processes is an example of digitization in an industry which moves very slowly towards digital transformation. We focus on the influence of mobile technologies on control practices in inter-organizational processes related to coping with an engine failure. We collected qualitative data from in depth interviews with representatives of the involved parties. We identify organizational and behavioural challenges hindering information sharing during problem solving of an engine failure, as well as how mobile technologies are currently used. We conclude by reflecting on how introduction of mobile technologies influences control in the inter-organizational processes by addressing some of the identified organizational and behavioural challenges. Mobile technologies increase information sharing and thus the efficiency of inter-organizational processes when coping with an engine failure.