Established in 2017, SYVR was created to build a global network of qualified marine surveyors based on transparency, compliance, technical capability, and measurable performance. Built on gig economy and marketplace principles, the platform connected clients with experienced freelance surveyors through a digital matchmaking model.
Three years later, the platform has more than 250 marine surveyors who have undergone rigorous compliance and capability checks. Spanning H&M, Cargo and P&I survey specialties (casualty and loss prevention), the platform has more than 50 users (clients) from a number of countries.
The platform has, since its inception, faced one key challenge: clients have been reluctant to use it as an alternative to traditional and well-established networks. As a new platform with many surveyors unfamiliar to the market, it has represented too much novelty compared to familiarity.
While clients have been very positive towards the concept and business model, they have continued to rely on known surveyors, even if this has meant additional travel, higher costs, or perhaps not instructing the most qualified surveyor.
Most recently, the COVID-19 travel restrictions, which were expected to accelerate adoption, have not resulted in any significant market uptake. This has led the owners of SYVR to reconsider the platform’s likelihood of success.
As a consequence, SYVR has agreed with Survey Association, a well-established surveying company in the marine market and currently a survey member on SYVR, to transfer its activities to Survey Association as of 1 July 2020 and, at the same time, cease operations as an independent matchmaking platform.
The H&M surveyors in the network will be offered the opportunity to transfer to the Survey Association network through the matchmaking platform. Surveyors who are not interested in joining the new association will be removed from the community in full compliance with GDPR regulations. P&I and cargo surveyors will not be transferred, as Survey Association will not offer those survey types.
Survey Association already has a number of associates and, based on the thoroughness of SYVR’s application, onboarding, and surveyor management processes, the company sees significant value for its clients in offering the ‘ease of business’ provided by SYVR’s search and instruction functionality, rebranded under Survey Association.
From 1 July, the surveyors will form part of Survey Association’s global network, leveraging its brand and reputation to promote experienced local freelance surveyors.
While SYVR has acted solely as an intermediary and has not been involved in the survey work itself, the transfer will see surveyors become part of Survey Association’s quality assurance process, following the London Terms of Engagement for Marine Surveyors while retaining the transparency, performance ratings, and other key functions and benefits of SYVR.
Survey Association will also continue to allow surveyors to set their own prices, adding only a handling and quality assurance fee for clients. Payment and collection terms will remain unchanged. The new Terms and Conditions will be updated and published before the transfer at the end of June.
Download