In today’s rapidly evolving maritime industry, general cargo terminals face unique challenges when it comes to implementing new digital technologies and systems. Despite the potential for improved efficiency and competitiveness, many terminal operators struggle with the initial implementation and ramp-up phases due to resistance to change, lack of in-house expertise, and the daunting nature of the digitalisation process.
Implementation and ramp-up challenges are inevitable. Operational upgrades require a time investment, which is why some sites only undertake them every two decades. Whilst speaking to terminal operators, we learned that many workers are fixed in their ways and resistant to change. This slow digital uptake stems from a fear of the unknown, reluctance to part with familiarity, or a lack of awareness of the solutions available to make their day-to-day operations more efficient. It is clear that for general cargo terminals specifically, the operational benefits of TOS must be demonstrable to make the changes feel worthwhile to workers.
Long-term employees may have to be trained to take on the new roles that come with digitalisation or learn to see the efficiency of new systems. This can be accomplished by comprehensive training, illustrating the fact that digitalisation is there to support human work, not replace it. Fostering a growth mindset will pay dividends by helping staff see that they can take proactive, preventive action instead of reactively putting out fires. Terminal staff still using Excel sheets for itinerary planning, cargo fixtures, and voyage estimations—an onerous task prone to human error—can be shocked by a change to automation, however gradual.Â
For ports and terminals just starting their digitalisation journey, these changes can appear daunting to their personnel, especially if they do not have the in-house expertise to guide them through the process. While process optimisation is not a silver bullet, it is key for future evolution. However, there is a persistent danger of reverting to siloed thinking, a lack of vision of the digital horizon, and a heavy-handed approach to change management. Adopting a terminal operating system is a major milestone toward embracing digitalisation, with digital adaptability and incremental but sustained change being key to success.Â
It’s also worth noting that while configuration is key, be wary of over customising your technology. Opt for a solution or system that is highly configurable as this will offer a robust feature set that can be readily used as-is and adjusted by you as the user over time to suit your specifications and changing requirements. As your operations and the market around you evolve, the TOS must be able to change with you. If it’s inflexible, it could become outdated and stop meeting your needs after some time.
However, it’s also important to not get carried away with over-customisation, especially at the start. Customisation involves building on capabilities that are not already in the solution. Customising too much at the start increases the risk of adding too many unnecessary features that are under-utilised, resulting in a more expensive solution without adding additional value. It is also likely to take longer to roll out.Â
For a more detailed understanding and exploration of the topics covered in this article, refer to our report, commissioned by Kaleris. Gateways of Tomorrow: Exploring the business value of digital transformation for general cargo terminals. You can download the full report below:Â
