Technology has led to the unfolding of third-generation ports. There has been increased leverage of containerization, easy tracing of cargos, efficient operational process, and decreased turnaround time. This reduces the challenges the ports face like bulk cargo, pressure to cope with the climatic changes, and many others. The incorporation of digital transformation will make the port operations more efficient and effective.
The Internet of Things has been used to control physical assets using technology at the port terminals. It has digitalized the port’s essential data through a technology sensor. The temperature and gas status of the equipment is tracked using the tracking management system. It can also be used to regulate and monitor traffic by use of GPS and geo-referencing. Thus, enhancing accountability for the benefit of IoT in the port operations.
Analysis of data on ports helps to foresee the supply chain challenges. It predicts the traffic congestion and ship approach time by use of analytics. This leads to increased optimization of the internal functions of the port. Other developed ports have incorporated the use of Artificial Intelligence to forecast the computation of data and its management and make the sharing process easy. The automation of robots has also been used in all port sectors like accounting, procurements, and many other departments.
Automated improved bay storage is a container handling system. It enhances the capacity of storage and reduces land usage.
A blockchain system has been incorporated to digitalize and smoothen supply chain processes. Transparency and accountability will be enhanced. Thus, the container handling process will be safe, and data collection and utility from the various stages will be recorded.
Port operations use drones to monitor and inspect continuous processes through aerial photography or video taking. There is decreased cost and safety during cargo shipping across the docks.
Digital exchange platforms are meant to increase the digitization of all the ports’ logistics to create awareness globally.