The concept of ‘digital transformation’ in ports and terminals can span across a wide range of operations and use cases.

From investment in digital infrastructure, to utilising the right solutions, supply chain stakeholders can be faced with quite the quagmire when embarking on digitalisation.

For our Digital Transformation edition, here at PTI we have brought in the brightest minds to help you and your operations.

We would like to welcome back partners at INFORM’s Terminal and Distribution Logistics Division on lingering containers in terminals. Through leveraging its AI and machine learning platform, INFORM offers a proven solution with a quick return on investment – something sorely needed by our sector currently.

Dr Rafiq Swash with Aidrivers has also submitted a contribution to this edition, this time on the broad approach to effective digital transformation. Dr Swash notes digitalisation is dependent not just on current infrastructure, but investment priorities in the future.

5G connectivity has been under development for close to a decade – but now is the time for its benefits to play a bigger role. Nokia has the latest on 5G’s impact on equipment, operatives, and wider port systems.

And, from that connectivity comes endless possibilities in automation. Autonomous cargo handling equipment is no new feature in ports, however autonomous trucking is still in a fledgling state. But what is the roadmap to develop its capabilities? The team at the Fraunhofer Society walk us through its latest study in to the technology.

A rapidly emerging threat facing ports and terminals is on cyber crime. With cyber attacks hitting industry players Port Houston and Transnet in the last year alone, fortifying operations is crucial. We welcome contributions from new partners Cyberstar, and the EU Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) on current challenges and solutions.

Ports and maritime becoming cleaner and greener will be critical to meet environmental targets in the comings years – with technology playing a crucial role. The team at Supply Chain Management Discipline Group at Curtin University dive deeper on managing waste from maritime activities – and where ports can make an impact.

Finally, an underlying current on digital transformation is on standardisation. Data will be vital for port and supply chain growth in the years ahead. But how can collaboration be achieved we cannot unilaterally agree on what an Estimated Time of Arrival, for example, should be defined as? The Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA) seeks to answer these questions, and has submitted its latest progress to this edition.