Innovez One is embarking on a collaboration to automate and digitise Singapore’s last-mile delivery of launch operations at its Marina South Pier (MCP) and West Coast Pier (WCP).
This project is one of the 11 Joint Industry Projects recently awarded by the Maritime Port Authority and announced by Chee Hong Tat, Senior Minister of State for Transport and Foreign Affairs, at the Smart Port Challenge 2020 Finals.
Innovez One said it will launch its new Counter Service Digital Platform, a contactless counter services software that will streamline the current time-consuming manual operations at MCP and WCP, increasing efficiencies and generating significant cost savings.
The project is being conducted in collaboration with leading maritime companies including GAC Group, Bernhard Schulte, HHH Marine Launch, DM Sea Logistics (part of DM Group Services), and KanLian Ferry. The trial will first be conducted in West Coast Pier (WCP) before being further extended into Marina South Pier (MCP).
Currently, there are over 40 launch operators and only a subset of launch operators who operate counter services at MCP and WCP serving the business and consumer community that provide crucial services to calling ships, such as shipping agents, crew change, ship supplies, and chandlery, ship inspections, and bunker surveyors.
Hundreds of transactions are managed every day currently requiring human-to-human booking, scheduling, and confirmation and payment processes, as well as the storing and retrieval of items, the majority of which are still manual.
The Counter Service Digital Platform will encompass several effective innovations, negating the need for physical counter services and replacing repetitive processes with the digitalisation of core services including passenger management and loose cargo management.
The Counter Service Digital Platform will overhaul passenger management with passengers receiving booking and QR codes on email or apps prior to boarding the launch from the ship or arrival at the terminal. Onboarding, the QR code is scanned and registered, and the information is fed directly to the ship agent and launch company. Universal display panels will be deployed at the piers.
These will offer immediate arrival and departure time information, the estimated time of arrival of the vessel, and the boarding location, enabling more efficient launch services due to clear, up-to-date information regarding passenger journeys.
The piers will also host storage solutions to securely store loose items or spare parts cargo for pick up either by the shipping agents or boatmen. This will ensure the grounds of the piers are constantly clear, as well as managing the size of cargo that is handled at the piers, ensuring the integrity of the cargo and adherence to standards.
The Counter Service Digital Platform will provide an open API for data exchange and transactions with any solutions or systems, ensuring interoperability as well as scalability with new digital innovations.
