Terminal Logistics

Whether you’ve been in rail operations for five or 25 years, you know this to be true: a terminal is defined by its efficiency. Another reality rail operators are all too familiar with? Outdated processes—combined with the inherent risk of manual error—create big problems within a rail terminal.

The global logistics industry is at a pivotal moment. Increasing supply chain complexity and a driver shortage of 2 million by 2026 require streamlined handling processes and optimised utilisation. With increasing pressure to optimise operations and enhance efficiency, innovative solutions that leverage digitalisation are crucial.

In 2024, Awake.AI won the 2024 Moroccan Smart Port Challenge to develop digital solutions for port performance improvement in collaboration with the Moroccan National Ports Agency ANP. The focus of this proof of concept development project was to enable the adoption of just-in-time (JIT) scheduling and related performance optimisations in Moroccan ports.

With a growing global focus on sustainability, the port and terminal industry faces significant pressure to pursue decarbonisation. The electrification of container handling equipment at ports is in its infancy, but the landscape is evolving relatively quickly. Governments and companies are setting timelines for reducing emissions, and C-suite terminal executives with technology and sustainability responsibilities are considering the kinds of solutions that will be necessary to achieve those goals while satisfying the performance requirements of their operations.

In the current logistics industry landscape, multimodal transportation is crucial for optimising the movement of goods. With increasing pressure to reduce carbon emissions and rising costs of traditional methods, sustainable and efficient logistics solutions are more urgent than ever.

In the dynamic realm of port development, the Port of Halifax emerges as a beacon of innovation and efficiency. Following the success of Port Technology International's Smart Digital Ports of the Future (SDP) Conference in North America last year, this Q&A with Mike Davie, Vice President of Operations & Technology at the Halifax Port Authority, unveils the port's transformative initiatives.

Increasingly, participants in supply chains are digitising their operations and looking to new technologies for the future of continuous optimisation. With so many different components in motion within the supply chain, real-time data sharing is integral for ports to maintain big-picture vision while keeping an eye on day-to-day movements to identify where problems are occurring.

Decarbonising our operations is a priority at APM Terminals and to succeed in that, we must overcome some of the main roadblocks for our industry, with fragmentation being one of the most challenging. In decarbonisation, speed and scale are not just the name of the game (and that of a great book by John Doerr), they're imperatives in the battle to protect our planet.

Identifying and weeding out waste in your supply chain is not only paramount for sustainability but also for bolstering your bottom line. At its core, a sustainable supply chain is centred around achieving greater results with less resource usage. With that goal in mind, optimising your operations is a necessity.

In the rapidly-evolving ports industry, Hutchison Ports has emerged as a frontrunner in driving transformation through its relentless investment in research and development. The company’s commitment to automation and technological advancements is revolutionising container terminal operations, making it a preferred partner for technology and equipment suppliers worldwide.

As a terminal operator, whether that be in maritime or intermodal, when was the last time you stopped and asked yourself: “What empowers your operations?”. Many operators will likely answer this with ideas like good processes, teamwork, communication, coordination. All good answers, but these only scratch the surface.