The 2022 Container Port Productivity Index was released earlier this year, and it contains some worrying signals for US and Canadian port stakeholders.
Several North American ports were ranked in the bottom of 348 ports around the world. The rankings are based on factors including vessel turnaround time, berth productivity, infrastructure, and equipment, as well as efficiency.
When it comes to container terminal operations, efficiency equals profit, and a slow port can have some serious impacts to the bottom line. Higher costs, reduced competitiveness, and slowdowns can all lead to customer dissatisfaction and loss of market share.
However, there are some highly impactful changes that port owners and operators can make to improve their efficiency. Investing in a data strategy, a robust terminal operating system (TOS), and efficient utilization of assets can all contribute to boosting operations at North American ports.
In today’s blog, we’ll share 5 effective tips to amplify the efficiency of container terminal operations.
1. Robust Data Strategy
Constantly evaluating data and determining how to use data to make informed decisions improves operational efficiency. Ultimately, implementing data quality management processes, data governance policies, and data analytics to identify areas for improvement supports the entire organization.
A robust data strategy plays a critical role in solving common challenges faced in terminal operations, such as the impact of ultra-large container vessels, congestion, terminal capacity, and more. These challenges add pressure to terminal operations in terms of work productivity and yard utilization.
In a time of doing more with less, data strategy enables terminals to optimize their operations and make the most of their resources, such as improving the allocation of equipment and personnel.
By collecting, analyzing, and utilizing data from various sources, terminals can gain a comprehensive view of their operations, identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies, and make data-driven decisions to improve productivity, efficiency, and profitability.
2. Use a Terminal Operating System with Real-Time Visibility and Control
The best definition of efficiency is solving problems before they become problems. Rather than waiting around for reports and hoping to discover issues after the fact—you should find a terminal operating system (TOS) that enables real-time monitoring and management so you can pinpoint inefficiencies before they affect operations.
Here’s What to Look for
The basics of real-time operations mean custom searches, easily sortable data, and flexible, on-demand report generation. You’ll want this information updated near real-time so you can measure productivity and make operational improvements on the fly.
But when it comes to maximizing efficiency, don’t just settle for the basics. Having real-time feedback is important, but even the most detailed reports can be useless if it takes hours to sort through the noise.
When evaluating whether or not your chosen TOS supports valuable real-time data and monitoring capabilities, look for:
- The ability to update multiple cargo records in one click.
- Distinctive, intuitive graphics that make data easy to identify and analyze.
- Keyboard shortcuts that enable easy navigation and actions in one button press.
- Insightful reports that provide accurate information on your operation.
By choosing a TOS that enables easy navigation, displays information in intuitive ways, and enables faster navigation, your users will spend less time sorting through convoluted data and more time streamlining your operations.
3. Integrate User-Friendly Technology
Selecting tools, systems, and solutions that are user-friendly for terminal staff will reduce training time, increase productivity, and decrease errors. However, it’s not always easy to tell where the correct balance is between powerful features and a clean, navigable interface.
Here are a few ways to tell if the technology you’re considering is user-friendly:
- Look for a configurable and intuitive design. This will allow team members to adjust quickly and suit the technology to their own tastes and expertise.
- The technology should aim to minimize complexity. Be wary of products that offer excessive features—this often comes at the expense of usability.
- Look for technology that maintains a consistent layout, design, and functionality.
- Finally, whenever possible, automate mundane tasks such as data entry.
4. Optimize Terminal Assets
Unused or unmaintained equipment, over or underworked employees, outdated or underutilized technology. Each of these are examples of non-optimal asset usage and addressing and improving each of them, is a simple but effective way to improve your terminal’s productivity.
Ways to Optimize Terminal Asset Utilization
To find inefficiencies in your asset usage, try:
- Upgrading your TOS: A modern TOS can improve the productivity of your workers by streamlining their tasks. It can also help plan and execute equipment movements.
- Optimize Yard Layout: Ensuring truck and equipment travel distance is kept to a minimum will save fuel and improve productivity.
- Perform an Equipment Audit: Take time to optimize equipment allocation. Use real-time data and an up-to-date data strategy to keep track of how well your equipment is being utilized. This will help you minimize idle time.
5. Prioritize Long-Term Scalability
Even if you manage to improve efficiency today, how can you be sure your solutions will still make sense ten years down the line?
When finding ways to maximize your terminal’s efficiency, make sure you do so with an eye toward scaling and evolving with future technology.
- Choose technology partners that emphasize cutting-edge solutions and long-term relationships.
- Focus on ROI. Make sure you have a concrete idea of when you can expect to recoup the cost of your initial investment and start reaping the rewards of your forward thinking.
- Focus on flexibility and interoperability to ensure a cohesive environment that will easily adapt to changes with minimal downtime.
- Ensure your technology solutions come with the ability to grow and scale for the future. Along with that, support for future education and training needs.
No one can accurately predict the future or the speed at which things can change. Your best shot at future-proofing is ensuring the solutions you implement are flexible enough to handle big changes at a moment’s notice and in finding technology partners who will partner with you to adjust to major technological shifts.
FINAL TIP: Implement a Terminal Operating System With All of the Above
The best software investment you can make to improve efficiency is a terminal operating system that combines all of the above tips into an easy-to-use and powerful interface. This will reduce your time spent searching for solutions as well as ensure you have visibility and control of your operation.
At Tideworks, we developed our own TOS, Mainsail, using three key principles:
- A TOS should include all the features and functionality our customers need to run their facility today and scale it into the future.
- Customers should have access to complex, accurate data in an intuitive way.
- A TOS platform should offer ongoing training and support to ensure customers’ issues are resolved quickly regardless of the issue or request.
At Tideworks we value our customer relationships, and we don’t just view Mainsail as a one-off product but as a platform that will grow alongside your terminal for years to come.
If you’re ready to optimize your terminal operations starting today, get in touch with Tideworks, and let’s talk about how Mainsail and our suite of products can help.