APAC Issue 12 2018

12 APAC / Issue 12 2018 , The demand for goods and resources are surgingworldwide. This, alongwith the globalization of manufacturing, delivery supply chains and the enlargement of vessel sizes present tremendous opportunities for the growth of the shipping sector, the software behind the operations needs to keep up. Digitizing PH Ports Key to Untapped Economic Potential 1-Stop Connections is not just keeping up; they are revolutionizing the game. The software behind port efficiencies needs to be more dynamic and faster to keep pace with the rise of containerization and the flow on effort on port Dynamic commerce requires highly efficient ports, focusing on elevating port connectivity globally, deserves merit. The global economic impact of this includes supply increase, foreign exchange boost, and commodities’ price reduction. It also heightens the demand for ancillary services and employment, which are essential to any development. Moreover, it provides a significant opportunity and incentive to pursue inclusive growth. With the right software systems in place, like 1-Stop this is all possible. Digitization:The impact of TABS, a case study of MICT and ATI As the Philippines seeks to grow its shipping sector, there was a need to increase port productivity through digitization. To achieve port productivity, the process and facilitating of vessel and cargo relating information must be streamlined. The growth already experienced in the main ports in Philippines, Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) and Asian Terminals Inc. (ATI) had resulted in port congestion. In 2014, port congestion translated to economic losses of PhP 2.5 billion a day, according to the House Committee on Transportation and the Metro Manila Development Authority. A solution was required and needed to be implemented fast, the government’s temporary solution included a truck ban; however this ban reduced a symptom not the core issue. The Philippines looked for a tried and tested system, a system that would assure a streamlined process for all stakeholders, and remedy the core issues, not mask the symptoms. In Australia, the 1-Stop Vehicle Booking System (VBS) is a proven and successful tool that allows terminals to match resources and facilitate vessel and cargo related information. In 2015, the collaborative platform allowed the VBS, to be implemented in the Philippines as 1-Stop Terminal Appointment Booking System, known as TABS. In 2017, two years after the implementation of TABS, the Philippines has experienced a 5.1 percent increase in the trade of goods. In addition to this, the Philippine Ports Authority reported that container traffic soared to up to 53 percent near the final quarter of 2017. The Philippines community with the assistance of 1-Stop TABS, have managed the increase in port productivity and eliminated the temporary solution, of the truck bans for trucks using TABS. “Before TABS, the trucks would arrive randomly at the port, hence the long queues we’ve had for many, many years. What TABS did was regulate that over 24 hours. That has proved successful since we implemented it,” explained Ian Baking, AVP for Business Development, ATI. After using TABS, MICT and ATI achieved: - 60,000 truck transactions per month, an increase from 40,000/ month. - Efficiency increased by 25% during peak hours, unclogging ports and the roads leading to them. - The truck ban imposed for traffic reduction in the city lifted due to the effectivity of the system. “The national government and the port authority want to operate ports 24/7 to the highest level of capacity utilization achievable. With a system like TABS which allows us to modify behavior, plan the arrivals and departures of trucks better, we’re now seeing an alignment between what the local government and road departments want, and port authorities and national government want,” attested Christian Gonzalez, Senior Vice President and Regional Head of Asia Pacific and MICT, International Container Terminal Services, Inc. With TABS in place at both MICT and ATI, a more efficient and productive Philippine supply- chain is achieved. For more information, visit 1-Stop TABS. 1706AP06