Associated British Ports (ABP) will see the installation of a 5G-based scalable terminal operating system at its Port of Southampton.

The project aims to provide a streamlined, fully integrated terminal operating vehicle management system that covers all port side operations in a single application, including planning and optimising compound, resource, work, and damage management.

It will be possible to integrate customer and partner IT systems, such as customs, into INFORM's cloud solution to enable digital inventory linking.

With the new system in place, information about the condition, location, destination, and other modalities of each vehicle will be available at all times and documented by multiple teams.

Algorithms will provide ABP with real-time decision-making support for optimal planning and efficient resource allocation, like parking areas or stevedores.

Additionally, the system will feature the option to automatically create a flexible vehicle loading and unloading plan that can quickly adapt to unforeseen vehicle availability issues.

The new software will be linked with brand-new 5G compatible hand-held devices for vehicle data capture, utilising what will become this summer the first private 5G network in a British port.

"ABP is investing in a range of digitalisation upgrades to enhance its automotive offer. The new Automotive Terminal Operating System in Southampton will bring a wealth of benefits to our customers by enabling efficient compound management, inventory linking and additional services with real time data visibility for customers via a dedicated customer portal," Brian Steeds, ABP's Head of Automotive, underlined.

The Port of Southampton handles around 900k vehicles per year.

Photo: INFORM/ABP