Smart Port Principles.

Smart Port Values

Sustainable Smart Ports

The Smart Port is committed to delivering positive, enduring change through the use of technology. These eight principles create an environment for successful technology and business change.

Leaders Create Success

Smart Port Executives and Senior Management Teams openly advocate the use of relevant technology to solve business problems, and support technology driven change in the business. Clear technology driven strategic objectives provide definitive guidance for the use of technology in the delivery of the Smart Port. Leaders create a compelling narrative and communicate downwards. Employees amplify the message.

Employee Engagement is a Fundamental Requirement for Success

The Smart Port engages with employees at every stage of the journey. Employees clearly understand the future state of the business and their role within it. The Smart Port equips employees with the knowledge and skills required for success.

Always Understand The Problem First

The Smart Port focuses on understanding the root cause of the business problem, in order to select the correct solution. Although the Smart Port is committed to the use of technology, it also recognises that on some occasions, people or process may be the problem.

Fail To Plan, Plan To Fail

The Smart Port recognises that the industry is subject to continual evolution and turbulent political, economic and social influences. It is comfortable with change and committed to re-imagining every aspect of the operating model in response to the changing environment. Similarly, the Smart Port recognises that technology may radically change existing business processes, or require new people and new skills.

It has a clear understanding of the current technology position, a target state, and a flexible, high level plan to deliver the future operating model (including contingencies for all possibilities, however unlikely).

As a flexible organisation, it implements mechanisms to continually evaluate every aspect of the business and the supporting plan. Where port activities or projects are no longer consistent with requirements or areas of new opportunity emerge, the Smart Port evaluates and, if appropriate, redirects efforts to ensure that it is always progressing in the right direction.

Decisions Must Be Evidence Based

All strategic and operational decision making processes are supported by data. There is no place for gut-feel, instinct, or intuition. No data? No decision.

Integration Is Key To Efficient Service

The Smart Port is deeply integrated with all actors involved in port and supply chain activities to facilitate the seamless electronic exchange of information. Timely communication is fundamental to the efficient flow of transport and goods through ports, and effective delivery of services to customers.

Innovation Creates Competitive Advantage

The Smart Port continually evaluates new technologies to understand the value proposition and gain competitive advantage. The Smart Port undertakes rapid testing and pilot projects to assess the suitability and implications of new technology on the business and other stakeholders. The Smart Port expects trials to fail, but conducts in a way that successful pilots are followed by rapid adoption throughout the business to maintain an industry-leading position.

The Three Pillars of Sustainability are Interwoven

The Smart Port recognises that long term sustainability of the business is dependent on the long term health of the planet and the commitment and capabilities of the people undertaking the activities. The Smart Port measures and understands the effects of port activities at a local level, and collaborates with all stakeholders to understand the external effects.

While financial return is essential for the short term continuation of the business, the Smart Port accepts that some benefits of technology may not immediately manifest in the profit pillar, nor in the short term.

When building a business case for technology, the Smart Port looks beyond arbitrary short-term financial cycles to consider the effects of less tangible long term returns in the People and Planet pillars that create a stable platform for growth and sustainability.

The Smart Port recognises that positive impacts in the People and Planet sustainability pillars will ultimately deliver positive results in the Profit pillar.