cdorsey, Author at Jade Logistics

Jade Logistics continues impressive implementation record

Posted on December 4, 2017 | by cdorsey

Software company Jade Logistics, supplier of the world’s number one terminal operating system (TOS) for mixed cargo ports, has continued to increase its global footprint by implementing its Master Terminal product at 22 sites in 2017.

On the back of significant sales growth and what has been a record year for the company, Jade Logistics’ global implementation team achieved go-live at terminals across multiple geographic locations including Europe, the Americas, Australasia, and the Middle East. This impressive result was underpinned by a substantial Australasian project in which 16 terminals went live in less than ten months, and was complemented by an eight-week implementation of a multi-purpose terminal on the eastern coast of the UAE.

Chief Executive Officer of Jade Logistics, David Lindsay said, “We are well aware of the importance of getting our users live as soon as possible, allowing them to quickly experience the benefits of a world class Terminal Operating System. “The implementation times achieved during 2017 are exceptional, and are delivering real value to customers in terms of lowering their total cost of ownership.”

Adding to the varied geographic locations, the terminals represent a diverse range of cargo types including pure bulk terminals, break bulk and Roll-On/Roll-Off (RORO) terminals, and container-only terminals, one of which is handling over one million TEUs per annum.

Jade Logistics Director of Global Services, Mark Ginnever says, “The key to any successful implementation is a dedicated project team, comprising representatives from both organisations.”

“The importance of strong user ownership and committed super users cannot be stressed enough, and we have been fortunate enough to work with users that understand and support this collaborative approach,” added Ginnever.

Master Terminal is now licensed to over 110 terminals around the world, and Jade Logistics’ growth is set to continue with strong sales forecast into 2018 and beyond.

Mobile computing in ports set to accelerate with positive global outlook

Posted on October 18, 2017 | by cdorsey

Introducing innovations like mobile apps to port operations is one way to achieve productivity gains, improve operational decision-making and maximize revenue opportunities.

Optimism is rising across ports around the globe, on the back of growth in trade and increasing freight rates. For ports it is time to look at ways to apply innovation that will capitalize on this positive growth.

According to a recent article in Port Strategy, world trade is expected to increase from 2.2% growth in 2016 to 3.8% in 2017, with a similar level of expansion forecast for 2018. The article also cited growth in freight rates for Maersk in Asia as a positive reflection of that growth translating into more freight movement.

Port leaders around the world will be looking at how they can position their port to benefit from this growth. Introducing innovations like mobile apps to port operations is one way to achieve productivity gains, improve operational decision-making and maximize revenue opportunities.

While many industries have been aggressively adopting modern mobile apps based on commodity-priced hardware, the port sector has been more cautious. According to port consultant Thomas Vitsounis, writing in Port Strategy:

“In general terms, the use of apps will change the industry and everyone knows that. When it comes to ports themselves, things have so far moved slowly – but there has been a remarkable change… in the past year, it is tremendous how quickly this industry has shifted. Ports are now thinking in these terms. There is some distance to go but it is absolutely essential to move in that direction.”

There are some exciting opportunities to leverage this in your port by applying mobile technology in areas like cargo management, yard logistics, reefer management or rail service integration.

Some risks also exist though: in terms of choosing the best mobile app technology, the right support partner and successfully integrating a mobile approach into your existing IT systems, especially your TOS.

Jade Logistics have prepared a white paper “There’s an app for that” looking at the issues around mobility in ports, and what to consider when building your business case.

Also read the press release about Mexican based Grupo CICE testing and implementing the Master Terminal suite of handheld apps.

Jade Logistics launches suite of mobile apps

Posted on July 6, 2017 | by cdorsey

Published on Breakbulk.com June 18, 2017

Jade has announced the release of 30 new handheld apps to put more power in the hands of its users.

Running on any modern tablet or smartphone with a supported web browser, the handheld apps will give users on the terminal greater flexibility. Events are recorded in real time, allowing a terminal to make informed business decisions, provide accurate reporting and ultimately offer better customer service. For more information, view our handheld apps fact sheet.

Read the full article on the Breakbulk.com website.

Ports can do more with the resources they have

Posted on January 24, 2017 | by cdorsey

Growing ports can be more competitive by realizing their break bulk potential. Terminal Operators are continually challenged to increase revenue while faced with extreme competition and demand from customers to do more for less.

In a recent Port Strategy article, it was reported that increasing pressure to improve break bulk related operating efficiency is posing a serious challenge to operators as demand for machinery, equipment and components to support worldwide commercial projects ramps up.

It was suggested that the most obvious solution to overcome inefficiencies in break bulk handling is investment in facilities and processes, but what are the other options available to smaller ports who do not have the means to buy more land or expensive machinery?

Technology is one answer.

One area where break bulk terminals can make their own quick gains in performance is implementing or upgrading their terminal operating system (TOS), to ensure every possible piece of capacity is extracted from existing infrastructure, delaying the need for costly investment.

A TOS specifically developed to handle a mix of cargo types can enable the port to compete effectively for new business, being equipped to handle more than just containers can vastly improve the bottom line by attracting shippers who handle a mix of cargo types, and give operators the opportunity to do more with the resources they have.

Would you like to learn more about handling break bulk at your port? Download our eBook, Solve complex logistics and cargo challenges.

Jade plays host

Posted on January 5, 2017 | by cdorsey

Published on WorldCargo News, November 2016

Jade Logistics has implemented the first SaaS application of its Master Terminal terminal operating system (TOS) running on the cloud using Amazon Web Services (AWS). The system is operating at the Port of Everett in Washington State, a longstanding customer of Jade.

Speaking with WorldCargo News, Kaustubh Dalvi, Jade Logistics’ president of global sales, said he believes the time is right for terminals, particularly smaller facilities, to embrace SaaS for TOS delivery. “There can be a 40% reduction in cost – there is no two ways about it,” he said in an interview. Most of this is generated from savings in purchasing and supporting hardware.

A hosted TOS is certainly not a new concept, but WorldCargo News has noted several times that terminals have been reluctant to embrace the concept. Dalvi said one of the reasons it made sense for Everett was that Jade was already managing the TOS for the port onsite, including performing upgrades.“They have been comfortable with us for many years,” said Dalvi. While AWS will host the software on its servers, Jade will still manage the TOS fully for Everett.

Jade is now putting forward the SaaS option for customers to consider, but Dalvi stressed that they have to be comfortable with the concept, and some facilities want to see it proven elsewhere first.TOS applications, he added, are actually quite demanding in terms of their transactional load.

Another big concern is that putting software on the cloud leaves the terminal vulnerable to an interruption in internet service. Dalvi said this is a very real concern, with ports often at the edge of infrastructure networks, in areas where there is regular construction and redevelopment. The contractor that makes a mistake with a backhoe and cuts service, he added, is not just a hypothetical situation – real terminals have actually encountered this problem.

Redundancy is important, and how this is managed depends on the particular terminal, and its ability to access redundant connections. Dalvi noted that backup options can include cellular networks to send data, something Jade has experience with, as some of its customers use cellular services, rather than WiFi, to send information to the TOS at the terminal.

Depending on the size of the terminal, one option might be a hybrid system, where some aspects of the TOS are hosted locally to allow it to keep running in the event of a disruption.

Read the full article from WorldCargo News: Jade plays host.

Intermodal port unites with Master Terminal to grow

Posted on December 21, 2016 | by cdorsey

Over the past twenty years Jade has worked closely with CentrePort to deliver a solution that has continually evolved to meet the port’s individual needs. This partnership has in turn given CentrePort a sturdy foundation for growth.

New Zealand’s steady trans-Pacific trade makes the harbour-side capital city of Wellington the ideal location for an international shipping port. CentrePort is an intermodal hub with excellent accessibility to the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean, and the only port in New Zealand with 24 hour delivery options.

Annually, CentrePort handles approximately 135,000 TEUs (Twenty Foot Equivalent Units) of containers. Major cargoes handled are forestry products (logs, veneer, and pulp), petrol and chemicals, cement, wheat, fruit, soda ash and vehicles.

As a mixed cargo port, CentrePort has partnered with Jade for almost twenty years. Jade’s innovative software solution, Master Terminal, manages special cargo and high volumes of TEUs cost-effectively, allowing CentrePort to incrementally increase revenue and deliver more value to their customers.

Read the full CentrePort case study to find out about Jade’s innovative solutions to support the port’s growth over the last two decades.

Increase port yard safety with Master Terminal

Posted on December 19, 2016 | by cdorsey

How can you avoid employee injuries and fines at your port?

Consequences of poor port safety: A poor safety record and ill-conceived processes are not only detrimental to personnel, but can result in negative publicity, legal cases, and fines for safety breaches which can severely affect your bottom line.

When an Ellesmere Port man’s hand was crushed at Cammell Laird shipyard, Cammell Laird was fined £400,000 for breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act. Although they had a Health and Safety Management System (HSMS) in place, it wasn’t implemented effectively across the organization.

This is a tragic and timely reminder that only having basic technology in place isn’t enough to create a safe and compliant port. Jade recommends using a three-pronged approach involving technology, people, and communication between the two.

Here are three ways to ensure Health and Safety compliance.

Choose a terminal operating system (TOS) that includes a health and safety component.
Ensure that technology-backed processes to minimize hazards are put in place and followed by a safety-conscious workforce.
Separate machinery and labor in the yard. Port staff who operate heavy machinery need to receive notifications warning them of the areas where they can’t operate.

Regarding the Ellesmere Port incident, the Health and Safety Executive inspector said “If the HSMS had been followed this accident may not have occurred.”

Through working with local ports, Jade recognized the difficulty to action safety procedures. This knowledge led to the development of Master Terminal’s Labor On Block functionality. The guiding principal is that when ‘Labor is On the Block’, machinery is not allowed to enter an area.

Learn about how Labor On Block improves the safety of port yard workers and visitors and ensures procedures are being followed in our Yard Safety fact sheet.

Jade Logistics wins TOS Technology Company of the Year 2016 Award

Posted on December 9, 2016 | by cdorsey

Jade Logistics scooped the TOS Technology Company of the Year 2016 award at last night’s Terminal Operator Awards ceremony held in Dubai.

The award caps an extremely successful year for Jade’s Logistics and is a great endorsement of all the hard work and effort the team have put into positioning Master Terminal as the leading TOS for the mixed cargo market. It also recognizes Jade’s strength in the Middle East region where the number of Master Terminal implementations has increased dramatically in the past 24 months.

Mark Ginnever and Ken Pearson accepted the award on behalf of the entire company.

Investing in growth

Posted on November 29, 2016 | by cdorsey

The challenge of growth confronts leaders of ports around the world. You are always looking for new ideas to improve your operation and extract more value from it. Learn how to build a business case for investing in growth.

Are huge capital investments in cranes or automation technologies the only real path to increasing your income? What other options are available to you?

These are the questions leaders of ports ask us on a regular basis in relation to investing in terminal operating system (TOS) software.

Read the white paper Investing in Growth to learn more about how you can make a real difference to your operation by investing in a TOS.

Salerno Container Terminal selects Jade’s Master Terminal

Posted on October 7, 2016 | by cdorsey

Jade Software has continued to build on its strong start to 2016 with Italian port operator Salerno Container Terminal (SCT) selecting Jade Logistics’ Master Terminal to run its Italian operation. Master Terminal, Jade’s flagship Terminal Operating System (TOS), will replace SCT’s legacy system which is gradually being phased out of the market.

The win enhances Jade’s growing reputation as the leader in the mixed cargo terminal market and further extends its footprint in Europe.

Based in southern Italy, and covering an area of 120,000 sq. meters, SCT has been developed as a major private container terminal to cope with the increasing shipping demands in the area. Handling approximately 400,000 TEUs per annum, and with increasing volumes of roll-on-roll-off cargo, SCT serves the area from Rome to Bari, Naples and Salerno, via direct links with the Italian highway and railway networks.

Jade Logistics CEO, David Lindsay, says: “Jade has a strong connection with the Italian market and we are thrilled about building this new relationship with SCT. Between our Rotterdam office, newly opened development center in Geneva, and our New Zealand based team, we are fully committed to supporting SCT throughout this project and beyond, as well as supporting further growth in Europe.”

SCT required a system that would provide a seamless transition from its legacy TOS, while at the same delivering a solution that was flexible enough to adapt to SCT’s future growth aspirations.

Massimiliano Riccardi, Commercial Director at SCT said: “After a comprehensive evaluation process Master Terminal was the only system that offered all the functionality and flexibility required to not only replace our legacy system, but also support the future needs of our business.

“Jade’s experience in the container and project cargo market, combined with their impressive implementation capability, gave us the confidence we needed to ensure a successful transition project and a sound platform for growth.” said Mr Riccardi.

Kaustubh Dalvi, Jade Logistics’ President of Global Sales said it was exciting to work with SCT who had a good vision of what they needed from their new TOS, both now and into the future.

“Our sound technical solution, best in industry implementation approach, and record of delivering product changes to meet each customer’s needs, means we are well placed to help SCT make the transition to Master Terminal as seamless as possible.

“We have developed some smart migration tools which will allow for out of the box data migration, causing minimal disruption to users’ business and positioning them well for future success,” said Mr Dalvi.

This is the sixth new business win for Jade Master Terminal this calendar year. Implementation at Salerno will commence in 2016 and is expected to take less than six months.

Photo courtesy of Salerno Container Terminals.