cdorsey, Author at Jade Logistics

Finding calm in the chaos

Posted on March 2, 2016 | by cdorsey

Read our recently published article about how purchasing a terminal operating system poses less risk, provides a faster ROI, and ensures a more streamlined operation than investing in tangible capital assets such as cranes and machinery.

Jade recently had our article Finding calm in the chaos published in the latest version of Terminal Operator magazine.

The article discusses how purchasing a terminal operating system poses less risk, provides a faster ROI, and ensures a more streamlined operation than investing in tangible capital assets such as cranes and machinery.

Read the article here: Finding calm in the chaos.

Smoothing your TOS implementation

Posted on January 19, 2016 | by cdorsey

Implementing a TOS is a large undertaking, so it requires a thorough plan that details a workable approach for your terminal.

Read how a successful implementation can bring about business efficiencies and process improvements in the white paper, Smoothing Your TOS Implementation.

Is global trade in rough water?

Posted on January 15, 2016 | by cdorsey

From August to October, America’s three biggest ports’ (Los Angeles, Long Beach, and New York harbor) imports fell by 10% during what is usually their peak shipping month. Global merchandise trade value also decreased by 13% in the first half of this year.

In past years as retailers flog their wares to hordes of holiday shoppers in December, ports have been equally as busy working to replenish merchandise. But ports are relatively quiet this year.

Although most economists are confident these statistics don’t translate as the demise of the global economy, they do tend to create nervousness within the port industry. Every terminal operator is aware that less demand results in increased competitiveness among ports and logistics companies.

However, during this sort of circumstance pressure can often lead to progress. The need to increase efficiency and decrease resource wastage has the potential to result in smart, innovative new ways of increasing competitiveness.

According to the DP World November 2015 report, investing in ICT innovation is one of the key principles ports should be following to increase competitiveness and level the playing field.

Ports may have the opportunity to invest in new ICT systems to help automate and increase operation systems’ efficiency. However, during uncertain economic times it is imperative to know for certain that any ICT investments will bring about a profitable return.

As part of an overall terminal transformation process, implementing a new terminal operating system (TOS) plays a core role in the upgrade. In order to successfully initiate a TOS, planning and processes are key.

There is little use investing in this kind of technology if the project causes more problems than it solves. In a busy, non-stop port, you can’t afford to implement a new TOS unless it goes smoothly.

Having implemented the Master Terminal TOS at ports all over the world facing all kinds of challenges, at Jade we’ve learnt a lot about what it takes to get this process right. It’s as much about people as it is about technology, and getting some of the small things right can make a huge difference to your implementation success.

To learn more about TOS implementation strategies, download our white paper Smoothing Your TOS Implementation.

[1] http://www.wsj.com/articles/quiet-u-s-ports-spark-slowdown-fears-1447583406

[2] A turning point: The potential role of ICT innovations in ports and logistics. A report for DP World
Prepared by The Economist Intelligence Unit. November 2015

World Cargo News talk to Jade’s Kaustubh Dalvi about the recent installation of Master Terminal at Abu Dhabi Ports

Posted on December 3, 2015 | by cdorsey

Jade Logistics has successfully gone live with its terminal operating system (TOS), Master Terminal, at three of seven sites for Abu Dhabi Ports (ADP).

ADP is replacing legacy systems with Master Terminal for its mixed cargo operations. The first site to go live was Zayed port in July, after a six-month implementation phase. It was followed by Khalifa (1 August) and Musaffah (6 September). The remaining four terminals are expected to go live in 2016.

Speaking with World Cargo News, Jade’s director of business development, Captain Kaustubh Dalvi, said the changeover to Master Terminal is a comprehensive undertaking, with Jade installing a new server family within ADP’s existing infrastructure.

Dalvi said a common challenge at general cargo terminals is the lack of standardisation of data that can be exchanged electronically. “This limits the port community to take full advantage of the pre-advising and pre-planning functionality, which is available in our TOS,” he said. However, ADP is a forward-thinking organisation in this respect, and will use EDI for general cargo, which is something not all terminals in the general cargo business do. Port agents were trained to supply manifests, load and discharge information in standardised format. “As a result, cargo is now electronically declared 24 hours in advance of arrival using EDI,” said Dalvi.

The ADP project includes a suite of Master Terminal mobile applications and a web portal. The portal will allow stakeholders to access information using cargo queries and self-service reporting, and/or register pre-notifications, truck appointments request for services, etc.

Master Terminal has a multi-terminal architecture, and all the terminals will be hosted at a single physical location. The transition to Jade will be managed by running the new software in parallel with legacy systems at each terminal’s go-live. “We typically commence the parallel run a couple of weeks prior to the actual go-live, to minimise downtime and potential disruption,” said Dalvi. He also emphasised the importance of ADP’s project team and super users in ensuring a successful go-live, particularly in avoiding bottlenecks, as the team brings seven terminals live with the new TOS. The remaining four facilities are expected to go live in 2016.

Shipping index falls to all-time low

Posted on November 23, 2015 | by cdorsey

The Baltic Dry Shipping Index, regarded as an insight into the state of world trade, has fallen to an all-time low.

The index, which measures shipping rates for everything from coal to ore to grains, fell to 504 points on Thursday, the lowest data from the London-based Baltic Exchange going back to 1984.

According to Port Technology, at a similar time last year the Baltic Dry Shipping Index was at 1,296, meaning the strength of the market has been halved.

What does this mean for the world’s ports?

That now, more than ever, a port needs to prove it is an efficient and effective link in the supply chain, or risk being overlooked for competition with greater productivity.

So how can a port achieve this without a large capital outlay?

A Terminal Operating System (TOS) is more affordable and produces a faster return on investment than dredging or purchasing infrastructure (cranes, straddle carriers, heavy machinery), it poses less financial risk to these alternatives, and allows your port to find efficiencies across your entire operation.

Jade Logistics’ TOS, Master Terminal solves the complex problem of managing containers and mixed cargo. Ideal for growing, ambitious ports, Master Terminal helps you compete hard for a shipper’s business, no matter who you are up against.

Innovation underpins growth at Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa Port

Posted on November 18, 2015 | by cdorsey

Introduction of Master Terminal TOS has assisted with a 36.8% increase in volumes handled in the first half of this year.

Through continuous commitment to innovation, Abu Dhabi Ports has grown exponentially in trade volumes – with H1 of 2015 already posting significant growth in cargo volumes on H1, 2014. The Khalifa Port Container Terminal, which is operated by Abu Dhabi Terminals, has seen a 36.8% increase in volumes handled in the first half of this year. The number of TEU has increased year-on-year from 460,277 in H1 of 2014 to 629,941 in the same period in 2015.

Master Terminal has enabled real-time management and control of all aspects of general cargo operations, including bulk, break bulk, Roll-On/Roll-Off (RORO) and project cargo which have also seen a considerable increase in volumes.

Read the full Port Technology article.

Mexican port CICE strengthen their niche position in Gulf of Mexico

Posted on November 12, 2015 | by cdorsey

In a container-centric region, Mexican logistics firm CICE have managed to find an attractive niche. As the only company in Veracruz port that can handle mixed cargo, including bulk, break bulk, vehicles, machinery, project cargo, as well as containers, CICE have found a defendable position in the market.

With a selection of underperforming legacy systems that lacked integration, CICE required a software upgrade and was in search of a terminal operating system (TOS) that could manage a diverse range of cargo types.

After surveying the available options, CICE ultimately opted for Master Terminal. Genaro Mendez, Director of Information Technology at CICE stating “Master Terminal offered us one system for all our requirements and has a very large list of useful features.”

By providing a clear and simple implementation methodology, Jade were able to work with CICE to get Master Terminal up and running quickly, to allow the port to start realizing the software’s benefits.

Read the full CICE case study, to find out how the port’s innovative approach has helped it to survive in a demanding global economy.

Record roll-out of Master Terminal TOS at Abu Dhabi Ports

Posted on November 10, 2015 | by cdorsey

Jade has recently implemented three of seven all-new Master Terminal terminal operating systems for Abu Dhabi Ports. Zayed Port went live first on July 1 after a six month implementation phase, a record for a general cargo terminal of its size.

The configuration and training delivered at Zayed Port laid the foundation for the speedy delivery of the next two projects; Khalifa Port going live on August 1 and Musaffah Port following soon after on September 16, 2015.

Read the full article on the Port Technology website: Jade Brings ‘Master Terminal’ to Abu Dhabi

The Rise and Rise of Terminal Operating Systems

Posted on November 5, 2015 | by cdorsey

For growing and ambitious ports, challenging bigger competitors often requires investment in new information technology like terminal operating systems, but the potential risks of moving away from established systems can be a barrier. What are these perceived risks and how can they be addressed?

Kaustubh Dalvi, Jade Logistics’ President of Global Sales, spoke to the Logistics and Materials Handling magazine about the benefits of upgrading to a new TOS over an in-house solution, what to evaluate when selecting a TOS, the importance of selecting a TOS that fits your business model, functional requirements you should consider, and how migrating to a new TOS is about people not just technology.

Read the full article on the Logistics and Materials Handling website.

Master Terminal helps Abu Dhabi Ports increase cargo volumes by 19% in just 9 months

Posted on October 28, 2015 | by cdorsey

Abu Dhabi Ports – the master developer, operator and manager of ports and industrial zones in the emirate ― handled 19 per cent more general and bulk cargo in the first nine months of 2015 compared to the same period in 2014.

The volumes increased to 11.28 million tonnes in the first three quarters of 2015 from 9.49 million tonnes in the same period last year.

Implementation of new technologies like Jade Logistics’ terminal operating system Master Terminal as part of an ongoing upgrade have helped Abu Dhabi Ports optimize its productivity across the ports.

View the full Emirates 24/7 article.