Ports are a key part of the global supply chain. In turn, what goes on in the world heavily affects port activities and shipping operations. This article analyzes the current and future state of the shipping industry.

In the maritime industry, the port represents processes that are integral to the supply chain. As maritime operations have become more complex, so too has the role of the port evolved, leading to the development of smart ports.

A reliable port always looks for the most optimal solutions for their port calls. As the global supply chain develops and changes, seaports need to ensure that supply and demand are met. Port call optimization is the first step toward a future of resilience and sustainability for the maritime industry.

Sustainability and digitization have become two major driving factors for change in the maritime industry. Subsequently, meeting sustainability goals and leveraging the potential of digital technologies are also the two big challenges that businesses are facing.

The rise of new technologies and the increase in demand for resources have transformed the maritime industry. Several relevant major technological innovations push automation and digitization including autonomous shipping, Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, digital twins, data analytics, etc… All these new technologies are shaping the industry today, and it is crucial for businesses to understand and adapt to them, in order to ensure the continuity in the future of the maritime industry.

I don’t want to brag, but in my village many people know me. Correction: they know me when I have my four-legged furry friend walking next to me. The very few and rare times my service dog doesn’t accompany me, I find myself less famous than I like to think. What does my service dog have to do with our industry and the way we trust technology you might wonder. Good question, here we go.

Unintentionally I’ve always been connected to the maritime industry in some way. Growing up at the shores of the Westerschelde I watched vessels passing by to the port of Antwerp or the Noordzee and on the Canal from Ghent to Terneuzen. With a small detour I came back to my roots and these days I live close to the Westerschelde again. I walk my dog four times a day on the dike and in all those years the vessels sailing to and from Antwerp have grown. Not only in size, but also in number. It might be one of the most visible changes, but these days the maritime industry is going through an impressive transformation. Yes, it’s the D-word: digitalization.

The last three years Sander was our Sales and Marketing manager. He continues his journey separately from Teqplay. In his final blog Sander shares his reflections on the process of digitization.