Efficient logistics processes are closely linked to good planning and timely intervention when disruptions occur. It’s no surprise that Equipment Control Systems (ECS) made their way into ports some ten to fifteen years ago.
From Fragmented to Integrated Control
An ECS manages communication with the equipment used in ports, such as quay cranes (QC), automated stacking cranes (ASC), straddle carriers (SC), automated guided vehicles (AGV), and automated terminal trucks (ATT). Based on planning in the Terminal Operating System (TOS), the ECS controls these cranes and other machinery. Until now, ECS systems have been one-on-one linked to specific equipment suppliers. So, if you use equipment from three different suppliers at a port terminal, you work with three different ECS systems, each with its own protocols and controls. Integrated planning is, therefore, out of the question.
This worked well in a time when ports were less automated, but as automatic and autonomous systems increase, the margin for error has decreased. Small mistakes in planning or control can now have major consequences. This is why it’s more critical than ever to manage terminal operations integrally, from one central ECS.
No more apples to oranges comparisons
Integrated control offers another significant advantage: it provides reliable data that is easier to combine and compare. Although ECS systems from different suppliers are comparable, they each produce different data, making it difficult to merge data from different systems directly. The data infrastructure must be adjusted, and the data from these systems needs to be brought together in data models so that KPIs can be compared in an integrated dashboard. With a vendor-independent ECS, you can control and monitor all equipment across your terminal comprehensively, using standardized data infrastructure, data models, and KPIs.
Save time, money, and CO2 emissions
With SmartECS from ICT Group, a uniform data connection is created for diverse equipment from different suppliers. This allows for insights that improve service delivery. By combining data from different equipment and systems, analyses can be made to use fuel, equipment, and container movements more efficiently. This is essential because every minute a ship spends docked costs money, and every unproductive action leads to unnecessary fuel consumption. The better all processes in a port align, the more favorable it is in terms of costs, required manpower, and CO2 emissions.
ICT Group provides data platforms that enable companies to collect, combine, and analyze data from internal and external sources. These platforms offer uniform insights using KPIs and make predictions possible through Data Science.
Want to learn how you can better manage and monitor your equipment with one vendor-independent SmartECS? We'd be happy to give you a demo of SmartECS, which allows you to monitor and control all your equipment from all suppliers centrally.
