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Column by Iwan van der Wolf (CEO Portbase).
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From 2700 to 3600 participating companies in eighteen months. Use of the Port Community System is increasing rapidly. Now, 72 million electronic messages are already sent through our platform every year, but I believe this is just the beginning. Technology is changing the world, and the pace at which it is changing is only increasing. Do you realise, for example, that the very first iPhone only dates from 2007 and the very first iPad from 2010? For the majority of people, an everyday life without these (or similar) devices is now almost unthinkable.
The same will also be true of the much-discussed internet of things, which connects everything and everyone – people and devices – with each other online. What may still seem of little consequence to you now, or discussion fodder for nerds, will increasingly influence everyday life in the foreseeable future. The Dutch ports are no exception! VPRO programme “Tegenlicht” about the smart port gives a good insight into the future. If you missed the programme, in which Portbase is also discussed in detail, you should definitely still watch it.
“It is now much better to lead as Dutch ports than not be prepared for possible technological developments.”
Portbase will arrange for this to happen, in any case. In the future, we want to make the move towards greater added value. The community must be able to share dynamic data between its members much more than it is currently able to do so, such as information that you can use to monitor cargo anywhere in real time. Data that will also enable you to fundamentally plan the entire logistics chain, enabling all links to function more effectively.
The aim is obvious, but the way to achieving it has not been well defined. Portbase, along with the community, wants to take the lead in this regard, without losing sight of the basic principle. The current services we provide form a vital foundation for the everyday business of now 3600 companies. We are therefore simply continuing these services and continuing to invest in them, such as in the quality of data, for example. At the same time, we want to develop new initiatives with you and innovate further. After all, our environment doesn’t wait, and developments are continuing at a fast pace. It is now much better to lead as Dutch ports than not be prepared for possible technological developments.
This of course raises challenging discussions. Which data do you want to share, for example, and which do you not? What is the government doing? And how do company interests relate to port interests? From our neutral, facilitating role, we want to help determine the course this takes and therefore ensure together with you that the Dutch ports become the real smart ports of Europe.
