How did it all start?

Over the centuries, the constant hunt for groundbreaking discoveries attributes to the astronomical improvement in both the quality of life and quantity of life. The First Industrial Revolution throttled into full force since water, and steam power was introduced to automate production, while electricity powering mass production instigated the Second Industrial Revolution. Subsequently, technological advancements instituted the Third Industrial Revolution, whereby electronic and information technology served as a primary source of production becoming automatic. Unlike the previous industrial revolutions, there is a palpable correlation between the Third and most recent; the Fourth Industrial Revolution, as technology demonstrates its continual evolvement as cultivation for its power to transform the economy, lifestyle, and how businesses operate.

There is a stark contrast emanate from the Fourth Industrial Revolution as it is “evolving at an exponential rate rather than a linear pace.” The expanse of the Fourth is so significant, it has penetrated and disrupted every industry across the globe, compelling a complete change in systems of production, management, and governance.

What does the Fourth Industrial Revolution compose of?

It is governed by the limitless possibilities in “billions of people being connected by mobile devices with unprecedent processing power, storage capacity, and access to knowledge.” These possibilities will intrinsically grow with technological breakthroughs in fields such as AI, robotic, IoT, autonomous vehicles, 3D printing, nanotechnology, biotechnology, materials science, energy storage, and quantum computing.

AI was a mere novel concept in the earlier days but has now become a practice of reality. With deeper and true understanding of AI, products ranging from self-driving cars to virtual assistants in software that translate, or assist have finally come to fruition. The impact of AI on the Fourth Industrial Revolution is credited by the substantial growth in computing power and the availability of Big Data.

Impact of the Fourth on the Container Handling Industry

Despite AI being relatively new with many professionals in the Container Handling Industry lacking a deep understanding of its infrastructure, there are little to none terminal operating systems on the market with AI capabilities that can truly exhibit human intelligence to predict different scenarios and determine the best solution to optimize berthing, processes, and resources. Although immediate results are highly valued and critical to a terminal’s success, it is imperative to select a TOS that is not only best fit for a terminal but is accepting of enhancements and is responsive to new capabilities.

How do we respond?

A collective of beliefs, values, ideas, and knowledge derived from human behavior and decisions has characterized each revolution. Similarly, the direction of each revolution is influenced by a community response. Therefore, it is citizens, consumers, and investors that hold the most significant power in driving this revolution onto the next.

To ensure that future revolutions adhere to only empowering the quality of life and quantity of life, we must develop a comprehensive and undivided perception of how technology continues to impact our lives and reform our economic, social, cultural, and human environments.

Conventional logistics no longer sustain growing pressures to meet customer’s demands of immediate delivery. As a result, terminals are turning to automation as a strategy to accelerate cargo flow. The steep decline in inefficient operations, costs, injuries, and environmental impacts are the primary benefits derived from the employment of automation. However, only 3%-13% of terminals worldwide are either partially or fully automated. So why do terminals refrain from such an opportunity?

Inefficiencies in terminals cost the Container Handling Industry a massive $17 billion a year, and yet most of the advantages of automation are left disregarded. Consequently, ports and marine terminals are inhibited from reaching their full potential in operational efficiency and may confront the risk of becoming obsolete.

The problem is, terminal operators, omit to automation due to reasons varying from unions to costs. A large portion of terminal operating executives and managers favor more equipment as opposed to intelligent IT software which is another factor constituting to the resistance to automation. Reduced transparency in terminal data is a repercussion that arises in the absence of automation. This is because data recorded for when a container is being loaded, discharged, stored, and moved, will not be entirely accurate or standardized if exercised manually.

However, the initial finances required to invest in the implementation of automation in terminals remain as the biggest deterrent. Most terminal operators are unfamiliar with the scalable aspect of automation. It is critical to note that automation modules can be scaled accordingly to match the budget provided while still satisfying all set requirements. Therefore, if terminal operators can endorse a prospective outlook, a substantial spike in cost savings, operational efficiency, and ROI, can be recognized.

Don’t let the budget define the limits to your cost savings. Take control, let automation do all the hard work and witness the success.

Realtime Business Solutions (RBS) is a private company founded by Harry Nguyen in 1991. We opened our first office in Sydney, Australia and over the 27 years of working diligently in the Container Handling Industry, we have since grown to power over 35 terminals worldwide. RBS was able to withstand and prevail over the pool of well-established TOS providers in the market, despite starting as a one-person company. By delivering the only true real-time TOS on the market, we were able to achieve the impossible and prove all odds by landing our first contract with Evergreen’s main terminal in Taiwan, 1996. Now our team consists of over 200 professionals from our office and partners around the globe, expanding our offices into Europe (RBS EMEA UG), South America (T2S – Tecnologia), and Asia (PT. Primus Indonesia and RBSVN).

Throughout these many years, we have never deviated from our core values, adhering to delivering a second to none TOS. Our TOPS solution operates “in memory real-time” and is the most advanced solution for terminals of any size, handled in a single server. We focus on constant evolvement and are the pioneers in offering state-of-the-art software in conjunction with premium support services. We also believe working closely with our clients to address their requirements, goals, and vision, cultivates optimization and operational efficiency.

We spend extensive efforts in research which indicated a poor system infrastructure as the root cause of inefficiency in terminals. As a result, RBS developed TOPS Expert Cloud which operates in a single server, of a cloud-based, and real-time architecture. This solution works in parallel to our dedicated professional services which cover the full terminal spectrum. TOPS Expert Cloud is the first complete, real-time TOS available on the Cloud. The comprehensive and integrated TOPS solution has warranted breakthrough results as now we are operating over 36 million TEUs globally, including manual and automated terminals.

<p style="”text-align:justify”">Le Havre (France)/ Hamburg (Germany), 9/11/2018. The terminal operator CNMP – operating in France’s largest container port – has successfully completed the implementation of its TOS system, TOPS Advance provided by RBS. During the 14 months it took to complete the project, employees have been trained up and an interface to the IT system of the French port authority AP+ has been established. At the same time, CNMP has also updated its IT landscape.</p>

<p style="”text-align:justify”">The container terminal CNMP (Compagnie Nouvelle de Manutentions Portuaires) is situated in the port of Le Havre, the largest of its kind in France. Here, as is the case at all terminals, the Container planning and operations process is controlled using a Terminal Operating System (TOS) – which pretty much acts as the “digital heart” of the terminal. CNMP has been using its TOS software for more than 20 years. Due to the fact that its provider was unable to offer a further development of the existing system, CNMP decided to introduce a new type of TOS software and at the same time upgrade the now outdated IT infrastructure of the terminal. By choosing the real-time TOPS Advance system provided by Real-time Business Solutions (RBS) based in Sydney, Australia, alongside local partner RBS EMEA from Hamburg, Germany, the terminal operator managed to find a suitable partner for both parts of the project.</p>

<p style="”text-align:justify”">The introduction of the real-time TOPS Advance system was completed within a time frame of around 14 months. During the project, the old TOS system and the processes were analyzed, the operator’s requirements and expectations collected in workshops, and the system configured accordingly. The next step involved migrating the data and processes to the new system, putting them through their paces in test mode, and training up key users. Furthermore, an interface to the AP+ Port Community System (PCS), the official system of the French port authority, was established. It took just one day to make the switch and launch TOPS Advance as a live system. Didier Michaux, Terminal Manager at CNMP, explains: “During a board meeting that day, those in charge were asking why the go-live date for TOPS had been pushed back. No congestion of any note in the area, no angry calls from angry customers either. I was able to tell them that the go-live was taking place at precisely that moment. Compared with the usual go-lives of TOS systems, this seamless changeover was truly remarkable.” The switch was completed without any performance problems. At the same time, CNMP now has a completely new IT infrastructure as a turnkey solution with a secure data and process environment.</p>

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The terminal ordered two additional Ship-to-Shore (STS) cranes and 10 Rubber Tired Gantry (RTG) from Konecranes. The delivery is expected to happen end of 2019. The RTGs will be ready to be fully electrified for future efficient operations.

In combination with the RBS terminal operating system (TOS) TOPS Advanced implemented at the terminal, this is a powerful and future save combination that will enable the terminal to deliver good services to their customer.

Read also more at porttechnology (PTI)…

As part of the TIL group MSC has always been one of the main customers at SMELTE. When implementing the RBS TOPS solution as the central TOS in 2011, it has been the target to become one of the main transshipment hubs in the Baltic Sea.

Congratulation to the SMELTE team from RBS!

The RBS terminal operating system TOPS has been integrated with the GOS from CAMCO since day one when the new FOS2XL terminal was started. As a gateway terminal, the landside efficiency is one key element in customer services for Seayard and with a truck turnaround time less than 30 minutes this puts Seayard in the first line of container terminals in France.

Read more at PTI or read complete the success story for more details.