International Container Terminal Services Inc. said Wednesday it invested more than P900 million in information technology in the flagship Manila International Container Terminal in the last 10 years.
“The hefty investments in technology are meant to crisis-proof the terminal, safeguard shipments and system processes, maximize the efficiency of its operations and maintain ICTSI’s world-class brand of customer service,” ICTSI executive vice president Christian Gonzalez said.
ICTSI teamed up with PLDT Inc. last year for the rollout of 5G at MICT. The MICT is utilizing the technology to automatically weigh containers using spreader load cells in rubber tired gantries.
Having this feature helps shorten truck drivers’ stay at the port as they no longer need to queue to use the terminal’s weigh bridges. 5G technology is an important cornerstone of MICT’s journey towards becoming the first smart port in the Philippines.
Other 5G-integrated projects in the pipeline include truck driver messaging, remote safety monitoring using intelligent surveillance systems and remote crane monitoring using Internet of Things devices and sensors—all of which are aimed at improving safety and efficiency of port operations while reducing foot traffic inside the terminal.
ICTSI launched in 2015 the Terminal Appointment Booking System at MICT to facilitate the seamless flow of cargo in and out of the port.
The MICT is working on the TABS Manifesting System, which automatically captures container data and truck plate numbers during the booking process. Once the system is deployed, drivers no longer have to input anything in the terminal kiosks upon their arrival.
A new MICT app is also under development. The new app is designed to give port users access to several services like Track & Trace across multiple ICTSI terminals, online payment and eventually TABS booking.
It will also include features like GPS location and ETA, geofenced gate-in and yard locations for drivers.
ICTSI, with the goal of improving its enterprise resource planning system, recently tapped Rimini Street—a leading third-party support provider for Oracle and SAP—to provide support for business-critical functions including financials, treasury, asset tracking and equipment maintenance and repair.
The exceptional support and robust platform enables the company to focus more on addressing emerging market requirements and capitalizing on future market opportunities.
MICT’s online payment system enabled customers to process transactions without physically going to the terminal.
Launched in 2017, the system had a mere 30-percent adoption rate prior to the pandemic. With lockdowns in place and COVID cases ballooning, customers relied on the system as the primary means of payment for their transactions.
“The billing process at MICT was not affected by the lockdowns as customers started using the online payment system. From 30 percent, the system’s adoption rate grew to 100 percent as clients realized they can conveniently and safely transact with us without going to the port,” Gonzalez said.
A similar payment system is also being developed for NorthPort, Subic Bay International Terminals and Mindanao Container Terminal. The system is scheduled for launch within the year.
“These technologies have been in place at the MICT for quite some time now and have proven to be game-changing, especially during the pandemic. We focused on optimizing these existing systems and accelerated the development of other digitally enabled services to make our terminals more efficient even with limited personnel on site,” Gonzalez said.
