NSW Ports holds long term leases to manage Port Botany and Port Kembla, which together handle millions of tonnes of diversified trade each year.
The push towards digitization was catalyzed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which highlighted the inefficiencies of NSW Ports’ traditional paper-based processes.
Josh Davidson, IT Manager at NSW Ports, reveals that the initial response was a bespoke solution during COVID-19, but the need for a more robust system was evident as they moved forward. The search for a resilient platform led them to NxtPort International, who pointed them toward Platform8, which in turn introduced them to Smartflow’s ISGOTT solution.
THE NEED
The driving force behind the shift, as Wayne Ashton, Operations Manager at NSW Ports, points out, was the need for a standardized, user-friendly, and transparent system.
With five tenants at the port, multiple chemical users, and the Port Authority of New South Wales to consider, the platform had to accommodate diverse needs while ensuring inclusivity for non-native English speakers involved in the processes.
THE SOLUTION
Digitization has already begun to bear fruit, providing consistency with international standards and facilitating a universal document process for terminals, ships, and port use. Josh Davidson emphasizes that data has become an invaluable asset, ensuring high-quality, consistent, and auditable data critical for assessing risk, performance, and billing.
Collaboration has markedly improved post-implementation. Stakeholders now enjoy real-time transparency and have abandoned the constant need for updates. The feedback from ship captains has been overwhelmingly positive, praising the simplicity and effectiveness of Smartflow.
The implementation journey, while complex due to the coordination across time zones and unique operational models, was seamless. Both Wayne Ashton and Josh Davidson laud the support from Platform8 and Smartflow’s responsiveness to customization needs. Watch the interview
