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PSA Antwerp Boosts Management Efficiency With Business Intelligence
Technology Category
- Analytics & Modeling - Real Time Analytics
Applicable Industries
- Marine & Shipping
Applicable Functions
- Logistics & Transportation
Use Cases
- Real-Time Location System (RTLS)
- Supply Chain Visibility
Services
- Data Science Services
The Challenge
PSA Antwerp, a major terminal operator in the Port of Antwerp, Belgium, needed to determine the status of all facets of its loading and unloading operation. The company had to make multiple decisions to coordinate loading activities, allocate resources, and optimize the handling of each type of cargo within the fixed time span of a ship docking and leaving port. These decisions impacted the profitability of the operation. The company also faced pressure to improve productivity as it competes against Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Having the best logistics, planning techniques, and equipment is what gives PSA Antwerp a competitive edge. The company needed reporting software that could give them complete and accurate management information.
About The Customer
PSA Antwerp is a major terminal operator in the Port of Antwerp, Belgium. The company operates terminals for general or “break bulk” cargo as well as for roll-on/ roll-off cargo housed in large containers or cars. As many as 2,000 cars can be loaded onto a ship, making this a substantial aspect of its business. Managers need to know the status of each car at all times in order to effectively coordinate workers, allocate labor, and minimize docking charges. The same business dynamics apply to break-bulk cargo as well. Combined with its terminals in Zeebrugge, Belgium, PSA Antwerp realizes annual revenue of 54 million euros, making it the largest operation in Antwerp Harbor. As one of the top 10 harbors in the world, Antwerp offers the widest choice of services of all European ports. It claims 4.8 million square meters of warehousing space, far more than any other European port.
The Solution
PSA Antwerp relied on WebFOCUS software from Information Builders to obtain real-time access to the information that continually impacts its business. The company used the WebFOCUS software to create more than 300 reports from the Container Terminal Control System (CTCS), giving managers a current representation of each facet of the operation. At the heart of the WebFOCUS environment is a high-powered reporting engine called WebFOCUS Reporting Server that can natively access more than 85 data sources on 35 computing platforms – including native access to the IBM DB2/400 databases underlying CTCS. Managers use the menu-driven reporting application not only to view canned reports, but also to submit real-time queries to interact with live data. This helps terminal operators make decisions that optimize the loading and unloading of cargo.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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