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Port Optimizer™
Increase throughput and improve efficiency with digital infrastructure, creating an accurate, on-time and reliable source of data for port stakeholders to better plan operations
Port Optimizer is not just an application or set of applications. Port Optimizer is an Initiative to create digital infrastructure as a competitive differentiator for port authorities looking to increase efficiency and throughput.
The timely sharing of accurate information about container moves, status changes, asset management, etc. across all port stakeholders is needed to better plan for operations. As a neutral party, Port Authorities can be the driving force to create a Digital Infrastructure for the collection, aggregation and standardization of data flowing through the port and to make that data readily available through APIs and various applications. Port Optimizer is a cloud-based software initiative integrating data from across the port ecosystem. It helps the supply chain monitor and respond to dynamic conditions, align people and resources, and proactively communicate across functions – enabling maximum port throughput and delivery performance.
Core Capabilities and Features
Port Optimizer enables a new level of efficiency and optimization through a holistic view of on-time, clean, and unified data
Visibility
Data Platform that synthesizes disparate supply chain data into a single source of truth providing aggregates, analytics and forecasts for incoming volumes and port assets
Connectivity
API-driven architecture and full API Store enabling easy integration into existing IT systems
Access Control
Advanced data protection through access controls and cryptography enabling user based visualizations, ensuring users only see their corresponding data, and providing a flexible, modern user interface tailored by user type
Proactive
Container and asset smart tract and trace to identify delays before they happen and proactively notify interested parties
Timeliness
Direct connections with source providers allow for the fastest and most accurate data in the industry
Standardization
Consolidated information across entire port complex allows multi-terminal/carrier views
Platform Solutions
Accelerating the drive to digitization.
Port Optimizer is built on a comprehensive and secure platform to run, scale, and drive forward Port digital initiatives
- Port Authorities
- Cargo Owners
- Trucking Companies
- Marine Terminal Operators
- Ocean Carriers
- Chassis Providers
Port Optimizer for Port Authorities
Port Optimizer addresses key port challenges, including lack of advanced visibility to cargo in transit, disparate and inaccurate data sources, hidden inefficiencies, and conflicting objectives between community members. Features include:
Data Connectivity & Visibility
Aggregates disparate and conflicting data sources, provides advanced visibility to inbound volumes, real-time historical port-wide volume dashboards, and future volume forecasts for trend analysis.
Collaboration Across the Supply Chain
Delivers fast, data-driven insights to partners across the supply chain: BCOs, Terminal Operators, Shipping Lines, Railroads, Trucking Operators, Chassis Providers, and Brokers/NVOCCs
Competitive Advantage
Stakeholder-specific features and applications, in an app store, to drive competitive advantage and attract more volume for all port community members
Port Optimizer for Cargo Owners
Port Optimizer addresses key BCO challenges such as knowing the status of goods in transit in advance, time spent searching for information, managing inventory levels, and dealing with Remove "supply chain unknowns. Features include:
Unified Information Portal
Aggregates disparate and conflicting data sources, providing a single source of truth for all goods coming through a port complex
Vessel Tracking and Status
Details around import vessel moves, including ETA/ATA by vessel across multiple terminals and real-time progress of unloading, loading and all terminal activity
Container Track & Trace
Container status and timeline view, including all drayage activities, terminal availability, last free day, discharge/load/gate in/ gate out information, and customs/terminal/line hold status
Port Optimizer for Trucking Companies
Port Optimizer addresses key trucking company challenges such as unpredictable cargo flow through marine terminals, accessing multiple sources for critical information like appointments and availability. Features include:
Unified Information Portal
Aggregates disparate and conflicting data sources, providing a single source of truth for all goods coming through a port complex
Container Track & Trace
Container status and timeline view including all terminal activities, terminal availability, last free day, discharge/load/gate in/ gate out information, and customs/terminal/line hold status
Empty Container Management
Empty container acceptance by carrier, container size, and shift for multiple terminals in a single view
Port Optimizer for Marine Terminal Operators
Port Optimizer helps Marine Terminals attract more volumes by addressing the increased need for cost savings, asset efficiency, and economies of scale. Features include:
Data Connectivity & Visibility
Aggregates disparate and conflicting data sources, provides advanced visibility to inbound volumes, real-time historical port-wide volume dashboards and future volume forecasts for trend analysis
Collaboration Across the Supply Chain
Enables data-driven collaboration to improve on hidden inefficiencies between members of the community, such as trucking companies and railroads, regarding blind spots related to railcars, containers and other assets
Competitive Advantage
Stakeholder-specific features and applications, in an app store, to drive competitive advantage and attract more volume and ocean carriers
Port Optimizer for Ocean Carriers
Cost-effectively managing vessels of increasing size and container capacity while improving space planning, empty container visibility, resource allocation, and addressing blind spots. Features include:
Data Connectivity & Visibility
Aggregates disparate and conflicting data sources, provides advanced visibility to inbound volumes, real time historical port-wide volume dashboards and future volume forecasts for trend analysis
Terminal Visibility
Visibility to container movements across all marine terminals, including container load/discharge, empty allocations and terminal performance
Competitive Advantage
Stakeholder specific features and applications, in an app store, to drive competitive advantage and attract more volume
Port Optimizer for Chassis Providers
Unpredictable cargo flow makes chassis demand forecasting and asset allocations challenging. Port Optimizer helps Port communities solve these problems. Features include:
Vessel Operational Status
Inbound container volumes per facility and near future forecast, vessel status including ETA/ATA by vessel across multiple terminals and progress of unloading activities
Unified Information Portal
Aggregates disparate and conflicting data sources, providing a single source of truth for all goods coming through a port complex
Empty Container Management
Empty container acceptance by carrier, container size and shift for multiple terminals in a single view
Platform Details
How Port Optimizer Works
In the past, supply-chain operations consisted of multiple systems, each designed to measure and monitor singular aspects. However, in the modern day economy, supply chains face a complex set of market dynamics and emerging disruptive forces, such as globalization, outsourced manufacturing, intense competition, tighter margins, and market threats. All of this is against the backdrop of an economy where expectations for delivery are becoming shorter and more exacting. Ports, serving ~90% of global trade, are the center point of supply chains. Port Optimizer is a platform that provides the ability to consolidate data and systems that supply chains need today to mitigate the risks of the ever-changing and more-demanding operating environment.
Port Optimizer Platform:
Data Platform that synthesizes disparate supply chain data into a single source of truth, providing aggregates, analytics, and forecasts for incoming volumes and port assets
Data as a Service:
API-driven architecture and full API Store enabling easy integration into existing IT systems
Flexibility:
Advanced data protection through access controls and cryptography enables user-based visualizations and ensures users only see their corresponding data –providing a flexible, modern user interface tailored by user type
Asset Tracking:
Container and asset smart track and trace to identify delays before they happen and proactively notify interested parties
Timely Data Insights:
Direct connections with source providers allow for the fastest and most accurate data in the industry
Data across all Port Facilities:
Consolidated information across entire port complex allows multi-terminal/carrier views
Port Optimizer Initiative
Frequently Asked Questions
Port Optimizer contains data sourced from direct connects with 9 of the top 10 global shipping lines and all marine terminals within the Port of Los Angeles. Additionally, Port Optimizer contains data from selected third-party providers, including United States Customs and Border Protection, The Marine Exchange of Southern California, GeoStamp, and others.
Port Optimizer is currently available at the Port of Los Angeles, however, the portal is expected to expand to include other international and domestic ports. As new ports are added to the application, users will be notified.
All stakeholders benefit from the Port Optimizer initiative: Beneficial Cargo Owners, NVOCCs-Freight Forwarders, Marine Terminals, Port Authorities, Motor Carriers, Shipping Lines, Chassis Providers, Railroads. It is important to remember that Port Optimizer is not a single application or set of applications, it is a digitization initiative that gives the supply chain community a holistic view that enables better efficiency and optimization. It gives stakeholders the operational benefits of increased visibility, predictability, productivity, and exception management.
It allows the port complex to become more competitive through the deployment of technology. Ports with digital initiatives have proven to attract more volumes and expose hidden inefficiencies; higher volumes bring more business to all port stakeholders and improving on inefficiencies reduce overall costs.
In addition, Port Optimizer is a digital initiative that drives change in the community. As the port digitizes its operations, all stakeholders rise to meet the new digital standards. Either by creating APIs or by sharing information, port facilities soon start to collaborate with one another in an attempt to follow the digital initiatives driven by Port Optimizer. More efficient ports drive more efficient stakeholders and that provides cost savings across the supply-chain community.
Finally, the Port Optimizer initiative provides a cloud-based solution which these communities can leverage to create specific, customizable applications for each individual problem and persona. For example, the platform comes with a track-and-trace application that can be used in many ways by the Motor Carrier and BCO community to follow their cargo as it flows through the port, including notification of potential delays.
Port Optimizer has an API spec – standard for modern systems – that community members can follow. The Port Optimizer integration team can support any integration effort needed. Port Optimizer gathers data from many data sources across many different communication protocols. This data is then consolidated, cleaned and transformed prior to it being available to community stakeholders. Once the data is available, it can be shared via API, EDI, or any other protocol that the interested party supports. This is important, because community members should not be investing in middleware or integration software, they should be investing in operational improvements.
Finally, data protection, privacy, and security are built into the platform by design. This means that before any community member receives any data, a very strict validation process is followed to make sure the data shared is information data providers have authorized to be shared, and that it is viewed and received by users with rights and permissions to this information.
The Track and Trace application provides visibility of containers and other port assets to Drayage companies and BCOs. The Control Tower application provides port wide historical and future forecasted container volumes for Port Authorities to analyze port wide trends.
Success Stories
Success Stories
Port Optimizer drives efficiency improvements at the Port of Los Angeles
Initial outcomes include proven advanced visibility to incoming volumes with 14+ days access to information, faster and more accurate track and trace data for containers and other port assets, real-time access to port wide historical container volumes information, and future container forecast calculations.
Return Signal
Learn where and when to return empty containers to cargo terminals throughout the San Pedro Bay port complex
Knowing where and when to return empty containers is critical for the trucking community. Return Signal, Powered by Port Optimizer™, is a new data tool that assists trucking companies by providing timely, pertinent information about returning empty containers for all terminals across the port.
Track Your Containers
Learn how to track containers at the Port of Los Angeles
Visibility to cargo in transit is crucial to supply chain performance. Port Optimizer™ at the Port of Los Angeles gives real time tracking information on containers – improving visibility, efficiency, and throughput.
Priority Containers
Track time sensitive and business critical containers at the Port of Los Angeles
Cargo owners always want to know the status of containers as they move through the Port. But what about those important containers that are time sensitive and critical to your business? With Port Optimizer™, you can flag these hot containers for easy visibility.
Customizing Container Information
Learn how to add custom information to containers at the Port of Los Angeles
Whether you are moving large amounts of cargo for multiple companies or simply moving many different products from your own company, having the ability to add custom information to a container can make it easier to track. Port Optimizer™ makes this possible.
