Digital innovation in the port sector

Abstract

Digital innovation changes industry as a whole, and gradually also the port sector. The present article examines in detail 32 information and communications technology (ICT) innovation cases collected between autumn 2013 and spring 2015. Leading actors along the maritime supply chain were asked to indicate the importance and to assess the degree of the success achieved in each ICT innovation initiative, to identify the driving forces behind the adoption of innovation and to denote the associated costs and benefits. This input allows identifying the barriers of digital innovation from initiation through to implementation, as well as assessing the impact of facilitators of ICT innovation. To do this, the present research combines four quantitative instruments. The added value of this combined approach is a deeper understanding of the digital innovation process within the port sector. The research firstly indicates that alignment exists between company strategies and success degrees in the port sector, in contrast to non-ICT initiatives. The ICT innovation initiatives are also profit driven. Secondly, the port sector should be more open to disclose cost and benefit information and should conduct more such analyses. Next, there are conditions that improve the degree of success. Overall, terminal alignment with the right ICT infrastructure proves key. However, too many divergent interests among the stakeholders entail that digital innovation challenges the ability to cooperate. An important finding is regulation was not identified as a barrier nor as a facilitator.