TRENDS REPORT
DIGITAL DRIVE
Digital technology is enabling port and terminal operators to demand more from their equipment. DLM takes a deeper dive into some of the key digital trends to discover where digitalisation is delivering real value.
n an industry driven by productivity metrics, does digitalisation deliver measurable ROI? “It is difficult to quantify, but it is there,” says Hannes Eberharter, head of R&D at Kuenz. “It helps our clients to make more informed decisions, but other factors will influence those decisions as well. “While some operators are excited to embrace new technologies, they all have to justify that expenditure. This is where Big Data really comes into play, as it can demonstrate that they made the right decision. It is an excellent feedback loop.”
I
Informed decisions Liebherr agrees that making informed decisions is key. Caitlin Gallacher, its head of sales support, digital solutions and consulting, breaks this down into three components: transparency of operations enables port operators to identify and address inefficiencies; machine data informs condition-based maintenance; and machine performance data helps improve productivity. She sees digitalisation as an important
step before automation. “In many cases, customers can realise immediate value by increasing transparency and improving existing processes before moving to higher levels of automation,” she says. However, Liebherr recognises that the industry is increasingly trending towards automation and remote operation, especially in cranes with fewer degrees of freedom, such as ship-to-shore cranes. Konecranes agrees that digitalisation brings the biggest benefits in areas that directly influence equipment availability, operational efficiency and decision making. “In port operations, unplanned downtime remains one of the costliest challenges,” it says.
xvi | July/August 2026 |
www.hoistmagazine.com
Port and terminal operations are becoming increasingly digitalised. Konecranes begins with a customer
survey to identify where digital tools can genuinely improve operations and what organisational readiness is required for success. “When customers understand how to use the tools and commit to the process, the value becomes clear,” it adds. After the survey, the most effective first solutions typically include its Truconnect performance analytics and CheckApp digital inspections. “These are easy to implement and deliver immediate visibility and reliability improvements,” it says. “From there, operators can scale gradually, building a digital ecosystem that fits their operational needs. The key is to start small, demonstrate value early, and expand with confidence.”
Digital journey
Another challenge is that operators are at different stages of their digital transitions and have different ways of working. “Not every
customer has the same conditions on site,” says Alina Reinhold, director digital services business, Kalmar. “We are offering different solutions based on the complexity of the site or the ability to invest from the customer side.” Some of Kalmar’s digital offerings
don’t require retrofit investments, enabling operators to easily start on their digital journey. It also sees a growing demand for solutions as an entire package rather than standalone products and services. Liebherr sees that success in a digital transition begins with a good plan. “The most important step is to start with a clear operational problem, not with technology,” says Gallacher.
Again, it starts with gathering and analysing data on current operations – machine usage, idling time and maintenance patterns. This helps identify root causes and prioritise where improvements will have the biggest impact. From there, targeted digital
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79
