A one-stop, online gateway to the Port of Oakland went live here this morning. The Port said its new tech platform, called the Oakland Portal, would provide a single point of entry to seaport operations. It’s believed to be an industry first in the quest to digitize containerized cargo transportation.
“This is what our industry is asking for,” said Port of Oakland Maritime Director John Driscoll. “We’re providing a comprehensive digital view of ships, cargo and terminal information all in one place on the computer...no more clicking through multiple websites.”
The Oakland Portal is thought to be the first digital collaboration platform that aggregates shipping information from every marine terminal in a harbor. Terminals are where ships, trucks and trains converge to transport the world’s containerized trade. The Port said the Oakland Portal consolidates information from Oakland’s four active marine terminals. The data includes:
• Vessel schedules;
• Cargo status; and
• Live camera views of Port thoroughfares.
The features are available to all users, the Port said. Additional specialized functions such as paying terminal fees, cargo status updates, and trucker appointments – are available with registration and a login. The platform gives users access to the Port’s marine terminals all in a single location. A future iteration would incorporate real-time performance metrics and dashboards customized for the various Portal users such as motor carriers and cargo owners, the Port said. The Port expect to provide these additional upgrades in early 2019.
The Port said supply chain operators would better manage trade flow with the portal in place. For instance, cargo owners would know with greater precision when to expect merchandise. Trucking companies would know exactly when and where to dispatch drivers for container pick-up.
New Jersey-based logistics software provider Advent Intermodal Solutions LLC created the Oakland Portal as an extension of its customer-based eModal system. The Port’s four marine terminals all use the system for customer interface. The portal takes information from each terminal to provide a universal Port view.
Ports nationwide are contemplating digital platforms. The online portals are a response to supply chain operators who express challenges about the difficulty of tracking their containerized cargo door to door.
