Abstract
Supply chains are complex systems that have grown in dimension and spread worldwide. In supply chains, physical and information flows have strict service quality requirements, namely transparency conditions and traceability. Seaports, connecting land and maritime transport, are special components of supply chains where multiple players interact with different perspectives, and conflicting goals may arise. Port community authorities invest in electronic platforms to foster communication and integration with the companies that interact with the seaport, guiding the digitization of the seaport business. In main European and world ports, the Port Community System (PCS) is the platform that supports the creation of a network composed of shipping agents, shippers, freight forwarders, transporters, terminals, logistics platforms, and public entities. PCS focuses on service level, partner networks, maritime services, freight services, logistical services, and advanced port services. These features have an impact on seaport operations, which affects supply chain performance. Digitization within the scope of the PCSs has fostered the development of horizontal collaboration between seaport community partners. The Physical Internet (PI) is an innovative concept that seeks new logistics solutions requiring integration and interoperability between partners in the supply chain, including maritime and land transport. This paper focuses on (i) the evolution guidelines of PCSs and (ii) on the PCS Business Factors that can drive the supply chain into a significant improvement in performance. A survey was sent to a sample of Portuguese supply chain experts regarding the causal relationship between PCS Business Factors and supply chain performance in the next 10 to 20 years. From the data collected, recent services evolving at PCS are promoting a mindset change aligned to the implementation of a Physical Internet. Establishing a Physical Internal in Portuguese seaports could take decades, but it will support the transition to a new phase of PCS, accelerating the transition from Isolated Supply Chains (I-SCs) to Open Supply Chains (O-SCs), thus improving supply chain performance.
Highlights
Chains are facing an increase in the complexity of physical and information flows
This paper especially focuses on the current development of Port Community System (PCS) and the identification of the main PCS Business Factors that can improve supply chain performance toward the development of a Physical Internet in the 10 to 20 years
The implementation of a Physical Internet may require decades, but the change in services provided by PCS is setting a shift in mindset from Isolated Supply Chains (I-SCs) toward Open Supply Chains (O-SCs), promoting the
Summary
Chains are facing an increase in the complexity of physical and information flows. This paper especially focuses on the current development of PCS and the identification of the main PCS Business Factors that can improve supply chain performance toward the development of a Physical Internet in the 10 to 20 years. A survey was sent to Portuguese supply chain experts with the following PCS Business Factors: Software, Hardware, Physical Structures, Integration, Collaboration, Mindset, and Management and. The authors found that the PCS Business Factors more relevant to the Portuguese supply chain experts were (i) Integration and Collaboration, (ii) Management and Legal Framework, and (iii) Mindset and Physical Structure. The development of a Physical Internet at Portuguese seaports may require decades, but the change in services provided by PCS is creating a shift in mindset from Isolated Supply.
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