2018 was a dual-speed year. We saw global container trade continue to grow, despite geo-political shifts and rising trade barriers. At the same time, there was a surge in digitalisation activities within the global supply chain which promised better visibility and efficiency, even while the industry continues to grapple with issues of data standardisation and collaboration.

In PSA’s case, we have always prioritised innovation and change management as key pillars of success. What drives us is the acceptance that change is constant. It keeps us on our toes and ensures we are nimble, ready and able to navigate the future. By developing diversity within our workforce, we expand on our core skills and build great teams. By bringing in new skills, data analytics, automation, AI (Artificial Intelligence), robotics and digitalisation among others, we can help to re-shape the environment in which we operate and transform alongside our people. By building great partnerships, we can innovate further to the advantage of both our partners and our customers.

In this age of disruption, focusing on our own domains is no longer enough. Greater collaboration along the entire supply chain (and even beyond), in addition to better system-wide optimisation, are crucial to creating sustained success. When it comes to tackling inefficiencies in global supply chains, we need to move towards building an Internet of Logistics (IoL): an ecosystem of communities connected through interoperability, where platforms and systems can be ‘plug and play’. Interoperability recognises that each player brings unique strengths to the system, and ‘plug and play’, so that we can all innovate boldly without being held back by legacy issues.

The vision is to enable a truly transformed and connected global supply chain, with better possibilities for enhanced cargo flow for all the stakeholders.

This is my rallying call for 2019 – to co-create the Internet of Logistics, to enhance supply chain fulfilment for us all!