A port call app that rocks the boat

Rhenus is a global logistics provider with a large breakbulk terminal in the Rotterdam Harbour. Breakbulk is cargo that is not shipped in containers or in bulk. This makes breakbulk operations quite something: as cargo comes in all shapes and sizes, from heavy machinery to oversized equipment, coordinating port calls becomes a monumental task. Rhenus required an application to centralise and streamline cargo-specific information, making port calls more efficient and manageable. A huge part of the challenge was to craft a solution that could cater to the diverse needs of user, from dockworker to terminal planner.

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We first mapped out all the intricacies of Rhenus' operations, port calls in particular. A port call is the moment in which a cargo ships docks, for loading or unloading. Because breakbulk is not in containers, the loading, unloading and transloading process is much less standardised than in a container terminal. Thus there was a big challenge in finding structure it what may appear to be unstructured at first sight. The blueprints we created laid the foundations for the Port Call App roadmap, and for fostering alignment with the different organisation layers. We developed multiple application prototypes that were tested on the docks in challenging conditions, building trust with the dock workers step-by-step.  

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The resulting Rhenus's Port Call Application (PCA), is fundamentally designed to bridge the operational divide between planners and dockworkers. It streamlines data exchange and enhances real-time communication between them. The PCA provides dockworkers with on-the-go access, ensuring they are in-sync with the latest updates and cargo-specific details, while planners have interfaces tailored to their needs, offering an overview of planning, real-time events, notifications, and advanced messaging. We took away information asymmetries and potential trust issues, by fulfilling the information needs for each user in a tailored format. Added functionalities, such as multilingual support and map displays, further enrich the user experience and make sure the PCA is adaptable to the diverse and dynamic breakbulk terminal environment.

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