Modernizing port operations with the power of connectivity
Ships carry over 90 percent of world trade, and a container ship can carry $30M to $50M of cargo traveling through a complex system of logistical and industrial centers. Ports must be competitive to become ports of call on international and domestic freight routes. The complexity can drain efficiencies, eating away at revenue and profits.
With a coastline of 3,219 km and over 4,000 km of waterways, Thailand’s ports stand as gateways to international trade. The country imported $239.9bn worth of goods from around the globe in 2019 and leads the world in rubber exports. Chances are the raw material used to manufacture the tires on your car, wherever you live in the world, came from Thailand. Shipping refined petroleum, rice, gold, and diamonds, Thailand is the 22nd largest export economy in the world with a positive trade balance of $34.3bn.
No wonder why Thailand’s largest and most important port operations company wanted to become one of the most efficient terminals in the country. However, the company needed better visibility of its port assets.
How we helped
Nokia has created a Worldwide IoT Network Grid - WING to support various IoT applications, such as logistics. We work with operators - who can access our IoT “grid” to offer the service to their customers.
This time we worked with Marubeni Network Solutions (M-NETS), a Japanese mobile virtual network operator. By integrating Marubeni’s mobile infrastructure with Nokia WING, the company offers global IoT connectivity to the port company. Besides connectivity, WING provided an end-to-end asset management solution as-a-Service through a wide range of sensors and a single platform for greater asset visibility.
The port met its goal. Connecting the company to our worldwide IoT network grid created enhanced efficiencies and visibility of port assets. The port monitors the location of trucks, cranes, and other port vehicles on site, tracks the number of loaded and off-loaded containers, and uses the data to monitor the physical status of various parts for proactive maintenance, ensuring employee safety and security.
Nokia’s future forward WING solution
While this is just one example, the challenges many businesses have are similar in terms of needing to find a way to drive efficiencies and reduce costs. Without their own network solution in place, they need to work with their partnered mobile network operator to overcome these challenges. However, a new paradigm is required for connectivity that is consistent, seamless, works in the same way across multiple markets, supports various types of services yet manages cost control. That is tailored to enterprise needs whilst supports mobile network operators (MNOs) to reach beyond their traditional subscriber base and expand their enterprise businesses.
Designed to deliver consumption based IoT connectivity aaS solutions, Nokia WING enables industries like agriculture, logistics, and transport to make massive technological leaps. By combining broadband cellular network technology and wireless connectivity, businesses gain instant access to advanced analytics for maximizing revenue and profit from the company. WING helps operators generate new revenue without spending CAPEX and investing time to build an IoT network and develop new services. With the addition of its off-the-shelf IoT applications, operators can grow their IoT value chains and address vertical markets rapidly. Amplified by business models, operators and enterprises can enter the exciting world of IoT and embrace 5G with low risk and a minimal investment.
Find out more about Nokia’s Worldwide IoT Network Grid (WING) here.
