International Container Services, Inc. (ICTSI) recently partnered with Microsoft to centralize its data platforms across its terminals worldwide and improve operations.
"With Microsoft technology, our new data platform gives us 24x7 visibility and critical system monitoring services across all our global terminals in every market we operate in," explained Brian Hibbert, ICTSI Chief Information Officer.
"This is a game-changer for us, improving efficiencies and enabling us to engage with partners and customers better," he pointed out.
ICTSI operates 34 terminals in 20 countries, from the Manila homeport and across six continents, hence its need for a centralized data management system.
Its new integrated data platform, powered by Microsoft Azure, allows the company an enterprise view of all its terminal operations.
To date, five terminals have been onboarded, and ICTSI's focus is to connect the majority of its terminals to the data platform.
"Digital transformation projected to happen over the next ten years is happening today," says Ella Dujali-Mangubat, Customer Success Lead at Microsoft Philippines.
"COVID19 challenged organizations but also accelerated creation of untapped business opportunities and models," she added.
"We're helping ICTSI accelerate their resilience and growth strategies around the world."
In addition to building the data platform, ICTSI has migrated their Terminal Operating System (TOS) called Navis N4 to Microsoft Azure.
So far, three terminals—the Subic Bay International Terminals (SBITC), Mindanao Container Terminal (MTC) and Onne Multi-Purpose Terminal (OMT)—have successfully migrated to Azure.
These terminals now benefit from increased performance, better security, and seamless transactions to their customers and partners.
The TOS of terminals located in Brazil and Argentina will soon be migrated to Azure as well.
"Everything went smoothly, and we completed the migration activities ahead of schedule," says Hibbert.
In addition, "We were able to place a strong emphasis on security and disaster recovery."
"The infrastructure is essential but only the foundation. We are working in many areas together, including data analytics, digital platform services, Shipping Application Programming Interface (API) delivery, and web and mobile applications for customers," he elaborated.
"This is the beginning of a very exciting journey that is all designed to ensure all of our terminals offer great digital experiences to our customers", he added.
ICTSI aims to enable further innovations by opening up its data platform to the public thru an API layer and allow access to citizen developers to build their apps and services.
Furthermore, the company is looking to partner with other private organizations to create an open data platform where they can exchange data.
ICTSI's goal is to encourage a start-up mentality and drive innovation in the Philippines in partnership with Microsoft.