b'Perspective: Digital Transformation As a program manager, I work directly for the Port Authority,disruptions in the current port operations. As port operators, focusing on building that competitive advantage and leadingwe must understand how these changes and innovations our transformation effort across the port. Whether wereimpact the operations of our stakeholders. pursuing sustainable energy or digital transformation, we cant do it alone. We need to create a coalition of partnersDigital Transformation Strategyand stakeholders to make these big changes happen. My roleIn planning for the future, we had to go back to basics and is to create these partnerships and share a vision of where weask ourselves how we should operate as a modern port. are heading within the strategic mission of the port, and thenWe recognized the need to improve and optimize how we execute on that.do things. The Port of Rotterdam Authority aims to be the smartest port leveraging the Internet of Things (IoT)which Facing Challenges and Making Connectionsincludes sensors and finding the easy ways to connect We face many challenges. My most significant is finding andthings using mobile devices and mobile network platforms. working with partners who share our vision of taking a long- Generally, our initiatives either focus on better control and term approach, rather than pursue the short-term of a one- management of the port and port infrastructure (our core year cycle of profit and loss. Engaging partners who share thetasks) or they revolve around improved insight into, or effi-ports long-term vision is challenging but necessary. This isciency of, logistics processes. why we look for partners who are world market leaders and invest significantly in research and development.Our long-term strategy focuses on optimizing and coordi-nating the handling of ships through transparent information The other challenge is internal. On a strategic level, we makesharing. For instance, were enabling clients and tenants to sure we connect with those responsible for port operations.engage in smart planning so they can select the most effi-They manage vessel traffic and make sure every ship is safe,cient routes themselves. Also, were enabling berths and into and out of the port. Port operations control all aspectsdolphins to automatically indicate when they become avail-of this process. When we introduce an innovative change able. We are constantly looking at new technologies to such as energy transition, digital transformation, or theapply, even for mission critical systems like the hydro-meteo coming of autonomous shipsthese efforts can lead to majorsystem, which we replaced with the Watson IoT platform.WINTER 2019 / 2020 IBM Center for The Business of Government 69'