UBI EXTENDS REACH TO NEW PORTS

 

Hutchison Ports ubi (or “ubi”), the cloud-based customer-facing apps powered by nGen, which integrates waterside, yard and landside operations, allows customer to receive the latest updates and information and terminal access on their smart phones and smart devices at any time. Since its launch at Hutchison Ports Thailand, ubi has extended its service to Hutchison Ports Tanzania and today the app is made available to iOS and Android with over two thousand users. The growth of ubi app is to support Hutchison Ports’ Smart Network Strategy to standardisation and digitalisation across the group’s network.

 

TARGET USER GROUPS

Considering today’s terminal operations, it is important for customers to stay connected to the port and be able to do more while they are on the go, with the latest version of ubi app customers will be able to pre plan their journey and cargo with more flexibility and effectively with more cost savings.

UBI TARGET USER GROUPS

  • Trucking Company/Haulier
  • Freight Forwarder/Shipper
  • Shipping Line/Intermodal Company
  • Importer/Exporter

 

PRODUCT FEATURES

Since the launch of ubi in 2017, it has offered powerful features to achieve port digitalisation. Ubi allows carriers, service providers and yard operations to have greater visibility, efficient landside processes and safer working environment.

 

INCREASE VISIBILITY TO ALL TERMINAL USERS

Ubi provides immediate updates such as shipping, haulier and terminal information to help customers with enhanced decision making. It can improve user experience with the latest information and allow users to react and work efficiently.

 

EFFICIENCY ON LANDSIDE OPERATIONS

To enable digital transformation, ubi also provides an electronic Gate-In Slip and Equipment Interchange Receipt (EIR), which could reduce paper usage and create a greener office environment. In addition, EIR in electronic form will enable more timely distribution when compared to using the paper form. It will also greatly improve information visibility and provide the latest container status to all stakeholders.

 

TRUCKING ON TIME

The latest version of ubi app features ‘Truck Appointment function’, enabling more streamlined collaboration between the terminal and the customer through the application. With this new feature, the driver can manage the pick-up location and grounding appointments in advance. The terminal will receive all required data about the truck and the container upon its arrival. It allows the terminal to better allocate its resources, reduce terminal traffic congestion and reduce drivers dwell time in the terminal.

 

RC RTGC SAFETY ALERT FEATURE

Safety is Hutchison Ports priority and is also one of the key drivers when ubi was first being developed. The new ‘Safety Alert’ for Remote-Controlled Rubber-Tyred Gantry Crane (RC RTGC) function alerts the driver during the end-to-end RC RTGC process from gate-in to gate-out by detecting the truck’s location and provide warning notification.

 

NIGHT MODE DISPLAY

The ubi development team realises that the brightness of a ‘positive’ screen may disrupt the truck driver while driving to the pick-up location at night. To resolve this, an automatic ‘Night Mode’ display has been introduced to the latest version of ubi to facilitate night-time operations and minimise the impact a bright screen would have on a driver while in transit.

 

FUTURE DEVELOPMENT AND ROLLOUT ROADMAP

Hutchison Ports will continue to extend the reach of ubi to the Middle East & European regions in the coming years. Today, ubi consists of three languages, English, Thai and Swahili, along the rollout roadmap there will be more languages selection available to other regions such as Spanish, Catalan, Hindi, Urdu & Arabic.

Ubi is an important component of a global strategy to bring profound impact to the port digitalisation roadmap along with the group’s proprietary Terminal Operating System, nGen. Both systems work concurrently to enhance each port’s hinterland connection, enabling greater insight and quicker access to landside terminal operations. It strengthens the connections with current customers and opens new business opportunities.

Last but not least, the ubi development team will continue to bring innovative ideas in terms of information enquiries, process changes and safety perspectives to modernise terminal operations.