Speaking exclusively to Port Strategy at TOC Europe, Mr Ranta, who is senior manager for container terminal technology and operations optimisation at the infrastructure advisory company, also claimed that data-driven decision-making is just coming into the sector.
“This is great, then people will have more quantifiable decisions based on the actual data, not by perceptions or gut feelings,” he said.
“There’s still a long way to go, but I love the excitement and the opportunities in that area.”
Mr Ranta also discussed the concept of artificial intelligence (AI), arguing that those involved in terminal operations — companies, organisations responsible for terminal-operating, consultants and IT companies — will set the rules for this form of technology for the ports and terminals sector.
However, he believed that “the people who are behind the business” must set the regulations for AI.
“They need to be able to articulate what kind of solutions they want to have from artificial intelligence development,” he said.
Mr Ranta predicted that in perhaps the next three years, there will begin to be early adopters for AI solutions and that this will accelerate based on the success of these solutions.
“I would say a five-year horizon is reasonable to say that there will be something done with AI, but it requires commitment and dedication from operators,” he said.
