Port Community System Implementation: Lessons Learned from an International Scan

Port community systems (PCSs) can be defined as holistic, geographically bounded information hubs in global supply chains that primarily serve the interest of a heterogeneous collective of port related companies. These heterogeneous companies often include terminal operators, carriers (ocean, road, and rail), freight forwarders, enforcement agencies (i.e. customs), port authorities, and various lobby groups (including workers’ unions, environmentalists, and other policy makers). Port community systems that bring these diverse parties together in transaction recordkeeping and information sharing can serve to improve the flow of goods. Despite these potential benefits of port community systems it is challenging to find documentation on PCS implementation lessons learned. The process of designing and implementing a PCS can be roughly divided across four stages: project initiation, system analysis and design, implementation and adoption, and maintenance and growth. In this article, we document lessons learned within each life cycle stage as derived from an international scan of PCS deployments. Srour, van Oosterhout, van Baalen, Zuidwijk 3