Victor van der Chijs is chairman of Deltalinqs, the business association representing Rotterdam’s port and industry. In that role, he sees the importance of data sharing, but at the same time he also sees the struggle to adequately implement it in practice. “Businesses in the port already have a lot on their plates.”
“Sometimes, sharing data can be a bit of a headache”, Van der Chijs notes at one point in the conversation. “Because let me be clear: companies in the port have a lot to deal with. The pandemic, the energy crisis, the tight labour market… Fortunately, there are also opportunities, such as digitalisation and smart solutions to the climate issue. All in all, it makes our world incredibly unpredictable. And on top of all that, we are being asked to take data sharing in the port to the next level. You will understand that it’s not easy to find the time to move this forwards, not to mention technical and security issues that certainly play a role here as well.”
A little bit better each time
Nevertheless, Van der Chijs observes that the port is “on the right track”, and that includes data sharing. “In that respect, we really are an example for many other ports.” According to Van der Chijs, maintaining that strong digital position hinges on the will to continue to move with the flow and seize opportunities. “The rhythm at the port is largely set by the latest set of problems that have to be solved. It takes iron discipline to perform well in logistics day in and day out. Particularly given the challenges I mentioned. Nevertheless, together we are managing pretty well in terms of doing things a little better each time – although there is certainly still plenty of room for improvement.”
The rhythm at the port is largely set by the latest set of problems that have to be solved
Taking a step back
“Ideally”, Van der Chijs continues, “as an entrepreneur you should take a step back at regular intervals to see how things are going, to see where there is room for improvement within the business. However, many entrepreneurs do not allow themselves that time. Still, it is important to take some distance every now and then, physically but certainly also mentally. You really need that to broaden your perspective, to look beyond the walls of your own company, for example, and see what can help you and your business move forward. It gives you a picture of the opportunities that are certainly there.”
Getting started now
Another factor is the phenomenon of leadership inhibiting progress, Van der Chijs believes. “We can always rely on the excellence of our port, on our outstanding logistics. That means the necessity of taking the next step is not always obvious. But if we do nothing, or too little, we will not survive in the long run. Then our port and logistics will no longer be enough, because we will have been overtaken by the countries around us. That’s why we need to do something about labour market shortages now, why we need to start making the port more sustainable and work on secure chains now. Otherwise, we will eventually run into problems and the collective challenge will only be greater.”
Continuing to offer optimum support
Van der Chijs has been a member of Portbase’s Supervisory Board for a while now. It was a conscious choice, he says. “Portbase has a vital position in the port, it offers added value to basically every player in it. But again, past performance is no guarantee of future results. Portbase has to move with the flow too, and where possible secure a leadership position. So it’s useful to be able to contribute ideas about what Portbase needs to do in order to continue to offer optimum support to the port community in terms of data sharing in particular.”
Portbase has a vital position in the port, it offers added value to basically every player in it
Finding the right answers
He continues: “Entrepreneurs are healthily critical, including of Portbase. Which is not surprising when you consider all that’s going on, as we were just discussing. It is up to Portbase to find the right answers. And I am convinced they will succeed in that. The decision to adopt a more integrated approach to service delivery, for example, is definitely something the market wants and will benefit from. But also let’s not forget that data sharing is one of the answers to the scarcity of labour. By organising port logistics smarter, sharing more and better quality data with each other, you can work more efficiently and deploy the available assets more effectively.”
Entrepreneurs are healthily critical, including of Portbase
Continuing to prove itself
“Like every business in the port, Portbase will have to continue to prove itself”, Van der Chijs concludes. “By continuing to do the right things, with the right intensity and at the right price. Striking the right balance in that will be key for the future, for data sharing in the port and hence for further digitalisation in the port.”
By organising port logistics smarter, sharing more and better quality data with each other, you can work more efficiently
