Saab delivers Port Management Information System to the Ports of Indiana
Saab has successfully put its PortControl Port Management Information System (PMIS) upgrade into operation at the Ports of Indiana, on time and within budget. The whole project was implemented remotely, without having to be physically present at the customer site.
Ports of Indiana are a long-standing Saab customer, with their first port management installation commissioned in 2006.
"We had to deploy the system during the COVID-19 outbreak, and this made it especially challenging", says Tomas Hjelmberg, head of Saab's Maritime Traffic Management Department, "remote access allowed us to stick to the agreed schedule and deliver on time."
With the upgrade, the automation enables maintaining a streamlined multi-port workflow across different time zones, serving the ports of Burns Harbor, Jeffersonville and Mount Vernon.
Centralised billing is set up in such a way that each port can have its own operations and billing processes. This centralised yet individual approach is also very useful in handling tenant agreements.
“As we consider process improvement and efficiency updates, we recognized it was long overdue to upgrade our current software from Saab,” says Vanta Coda, CEO of Ports of Indiana. “We are grateful for the quick turnaround to implement and train our staff on the new automated software, especially during the challenging times.”
The new PMIS provides much improved reporting with greater flexibility for defining new report types as needed. Also, data warehousing was implemented, retaining 13 years of existing operation and billing data. This enables seamless reporting and analysis of both real-time and historic data.
“Our entire staff is excited to use the new software,” adds Erica Jackson, Controller at Ports of Indiana. “It is really important to link port activity data with financial operations and the upgraded software has streamlined that process for us. We have already seen the benefits and look forward to providing faster and more accurate information to our customers.”
The upgrade comes with a five year maintenance and support agreement, ensuring the continuous availability of the system.
About the Ports of Indiana
The Ports of Indiana is a statewide port authority operating three ports on the Ohio River and Lake Michigan. Established in 1961, the Ports of Indiana is a self-funded enterprise dedicated to growing Indiana's economy by developing and maintaining a world-class port system. From 2017 to 2019, Indiana's three ports handled 39 million tons of cargo—the highest three-year total since the state's first port opened in 1970. Major cargoes included coal, steel, grain, fertilizer and limestone. Maritime operations at the state's three ports contribute over $7.8 billion in total economic activity per year to regional economies and support nearly 60,000 total jobs.
For additional information visit: https://www.portsofindiana.com