Ports, considered strategic and essential logistics Hubs for international value chains, are currently subject to a series of external forces of changes in terms of geopolitics, economics, society, the environment and technology, to which they must respond with a clear objective: to continue creating value and remain competitive within a context marked by the globalisation and ‘logistifi cation’ of business models, with high levels of competition. Furthermore, a large portion of society has established the concepts of instantaneity, adaption to constant change, improvisation and real-time decision making as ‘The New Normal’ (Hinssen, 2011), in which environmental sustainability plays a fundamental role.
As such, under the leadership of Port Authorities, a farreaching process of strategic and operational change is underway to transform and prepare ports to continue serving the logistic chains of the future – more autonomous, resilient and physically and digitally hyperconnected (PwC, 2020) – and, on the other hand, to become drivers and facilitators of the economic and sustainable development of port communities and their interface with the urban fabric of the cities of the future.
In this context, the Algeciras Bay Port Authority (APBA) has been at the forefront of an exemplary process of change which has positioned it as one of the leading ports in terms of technology and innovation on an international level, awarded in 2020 by the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) for its role in promoting the social integration of innovative companies and local entrepreneurs within the port field. This article presents the keys to said Digital Transformation and innovation process and the next steps to achieve the concept of the next-generation port in a concise and detailed manner.
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