The cargo handling industry is under pressure to perform and to run its operations in an efficient way. In the last decade, development and innovation regarding cargo handling equipment has responded to local requirements and specifications set by port operators.

Efficiency of cargo handling operations is largely dependent on business intelligence, analytics and data related to operations.

At present, interfacing various equipment and systems is complex, costly and risky due to the absence of a common data language. The few automated container terminals operating today are closed systems that have been custom-designed with high costs.

Rapid advances in information technology and in particular digitization, have created new possibilities for the cargo handling industry, that could improve processes by connecting all equipment and systems in real time, thus enabling seamless data exchanges.

Under these new conditions, future advanced solutions could be achieved with less risk, at a lower cost and with a shorter lead time. Any type of equipment will have the ability to connect to universal open platforms.

The key enabling factor for the cargo handling industry to take full advantage of these technological advances is to rapidly develop and adopt commonly agreed industry standards that will allow objective comparisons of equipment/systems specifications and define the format and protocols for electronic data exchanges.

The Terminal Industry Committee 4.0 (TIC 4.0) initiative aims to bring together representative companies from both the Terminal Operators industry and Port Equipment Manufacturers and Suppliers to collectively work on the elaboration of such standards.

The TIC 4.0 initiative has been endorsed by the Federation of European Private Port Companies and Terminals (FEPORT) and of the Port Equipment Manufacturers Association (PEMA).