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Digital Port Operations for Greater Efficiency
Our Brazilian team implemented Google Cloud’s Manufacturing Data Engine at one of the largest ports in South America.
Our customer is one of the largest companies in South America specializing in efficient port operations and integrated logistics. Their container terminals across the continent manage loading and unloading of commercial and industrial ships, warehousing and ancillary services. This port leader is responsible for 18% of all container and cargo movements in Brazil and offers complete solutions from port to e-commerce. Our customer plays a critical role in global trade, serving as a vital hub for transferring cargo between ships and land-based transport systems.
The solution involves collecting data from cranes equipped with Siemens PLCs using the Siemens Simatic IOT2050, an Industrial Edge device. This data is processed into meaningful Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), including predictive maintenance metrics, strategic logistics insights, energy efficiency indicators and overall performance evaluations using Node-RED. The processed KPIs, along with raw data, are sent to the Google Cloud Platform via Pub/Sub and stored in BigQuery. These insights are accessible through a cloud-based business intelligence (BI) dashboard, developed using Looker, which enables stakeholders to monitor machine performance and make data-driven decisions.
This digitalization initiative transformed how the customer interacts with their core machinery, enabling predictive maintenance and real-time performance monitoring. The solution reduced downtime, minimized unexpected failures and increased operational productivity. By democratizing data access, the solution empowered stakeholders across the organization to collaborate more effectively and make informed decisions based on a unified view of machine performance. This transparency streamlined workflows and enhanced operational efficiency across departments. The project also aligned with the customer’s sustainability and digital transformation objectives. Leveraging a scalable cloud solution, it supports expansion to additional machinery while promoting energy efficiency. These innovations position the customer as a forward-thinking leader in the competitive port logistics industry.
IndX is a global software developer and system integration leader. Leveraging our proficiency in Google’s product suite and our extensive experience in process automation, we empowered our customer to enhance efficiency, reduce costs and achieve operational excellence at their South American port. Although the initial project scope covered just 10 STS cranes, the customer has expanded this digitalization initiative across their enterprise, demonstrating the scalability and flexibility of the solution. We will continue to bring meaningful transformation to the port leader through the rollout of this project and for many years to come.
