Peel Ports Group has partnered with digitalisation specialist TBA to halve stock losses at key bulk cargo terminals, including the Port of Liverpool, the Port of Birkenhead, Runcorn Docks, and the King George V Dock in Glasgow.
The port operator said the £4m investment is one of the most comprehensive operational transformation projects ever undertaken within the group and is aimed at increasing resilience and efficiencies for customers.
Peel Ports Group said the programme will “significantly” improve accuracy and efficiency across Peel Ports Group’s bulk operations, halving stock losses across its terminals and cutting revenue leakage by up to 3%.
The work brings together infrastructure integration, process redesign and advanced digital integration into a single, unified model. The port group will use TBA’s terminal operating system CommTrac, which connects weighbridges, ANPR gates, driver self-service kiosks and handheld devices into one fully integrated single platform.
From vessel discharge through to customer dispatch, every movement of cargo will be digitised, consistently managed and captured through a single platform.
Drivers will check in via ANPR, confirm dispatches via self-service kiosks, and record load movements using mobile devices - eliminating manual data entry and reducing the potential for error.
Underpinning the digital enhancements is a major programme of infrastructure investment, ensuring the operator’s dry bulks network is equipped for predictive planning tools and smart service delivery models.
The programme also introduces a new level of workforce flexibility, with standardised processes, systems and interfaces in place, enabling teams to move seamlessly between sites, to ensure consistency and service continuity.
Gavin Laybourne, Peel Ports Group chief technology and information officer, said: “The launch of this initiative is a major milestone in our wider digital transformation and the result of a highly successful partnership with TBA.
“In a sector where processes are traditionally shaped by legacy systems, our new technology enables us to centre our operations around customer needs and data-driven insights - a model we are now replicating across the business.
“Together, we’re setting a new industry benchmark, transforming the way we serve our customers.”
Chris Hicks, TBA Doncaster managing director, added: “Partnering with Peel Ports Group on this transformational journey has been a privilege.
“Together, we’re delivering cutting-edge technology, while laying the foundations for a smarter, more connected, and future-ready port network.
“This is innovation with purpose, and we’re proud to be part of it.”
The work is also being supported by the CommTrac mobile app, offering teams real-time operational data, streamlined load recording and enhanced situational awareness directly from the quayside or terminal floor.
By reducing reliance on fixed infrastructure and embedding live information at the point of activity, the app aims to strengthen both speed and accuracy in environments where minute-by-minute efficiency matters.
Main picture: Port of Liverpool.
