GullsEye’s TOS has been successfully operating at Autoport in Türkiye for the past three years.
Located in the Başiskele district of Kocaeli, Autoport is Türkiye’s first purpose-built automotive terminal. With two berths along a 656-meter quay and a total area of 309,000 square meters, the terminal has the capacity to handle up to 650,000 vehicles annually. Today, Autoport serves as a key hub for automotive manufacturers and distributors in East and South Marmara.
The terminal is focused on meeting the needs of Türkiye’s auto industry to European quality standards. Several years ago, it embarked on a digital transformation journey, aiming to eliminate paper usage in all areas permitted by regulation. This includes providing real-time information to customers and partners via electronic data transfer.
For Autoport, digitalisation is more than transferring specific processes online. It represents a paradigm shift, involving all stakeholders, including employees, customers, and suppliers. To support the transition, Autoport has invested in network infrastructure, a data center, and cloud technologies to support its operations. Its digital environment now enables virtual meetings and e-tenders, supported by industry-standard cybersecurity. Additionally, Autoport has developed various internal applications, transitioning many previously manual and independent processes into a digital environment and integrating them with both official authorities and customers.
As Autoport progressed, it found that its existing Terminal Operating System (TOS) could no longer support its operational needs and business requirements. In selecting a new TOS in 2021, the company prioritized modern and future-proof technologies. Other important criteria included the system’s ability to quickly adapt to the company’s evolving needs, flexibility to accommodate emerging technologies, and a successful track record in the industry. GullsEye’s Gen2 TOS was selected for meeting all these requirements.
Managing the transition to the new TOS began with a detailed requirements analysis. Based on identified operational needs, GullsEye’s software teams updated databases and developed new functions and reporting tools. The system and operational workflows underwent thorough testing.
Staying flexible
As part of the project, several work processes and workflows were reviewed and redesigned to align with the new TOS. Autoport also required flexibility to adapt to the evolving operational processes of different customers. For instance, adding a new Ro-Ro customer often requires changes to 30-40% of operational processes. This demands flexibility and adaptability in port operations. Consequently, both the TOS and port processes were designed to quickly and effectively adjust to evolving operational needs, making this flexibility a top priority for Autoport.
Going live
After a period of user training, Autoport went live with Gen2 in February 2022. GullsEye provided continuous communication and support throughout the implementation process. With Gen2 in place, Autoport now has access to all the operational data needed to plan and optimize its operations. New data can be added quickly when required, and historical data can also be integrated into the system. Both GullsEye and Autoport believe this flexibility offers a significant advantage for continuously updating and improving operational processes.
For its customers, Autoport believes the TOS implementation has delivered notable benefits in reporting, integration, and data sharing. Future module developments will create a more interactive platform for digital communication between customers and Autoport. Currently, Autoport uses Gen2 to generate tailored reports for individual customers, and a web application allows customers to access authorized data online, as well as track cargo in real-time. All mobile devices at the port are connected to the TOS via GSM, with plans to transition to 5G once external technical and commercial conditions are met.
GullsEye has helped Autoport improve overall efficiency by providing better tools for tracking and managing operations. “With handheld devices and a 2D map, vehicle movements are now much faster and more organized. We’ve introduced dashboards that give managers a clear, real-time view of activities, along with detailed reports that track daily, monthly, and yearly performance. This has made it easier for Autoport to manage their operations and stay on top of their progress. Additionally, customers can now easily follow their shipments, leading to higher satisfaction,” said Sicco Bosscher from GullsEye.
For Autoport’s own business, Gen2 has enabled the company to track and record every service offered to customers in one system, accessible on desktop or handheld computers. Many services that were previously tracked via email are now systematically recorded through the TOS, resulting in more controlled and transparent service tracking. As process improvements continue, Autoport expects to generate more data for tracking and reporting services, creating opportunities for additional revenue.
