From Rule-Based to Intent-Driven: A New Paradigm for Terminal Operations

Container terminals handle over 800 million TEUs annually, yet inefficiencies in key operational areas result in billions of dollars in lost productivity. At the core of these challenges lies the struggle to balance three critical objectives: container throughput (which drives revenue), equipment utilisation (which impacts profitability), and turnaround time (which influences asset turnover). 

These factors are inherently in conflict: increasing throughput demands higher equipment utilisation, potentially reducing profitability. Conversely, maintaining stable equipment utilisation while increasing throughput often leads to longer vessel and truck turnaround times, lowering overall asset efficiency. 

This challenge is further compounded by the unpredictability of supply chain dynamics. Demand fluctuations, unexpected equipment breakdowns, and external disruptions such as adverse weather or accidents significantly impact operations. Despite extensive planning, terminals cannot respond in real time to these dynamic changes, leading to inefficiencies that ripple across the entire operation.  

Could shifting from rule-based to intent-driven operations be the key to solving the industry’s toughest challenges? Originally published in the Port Technology Journal, Edition 149, 2025 – Container Terminal Automation Conference 2025.