The impact of capacity management software: matching resources to capacity

1-Stop was created due to the rapid rise in containerisation and as such, an increase in container related congestion on Australian roads. In 2002, 1-Stop worked with the whole community to create a solution to minimise congestion and improve the productivity of terminals. 1-Stop is now a world leader in developing innovative solutions for the global port community.

The Vehicle Booking System (VBS), was designed initially to convert error-prone, manual paper process into an electronic system, providing planning and certainty to the terminals of truck arrivals and container movements. The VBS aimed to streamline services, intern, reducing congestion.

A benefit of Software as a Service (Saas), is the agile environment it is hosted in, and the data that is captured.

The VBS, while still a booking system, gracefully transitioned into a complete capacity management system, through the increased use of the platform.

Terminals delegate how many trucks can arrive in an hour, and how many hours the terminal will be accepting trucks, this streamlines the service and removes peak periods as terminals can match their resources.

For example, when the quayside is busy, landside resources can be adjusted to support the best use of equipment. Equally, when quayside activity is lower, landside operations can be ramped up to support clearing for the next vessel arrival.

This streamlined service has a flow-on effect; congestion is decreased as the trucks are accepted in an orderly manner throughout the opening hours, reducing truck turn around times and queues.

The VBS has a complete flow on effect into the community with benefits to the local economy.

While this is only a snap shot, Electronic Import Delivery Orders, Pre-Receival Advices, Storage Payments, Vessel Schedules are also transferred through the VBS.
Once the container has left the terminal, there are also many other way’s 1-Stop help the community through our Port Community System including an intermodal solution, a container triangulation service, plus many other solutions to get your container from A-B the most efficient way.

VBS in Manila

VBS known as TABS in Manila provided a solution to all. Due to the certainty of service at the terminals, TABS was successfully utilised by all parties.

Removed congestion: Trucks arrived in their allocated time and terminals matched trucks to resources. By streamlining the service, the truck turnaround time decreased from days to hours.

Increased efficiency by 25% in peak periods. Manila ATI can now service an additional 20,000 trucks per month, due to planning and effective allocation of resources to capacity levels.

Allowed Ports to plan: TABS allowed the visual planning of the port yard. A container could be placed in the easiest access point determined by the TABS Booking. ATI and MICT could optimise the crane movements, eliminate paper processes of bookings and decrease dwell time and truck turnaround time. Planning is the real benefit of TABS, as it allows a terminal to optimize all areas of the operational and planning side. This benefit has also occurred at Port of Melbourne, were Terminals reduced yard shifts by 4,000 per year due to the VBS.

Decreased dwell times by 30% in the first two weeks. In Manila, this had a profound effect. Before TABS, the trucks would wait in queues for days, resulting in congestion on public roads. Using TABS, the congestion eased significantly, and dwell times decreased.

The VBS has been successful in Australia, and a proven success internationally. If you would like to learn how the VBS would benefit you, please contact sales@1-stop.com.