Geraldton Port second major win for IFS

Global technology provider IFS has marked its second major contract win in recent months with the Mid West Ports Authority announcing it will implement its enterprise-wide software system.

It follows the June announcement that Georgiou had contracted IFS for the same technology.

The port has announced rapidly increasing tonnage through the port prompted it to contract IFS for its holistic IFS Applications software.

Described as an enterprise resource planning system, the software is expected to enable the Mid West Ports Authority to accommodate increasing activity without increasing staff numbers.

Cargo tonnage through Geraldton Port increased 20 per cent last year.

General manager of corporate services for Mid West Ports, David Geldart, said the only way the port could continue to grow was through more efficient processes.

“To achieve that we need accurate, timely and complete information across our entire operations,” Mr Geldart said.

“IFS will give us real-time information on a dashboard to make decisions when they are needed rather than having to wait for end of month reports.”

Key areas earmarked for efficiencies are precise coordination of marine and landside operations. With the technology solution removing double handling of information through the previous spreadsheet system, the port expects to be able to accommodate growth without additional staff.

“Staff will be able to use their time more constructively in the business rather than entering information into a system,” Mr Geldart said.

“IFS will also give us the efficiencies we need at a much reduced capital cost to the organisation.”

Last month Georgiou also announced it had contracted IFS for the same enterprise-wide solution which would enable it to track assets but also predict costs - such as how much it would cost to run a certain piece of machinery.