DIGITALLY CONNECTED SUPPLY CHAINS & TERMINAL AUTOMATION

Sam Reid CEO of Dearman Systems, discusses how the digitalisation of terminals and the wider supply chain is impacting operations. Terminal automation software has evolved since its inception in the 1980s. Over the decades, the software has increasingly been used to streamline loading operations, simplify inventory management, enhance security, and automate reporting. Generally, bulk liquid storage operators know that it is worthwhile to automate their terminals, but the level of automation can vary drastically. Some companies choose to install state-of-the-art field instrumentation and connect everything together in an automation system. Others choose to maintain some manual reporting and operational processes. Automating a terminal drives cost savings for individual terminal operations, but what’s even more valuable is the ability to utilise data from the field to automate back office processes. Additionally, when you have terminal automation system data flowing up to the corporate level, you can enable the supply chain to access the information to create further cost savings and efficiencies. THREE LEVELS OF AUTOMATION There are three levels of modern terminal...