WiseTech, ACFS partner to optimise Australian ports

WiseTech Global has struck a strategic partnership with ACFS Port Logistics in Australia, with the companies rolling out WiseTech's Container Transport Optimisation software across ACFS operations.

The agreement focuses on deploying Container Transport Optimisation, known as CTO, across ACFS's container transport network. The partnership also aims to commercialise the product in the Australian market.

ACFS is one of Australia's largest container logistics operators, working with major retail and logistics customers including Ikea, Coles Group, Woolworths Group and Costco.

What CTO does

CTO is designed for landside container transport linked to ports and terminals. It supports planning and scheduling container movements and coordinates the use of transport assets across a network.

WiseTech says the product applies optimisation algorithms across large data sets to increase equipment utilisation and reduce operating costs. It also positions the software as a way to reduce the environmental impact of container transport operations.

At ACFS, the rollout will cover workflows including booking and dispatch, runsheet management, digital tracking and validation, and clearance workflows.

The system is intended to span multiple parts of ACFS's operating footprint, covering drivers, trucks and trailers, as well as loading gates, terminals and empty container parks.

Network effects

WiseTech is linking CTO with its wider product ecosystem, including CargoWise and INTTRA, which are used by freight forwarders and other supply chain participants for operational and documentation processes.

WiseTech says CTO can draw on that user base and data to improve coordination among participants in the port community. CEO Zubin Appoo described the product as a response to under-utilisation and scheduling issues in port-related container transport.

"CTO addresses one of the industry's most persistent inefficiencies: the under-utilization and sub-optimal scheduling of movements from and to the container terminal and transport equipment that supports container movements. Deeply optimizing this process at scale across the entire port community means higher equipment utilization, lower wear and tear on roads and equipment, improved reliability and predictability, lower costs to the supply chain participants and less carbon emissions overall. Because CTO is able to leverage customers on the CargoWise and INTTRA platforms, it allows a wider range of supply chain participants to collaborate on these optimizations in real time."

Appoo also pointed to ACFS as a proving ground for the product at operational scale. "Partnering with ACFS allows us to showcase CTO's impact at scale with one of Australia's most significant operators. This rollout represents not just a technology implementation, but a shared vision of a more efficient, reliable and traceable landside logistics process as well as reducing significant environmental impacts, particularly on CO2 emissions," he added.

ACFS says the partnership aligns with its broader investment in digital transformation and focus on service reliability. It expects the rollout to lift utilisation across existing assets and strengthen coordination across its container transport tasks.

"ACFS' success in port container transport logistics is based on us being customer focused, reliable and cost effective - and our ongoing investment in digital transformation is key to our competitive advantage. By partnering with WiseTech, we expect to increase the value to our customers and drive substantial additional customer business and increase container volume through our existing assets. Using CTO, we will be able to better coordinate our container movements, increase equipment utilization, and improve reliability and predictability to our customers while improving costs and utilization, as optimized container volume increases. We're excited about the value this brings both to ACFS, and our customers."

Rollout plans

The partnership is described as the start of a broader CTO rollout, with the initial deployment set to begin on Australia's east coast.

WiseTech plans to expand CTO across Australia after that phase. It also outlined international ambitions, including further partnerships in the US and other high-volume container markets.