Exploring the impact of port-centric information integration on port performance: the case of Qingdao Port

Digital technologies are dramatically reshaping the maritime industry and transforming how ports operate in a global transport system. To remain competitive and improve its productivity, a port needs to build its digital capability and become a ‘smart’ port. Despite its increasing importance, port digitalisation is largely under-researched. Our research explores how information integration afforded by the recent development of Port Centric ICT systems (PCIS) may impact port performance. A survey was conducted in Qingdao Port, the seventh-largest comprehensive port in the world. We adopted the partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) technique for analysis. Our model focuses on testing the mechanism of information integration on port performance among the port community members; that is, both internal information integration and external information integration and their direct and indirect impact on port performance. Our main contribution lies in that our study identifies two clear pathways for developing a port’s digitalisation processes to achieve competitive advantages: a) the mediated path, where port performance will improve if information integration is coupled with port community operational capability (PCOC); b) the direct path, where the innovative use of PCIS leads to radical ideas, new business models and transformative changes.