Dropboard planning and scheduling platform is designed to assist planners in the Oil & (Petro)Chemical industry with daily and future planning. Systems Navigator’s unique Smart Scheduling technology advises on berthing, turn-around times and process times, empowering the planner to select optimal arrival slots. The Smart Scheduling technology is constantly evolving; it learns, develops and improves over time. Dropboard provides expert knowledge at your fingertips and provides opportunities to decrease waiting times and berth occupancy, while increasing throughput and revenue.

Why Dropboard?

When various of our customers in the liquid bulk industry provided us the question "How can we benefit from your digital models on a daily basis?", we decided to develop Dropboard. Planners have to solve complex puzzles on a daily basis to find the optimal utilization of infrastructure and resources. Dropboard solves these puzzles in seconds, giving planners more time to focus on improving customer service.

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We understand that every terminal has different requirements. Therefore, Dropboard is developed as a modular platform: activate new modules when required. Dropboard can be fully integrated in your IT architecture using the Data Integration Service, without the necessity of an extensive IT project.

Supporting an efficient supply chain

Transparent berth planning and accurate arrival window information support shipping lines and terminal customers in creating an efficient supply chain. Dropboard's machine-learning algorithms support planners in providing up-to-date information to stakeholders within the supply chain, creating opportunities for ship speed optimizations (Just In Time). Our technology also offers opportunities for integrated planning: external stakeholders can enter or update nomination information, such as ETAs or parcel sizes, through manual or automated data sharing. The planning can be shared with selected stakeholders to limit communications by phone.

Transparency in berth planning is essential for an efficient supply chain as it reduces idle times, fuel consumption and emissions. A study commissioned by the Port of Rotterdam Authority and research institute TNO indicates that by supplying more accurate information to ships, 4 percent – or 134,000 tonnes – of CO2 emissions can be saved every year in the Port of Rotterdam. The study also examined the impact of shorter waiting times in anchorage areas for all ships sailing to Rotterdam. If the waiting time was an average of 12 hours shorter, that would result in an annual reduction of 35 percent in emissions. This is about 188,000 tonnes of CO2 and 1,000 tonnes of nitrous oxides.

Data-driven decision making to empower the planner

Our platform supports the (step-by-step) digitalization of customer service and planning processes. Dropboard's advanced Smart Scheduling algorithms allow for data-driven decision making. Taking real-time terminal conditions and dynamic constraints into account, the algorithms can forecast the Estimated Time of Completion/Departure (ETC and ETD) and find the best berthing slots in seconds. Smart Scheduling predicts demurrage costs and supports planners in reducing waiting times as well as berth occupancy.

Easy data integration

Easy data integration in an existing IT landscape is supported through Dropboard's integration service, without the necessity of an extensive IT project. Our platform is able to receive data from 3rd party systems, such as ERP or TMS, and can automatically share planning data with these systems or external business analytics tools.

Industry standards

Dropboard's data model is configurable to enable easy data sharing with 3rd party IT systems. The data model is compliant with standards from International Taskforce Port Call Optimization, International Harbour Masters Association, International Association or Ports and Harbors, Admiralty as described in Industry Partners, Standards Partners and Endorsers of the ITPCO, IHMA, IAPH and UKHO: Port Information Manual.