The critical success factors of smart port digitalization development in the post-COVID-19 era

The international outbreak of the new coronavirus (COVID-19) at the end of 2019 has caused an indelible impact on the global economy. However, it has grown against the trend in unmanned distribution and online consumption. In recent years, the maritime industry has gradually introduced artificial intelligence, blockchain, the Internet of Things, and big data. Through literature review and expert interviews, this research figures out the development status of smart ports at home and abroad and the digital development barriers of ports and then uses the Fuzzy Delphi and the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process method to identify three dimensions and thirteen key factors target companies. The survey targets shipping companies, shipping agencies, and port management companies. The paper conducted the questionnaires to identify the critical success factors of port digitization. It was found that the “digital solutions” dimension had the highest weight value among the three dimensions and the top five critical factors in the overall ranking were based on the order of “carbon emission management,” “enhancing port safety”, “technology standardization,” “digital asset management,” and “optimization of the supply chain.” The result of this study can help port operators and shipping companies identify critical success factors of smart ports and adopt port digital development strategies for operation efficiency improvement and climate change mitigation.