ABP transforms vehicle terminal operations at the Port of Southampton with INFORM
Associated British Ports (ABP) is the UK’s leading ports group, operating 21 ports nationwide and handling over 1.5 million vehicles annually. To strengthen its automotive offering and progress toward a smart port strategy, ABP relies on INFORM Yard Management to digitally optimize vehicle terminal operations - starting at the Port of Southampton, the UK’s number one vehicle handling port.
Challenge
The Port of Southampton handles around 900,000 vehicles per year, serving global OEMs and logistics partners across import and export flows. To maintain its leadership position, ABP needed to modernize terminal operations and create a seamless, end-to-end digital experience for customers.
Key challenges included:
- Fragmented systems across compound, resource, and work management
- Limited real-time visibility of vehicle status, location, and condition
- High coordination effort between terminal teams and external stakeholders
- Increasing expectations for transparency, speed, and digital services
- The need to scale vehicle handling capacity without increasing complexity
ABP’s goal was to establish a single, integrated vehicle terminal management platform that could support current operations and future growth.
Solution
ABP selected INFORM to implement a scalable, cloud-based vehicle terminal management solution based on INFORM Yard Management.
The solution provides:
- Integrated planning and optimization of:
- compound and parking space management
- resources and workforce deployment
- work orders and damage management
- Real-time visibility of vehicle condition, location, and destination
- Digital data capture via 5G-enabled handheld devices
- Customer portals offering real-time data access and transparency
- Seamless integration with customer and partner IT systems, including customs
- Algorithm-based decision support for optimal planning and resource allocation
The solution is designed to scale across additional ports and services, supporting ABP’s ambition to become a one-stop shop for the vehicle journey from manufacturer to destination.
Results
With INFORM Yard Management in place, ABP achieves:
- Holistic transparency across all vehicle terminal processes
- Improved efficiency and reduced coordination effort
- Optimized use of compound space, resources, and labor
- Faster response to operational disruptions and changing vehicle availability
- Enhanced customer experience through real-time data access
- A future-ready digital foundation for smart port initiatives
The solution positions the Port of Southampton as a benchmark for digital vehicle terminal operations in the UK.
ABP has selected INFORM as a partner due to their expertise in developing cutting-edge software solutions, and we are excited to collaborate on this exciting project.
Future Outlook
ABP plans to build on the initial implementation at Southampton by extending the solution’s capabilities and scaling it across additional ports and services. INFORM Yard Management provides the digital backbone required to integrate new stakeholders, optimize adjacent processes, and continuously increase value for automotive customers.
Conclusion
ABP’s collaboration with INFORM marks a significant step towards transforming the Port of Southampton into a smart port, capable of handling the complexities of modern vehicle logistics efficiently. By leveraging advanced digital technologies and scalable solutions, ABP is set to enhance its service offerings and maintain its leadership in the UK’s port industry.
Lill Haase
Product Marketing Manager
Lill Haase has been part of INFORM since 2023. She has been focusing on Vehicle Logistics ever since – turning complex topics into clear, accessible messages. In her work, she puts strong emphasis on customer relevance, clarity, and trust.
