Macpherson, W., Cullen, M., Calitz, A. P., Mcetywa, K
Abstract
Globally, ports are increasingly adopting emerging technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things, Blockchain and Big Data for enhancing port efficiency and performance. However, ports in developing countries, such as South Africa are slower in adopting these technologies with consequences for their performance rankings. South African ports are crucial for the country’s economy, acting as key gateways for international trade and connecting various sectors, such as vehicle manufacturing, mining and agriculture to global markets. South African ports are currently ranked among the worst in the world. Women make up more than half of the global workforce and yet they are underrepresented in the maritime sector. Females are increasingly being employed at ports in South Africa, yet they still face historical and societal challenges in this male-dominated work environment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of specifically female port employees of the factors that affect the adoption of smart ports in South Africa. The study adopted a quantitative approach using an online survey to collect data from 68 educated female employees, aged between 30 and 49, and included female managers who work at South African ports. The main findings indicate that females rate port safety and security, environmental management and infrastructure as important factors affecting smart port implementations in South Africa. These employees were found to be well-informed about new technologies that could be adopted to improve South African port performance.