Abstract:

In the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0), digital technologies such as IoT, artificial intelligence, robotics, unmanned vehicles and 3D printing change the classic production and consumption processes. Industry 4.0 offers new opportunities in the logistics sector and supply chains, as well as in all areas, in the fields of innovation, digitalization, autonomy, added value, sustainability and information technology (BT). Ports have become an important part of strategic supply chains and global distribution channels. The dynamics of Industry 4.0 are also deeply influenced by ports that are integrated into supply chains. The use of IT is increasing every day and the technology that ports use is increasingly diverse with Industry 4.0. The ports, which in the past performed classical functions such as merely accommodating ships, handling and storage of goods, have become one of the most important members of the supply chain today. One of the most important functions of information technologies in supply chain management is to collect information from production to delivery for each product and make it visible to all parties. As a result of the diversified supply of added-value logistics services, the widespread use of information technologies and the dynamic development of containers, new conceptual ports have emerged today. The contribution of these types of ports to the performance of supply chains has become even more critical today. In the context of this study, ports are integrated into supply chains, the technologies they use, the latest technologies that Industry 4.0 has forced ports to use (blockchain, drones, autonomous vehicles, robotics, etc.). The general lines have been investigated and presented examples of current application in major ports.