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Investigating the Influences of Smart Port Practices and Technology Employment on Port Sustainable Performance: The Egypt Case

Author

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  • Alaa Othman

    (College of International Transport and Logistics, Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, Alexandria 1029, Egypt
    Faculty of Logistics, University of Maribor, 3000 Celje, Slovenia)

  • Sara El Gazzar

    (College of International Transport and Logistics, Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, Alexandria 1029, Egypt)

  • Matjaz Knez

    (Faculty of Logistics, University of Maribor, 3000 Celje, Slovenia)

Abstract

In this digital age, sustainable development and competitive advantage of port businesses rely on their capacity to adapt to changing business requirements. Although many previous studies develop a relation between smart port, technology, and sustainable performance, there is an urgent need to address such issues practically among ports, especially in developing countries. Therefore, this research aims at investigating to what extent the Egyptian ports could apply the smart practices and employ technology to achieve and improve sustainable port performance. The Egyptian ports have been selected to serve as an empirical study in this research, assessing their current performance and evaluating their level of readiness and adaptability to smart practices and technology employment. Interviews have been conducted with a group of 10 different stakeholders from government, private sectors, and experts in the field of port management. The interview results showed the main challenges and obstacles that might face the adaptation of technology and sustainable practices in Egyptian ports. This was followed by a focus group with experts in the field to discuss and conclude some procedures that can be adapted to facilitate the implementation of smart practices and technology employment in the Egyptian ports in order to improve their sustainable performance from different perspectives (economic, social, and environmental), deal with the obstacles facing adaptation, and suggest solutions The research adopted ‘content analysis’ for both phases. The research showed the great potential of technology employment to achieve sustainable performance in Egyptian ports while highlighting the main obstacles and challenges that might face the adaptation with suggestions and recommendations to those obstacles in order to adopt the digital transformation towards a sustainable smart port performance. Nevertheless, there are some limitations that could be an open issue to future researchers and practitioners who can benefit from those suggestions to employ technology and adapt sustainable procedures in ports, foster new practical research initiatives to adapt the smart port practices in different countries, and test their impact on port sustainable performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Alaa Othman & Sara El Gazzar & Matjaz Knez, 2022. "Investigating the Influences of Smart Port Practices and Technology Employment on Port Sustainable Performance: The Egypt Case," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-25, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:21:p:14014-:d:955447
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Alberto Rodrigo González & Nicoletta González-Cancelas & Beatriz Molina Serrano & Alberto Camarero Orive, 2020. "Preparation of a Smart Port Indicator and Calculation of a Ranking for the Spanish Port System," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 4(2), pages 1-22, May.
    2. Shun-Pin Chuang & Sun-Jen Huang, 2018. "The Effect of Environmental Corporate Social Responsibility on Environmental Performance and Business Competitiveness: The Mediation of Green Information Technology Capital," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 150(4), pages 991-1009, July.
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    4. Alsnosy Balbaa & R. A. Swief & Noha H. El-Amary, 2019. "Smart Integration Based on Hybrid Particle Swarm Optimization Technique for Carbon Dioxide Emission Reduction in Eco-Ports," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-16, April.
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    6. Alaa Othman & Sara El-gazzar & Matjaz Knez, 2022. "A Framework for Adopting a Sustainable Smart Sea Port Index," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-26, April.
    7. Jun, Wang Ki & Lee, Min-Kyu & Choi, Jae Young, 2018. "Impact of the smart port industry on the Korean national economy using input-output analysis," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 480-493.
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    1. Mingzheng Liu & Kee-hung Lai & Christina W. Y. Wong & Xu Xin & Venus Y. H. Lun, 2025. "Smart ports for sustainable shipping: concept and practices revisited through the case study of China’s Tianjin port," Maritime Economics & Logistics, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), vol. 27(1), pages 50-95, March.
    2. Nguyen, Phong Nha & Kim, Hwayoung, 2024. "Analysis of effectiveness for cargo operation productivity considering environmental efficiency on container ports in the Northeast Asian region," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 111-123.

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