The analysis of effects of using port information systems on port management

The term that best describes and characterizes the present trade life is ?competition?. For the last quarter of the 20th century, competition, that already been in a steady increase, has been more and more severe particularly under the influence of and along with the ever rising globalization. The rapid development of the advanced technologies, e.g. information transfer, communication, electronics, etc., has eventually caused emergence and dominence of globalization. Global movements as well as innovation and technological advances within a competitive medium have gained such a universally valid characteristics that they have been the primary factor likely to impose and shape the word of the 21st century.Ports have had a role as an important component of the main transport activities within the international supply chain and logistics system. They are the intersection paints of seaborne and land transport systems. As ports are the places where a great variety of services are to be provided and thus a great deal of copmlicated activities are carried out, they inevitably have got to make use of information systems if all such complicated activities are to be performed in a smooth, well ? integrated, well ? coordinated, harmonious, and efficient manner.The use of port information systems and the relevant technologies is not at the desined level at the port management companies in Turkey. That Turkish ports are behind the worldwide adopted standards could be attributed to the relatively high cost of installing information systems and technologies. It also could be attributed to the fact that the relevant decision makers can not predict the return of such critical investments. The inadequate number of the scientific research in this particular issue seems to have made negative contributions to the problem.The purpose of this research is to analyze the effects of using port information systems on port management companies. The analysis includes the types of the port information systems as well as the measures to be taken and the issues that need it most care while installing such systems at ports. To reach the purpose, qualitative deep interview research method has been used wherein two of the leading port managements in Turkey have been interviewed. This research is thought to be a guide for port management companies that could help them in utilizing port information systems.