Liverpool-based Peel Ports Group has partnered with digitalisation specialist TBA to transform its dry bulk operations through a £4 million standardisation and technology investment, aimed at future-proofing terminals and enhancing customer service.
The initiative, one of the most comprehensive operational transformation programmes undertaken by the UK’s second-largest port operator, is redefining bulk cargo handling across key locations including the Port of Liverpool, Port of Birkenhead, Runcorn Docks, and King George V Dock in Glasgow.
Designed to increase resilience and operational efficiency, the programme will significantly improve accuracy across Peel Ports Group’s bulk terminals, halving stock losses and reducing revenue leakage by up to three per cent.
The transformation integrates infrastructure modernisation, process redesign, and advanced digital systems into a single unified operating model. Central to the programme is TBA’s terminal operating system, CommTrac, which connects weighbridges, ANPR-enabled gates, driver self-service kiosks and handheld devices into one fully integrated digital platform.
From vessel discharge to customer dispatch, every cargo movement will be digitised and consistently managed through the system. Drivers will check in via automatic number plate recognition (ANPR), confirm dispatches through self-service kiosks, and record load movements using mobile devices—eliminating manual data entry and reducing the potential for errors.
Supporting the digital rollout is a major infrastructure upgrade across Peel Ports Group’s dry bulk network, enabling predictive planning tools and smart service delivery models.
The programme also introduces greater workforce flexibility. With standardised processes, systems and interfaces in place, operational teams can move seamlessly between sites, strengthening resilience, consistency and continuity of service.
Commenting on the development, Gavin Laybourne, Chief Technology and Information Officer at Peel Ports Group, said: “The launch of this initiative is a major milestone in our wider digital transformation and the result of a highly successful partnership with TBA. In a sector traditionally shaped by legacy systems, this technology enables us to centre our operations around customer needs and data-driven insights—a model we are now replicating across the business.”
Chris Hicks, Managing Director of TBA Doncaster, added: “Partnering with Peel Ports Group on this transformational journey has been a privilege. Together, we’re delivering cutting-edge technology while laying the foundations for a smarter, more connected and future-ready port network. This is innovation with purpose.”
The transformation is further supported by the CommTrac mobile app, which provides real-time operational data, streamlined load recording and enhanced situational awareness directly from the quayside or terminal floor. By reducing reliance on fixed infrastructure and embedding live information at the point of activity, the app boosts speed and accuracy in high-intensity operational environments.
