A Study on the Countermeasures of Shipping and Port Logistics Industry in Responding to the Progression of Fourth Industrial Revolution

The presence of the Fourth Industrial Revolution is omniscient, led by full force emergence of technologies that make biological, physical, and digital worlds borderless. All industries which jump on the bandwagon, can observe convergence and merging of bushiness happening within, between and across industries. As the shipping and port logistics industry is said to be in eye of this storm, the purpose of this study is to investigate the shipping and port logistics industry's awareness regarding 4th IR, as well to identify necessary countermeasures in responding to progression of this trend. Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) methodology was then used to compare the importance of four phases of countermeasures, reviewed by experts in the field. Results showed that countermeasures should be first orchestrated to the 'Merging and Integration of Inter-industry', then followed by 'P reemptive Introduction of Advanced Technology', 'Expansion of Intra-industry Businesses', and eventually 'Automation, Unmanned Technology'. Last but not least, four phases of countermeasures which should be introduced and executed one phase after another, are outlined for the shipping and port logistics industry to boost its competitiveness in addressing this progressive trend.