Port of Rotterdam has started invoicing port dues for seagoing vessels this week using FIQAS Software’s PortAbillity® solution.
With PortAbillity®, ship visits to the Rotterdam port area are automatically and in real-time translated into an invoice. Following any validation by the Port Authority, the data is instantly converted into an invoice. FIQAS’ solution was officially launched on May 13th by Paul Smits, CFO of HbR, who produced the first invoice with just one mouse click. The feedback from customers and staff regarding the new port dues system has been notably positive.
The port of Rotterdam is responsible for the activity in Europe’s largest port, receiving around 30,000 seagoing vessels annually. Port dues for seagoing vessels encompass all costs settled based on a ship’s visit: port dues, quay, buoy, and piling fees, waste charges, including discounts. FIQAS is a seasoned Dutch specialist in tariffing, invoicing, and debtor management for companies with complex processes and substantial volumes of data..
PortAbillity® is an innovative invoicing solution comprising a web-based submission portal communicating with modules from Abillity®, FIQAS’ proven off-the-shelf invoicing platform. The PortAbillity® solution covers the process from data collection, supplementation, validation, and calculation to invoicing, presentation, and reporting.
Developed by FIQAS in close collaboration with the Port Authority, the solution was delivered through a challenging project following the Agile methodology. During the project, successful integrations were achieved with applications already in use by the Port Authority. Processes surrounding the collection of port dues were redesigned and optimized where needed. In a subsequent phase, the collaboration will further optimize the collection of inland port dues.
The new port dues system aligns perfectly with the Port Authority’s ambition to be the world’s smartest port. Through digitization, the port dues process becomes more rational and efficient for users, simplifying it for customers.