PORT DIGITALISATION: TECHNOLOGY READINESS ASSESSMENT AND SEGMENTATION PROFILE OF MALAYSIAN PORT OPERATORS

This study addresses the critical gap in understanding how digital technologies impact operational efficiency in international trade ports. With a specific focus on a major Malaysian port, the research examines the adoption of the E-Gate Pass system among 157 port terminal employees. Utilising the Technology Readiness Index (TRI) 16-item scale, the study evaluates employees’ attitudes towards technology-based work processes and their readiness to integrate these technologies. Findings from K-Means Clustering reveal distinct technology readiness profiles among employees: Explorers, pioneers, laggards, sceptics, and paranoids. These profiles are pivotal in understanding the factors inhibiting or motivating digital technology adoption. The study’s results indicate a moderate level of readiness among surveyed port operators, providing key insights into strategies to enhance digital technology adoption and improve port operational efficiency and competitiveness