Innovation

Changing expectations on the part of customers, employees and other stakeholder groups mean that also companies with established business models must continually scrutinise, develop and enhance their activities. In order to operate successfully over the long term in the dynamic and often highly volatile logistics sector, HHLA aims to meet the various needs of its customers and employees as effectively as possible through a process of continuous improvement and development of its structures and processes.

In doing so, HHLA only engages to a very limited extent in research and development in the narrower sense of the term. However, it consistently strives to develop its own innovative logistics solutions while quickly adopting product innovations and application-oriented technologies that have been successfully proven on the market. The focus is on the constant monitoring of markets and technologies in order to identify promising developments at an early stage. Due to close collaboration with technical universities, institutes, industry partners and government authorities, as well as start-ups, (joint) projects can be planned, managed and developed by working groups.

HHLA’s strategic objective in doing so is to make its core business “fit for the world of tomorrow” and to tap new growth areas along the logistics chain. It focuses in particular on opportunities arising through the automation and digitalisation of logistics processes.

Efficiency programme at the Hamburg container terminals

As part of its corporate strategy, HHLA is committed to a transformation process aimed at strengthening the company’s future viability and creative power over the long term. In order to implement this, HHLA launched a comprehensive efficiency programme at the container terminals in Hamburg in 2021 that will last at least five years. This programme aims to make it easier over the medium term to establish volume leadership and to optimise the capacity utilisation of existing structures in the Port of Hamburg while improving the company’s price position through cost synergies. Boosting efficiency and performance will strengthen HHLA’s market and competitive position over the medium term and secure the future of this site and employment over the long term. Operational efficiency, one of the key customer requirements, forms the basis for customer satisfaction and loyalty. It therefore plays a major role in ensuring the lasting economic success of the company.

The focus is on the centralisation and digitalisation of planning, administration and management tasks, the extensive automation of the terminals, and the strictly KPI-based management of service processes that are optimised on an end-to-end basis.

Adjustment of the organisational structure

A new organisational structure aims to make the end-to-end process-optimising management of handling operations more rigorous in the future. The far-reaching, cross-terminal standardisation of processes, terminals and systems while realigning management roles and enhancing employee skills will create the basis for a faster-learning and permanently developing organisation.

Cross-terminal staff deployment planning at the Hamburg container terminals will form the basis for enabling the increasing flexibility and planning security required for processing vessels that are continually growing in size. New shift models are to be made digitally operational by means of a modern workforce management system. The basis for this is a social and change collective agreement concluded between HHLA and the trade union ver.di in late January 2025.

Automation of facilities

The automation of facilities and process steps not only lowers handling costs but also increases process reliability and occupational health and safety. Examples of this include automation projects such as the introduction of automated guided vehicles (AGVs) at Container Terminal Burchardkai (CTB) for the horizontal transportation of containers and automatic truck handling for more efficient truck processing.

By switching to the new yard crane system, we are not only able to make much more efficient use of space, but also to boost the productivity of the container terminal. Furthermore, electrified yard cranes are another investment in the sustainable future of HHLA because the use of electricity from renewable sources reduces carbon emissions. The project was funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Expansion of digitalisation for process optimisation

HHLA’s digitalisation measures aim to pool process-relevant information and control variables and make them available on shared digital platforms in order to increase process speed and performance, thus making an important contribution towards boosting competitiveness. Furthermore, the digitalisation initiatives serve to create and simplify interfaces with the company’s customers and facilitate the optimisation of handling quality.

Digitalisation measures are identified and implemented using participatory methods and aligned with the Group’s value creation objectives. The core areas for digitalisation opportunities are regularly analysed, with the potential added value quantified. This gives rise to the priority with which measures are to be implemented.

Tapping new growth fields

The HHLA Next innovation unit established in 2021 aims to unite the expertise of the Group with the agility of a start-up in order to promote innovative digital concepts while actively shaping the transportation methods of the future. Its activities focus on generating new growth fields, particularly in the areas of digital end-to-end logistics processes, autonomous solutions, sustainable logistics, automated handling and intelligent and sustainable storage solutions.

The business models and products are developed by HHLA itself, in cooperation with partners and through investments in companies in the maritime logistics environment. The innovative products and business models already developed and established as independent companies in this way include HHLA Sky, heyport and passify. In addition, HHLA Next has held a stake in FERNRIDE GmbH since the 2023 financial year.

HHLA Sky: end-to-end drone system

HHLA Sky has developed a scalable, end-to-end drone system that allows the safe operation of drones beyond the visual line of sight (BVLOS). These industrial drones are extremely robust, very light and equipped with safety technology. Customers can integrate the system into their own business processes independently, or use it as a service operated by HHLA Sky. Moreover, HHLA Sky has developed software and related information systems that can be acquired for licensed use. Among other things, the control centre is used operationally for drone flights to inspect container gantry cranes at HHLA terminals.

HHLA Sky was able to contribute its expertise for the establishment of a drone transport airline. Important certifications, such as ISO 9001, were once again successfully obtained during the financial year.

heyport: digital scheduling platform for port calls

The heyport platform – spun off in January 2024 – brings together terminals, shipping companies, agents and other players in the port environment for the purpose of digital scheduling. Simple coordination of berth availability via a scalable network also significantly reduces the scheduling time required for all parties. More than 5,000 ship calls at container, RoRo and bulk terminals have been coordinated and scheduled via heyport so far.

passify: solution for the digitalisation of handling processes

Spun off in 2024, passify is changing truck processing through the digitalisation and automation of handling processes at the terminals via a smartphone app and integrated terminal software. These products make it possible for truck drivers or operators of logistics sites, such as container terminals, to fully automate their handling processes. passify allows truck drivers to verify their identity and check themselves in so they can receive access authorisations and all the information they need for the handling process. The platform enables the automated processing of truck arrivals, including advance announcements, security checks and appointment scheduling. The application can be flexibly integrated into various processes and systems within the terminal, processes real-time information and thus facilitates proactive resource management, as well as the optimised, flexible handling of trucks. In addition, passify offers extensive applications for the digital management of logistics sites, such as access management and site security. passify is already being used at HHLA’s terminals in Hamburg and has processed over 200,000 trucks. In the reporting year, the start-up also put its software into operation for its first customer outside of HHLA in Romania.

FERNRIDE

FERNRIDE is developing a platform for autonomous electric trucks and solutions to integrate them into existing logistics processes by gradually increasing autonomy via remote operation. As autonomous trucks are a highly relevant topic for HHLA, HHLA Next decided to acquire a stake in FERNRIDE. An increasing shortage of drivers coupled with European efforts to decarbonise heavy goods transport as one of the main emitters of greenhouse gases, along with the applicability of the technology at HHLA terminals were the main factors behind this decision. The first pilot project was successfully completed at HHLA TK Estonia in 2023. Following this, the FERNRIDE safety concept for autonomous terminal tractor units also passed the international testing and certification institute TÜV SÜD’s assessment in 2024.

Other development projects and funding projects

HHLA is also involved in various funding projects involving the development of innovative technologies and logistics solutions. In addition to more efficient logistics chains and the optimised networking of production and logistics, the innovations and new port technologies aim to provide carbon-neutral logistics solutions.