12 CFS and ICDs in 4 Indian states goes live on API with PCS 1x

September 2, 2020: 12 different container freight stations (CFS) and inland container depots (ICDs) in Maharashtra, Gujarat, West Bengal and Haryana worked with the teams at Indian Port Association (IPA) and JM Baxi Group’s Portall to go live on API with the Port Community System (PCS 1x).

This includes four units in Adani’s Mundra port (Adani Exim Yard, Saurashtra Freight, Transworld Terminals and  TG Terminals), three units in JNPT (Ashte Logistics, Vaishno Logistics Yard (Transworld CFS) and International Cargo Terminal (Globicon)) as well as Adani CFS in Hazira, TG Terminal in Kolkata, DICT ICD in Sonepat, Albatross ICD in Dadri and KSH ICD in Pune.

Dr. Janardana Rao, managing director, IPA, said “The benefits of such real-time connectivity are open to all custodians, all carriers and all ports and terminals. More and more stakeholders are approaching us for API and we have our technical partners Portall deployed on the job daily to assist and facilitate. The API integrations have not only helped the ports, CFS and ICDs to share and distribute data more efficiently, but also to customize data sets and enrich user experience via PCS1x.”

Benefits of API integration
API Integration enables the real-time flow of important documents and instructions between their operating software and PCS1x. This includes Agent Delivery Order, IGM, Bills of Entry, Out of Charge, Shipping Bill, Let Export Order, Container Gate In / Out report, Equipment Interchange Report for CFS and Agent Delivery Order and Container Gate In / Out report messages for ICD, etc.

“PCS1x has message exchange with over 200 facilities across the nation via EDI/SFTP. The integration assists remote working by reducing human interaction, minimising the exchange of hardcopy documents for verification, reducing data loss, and the time lag from one system to the other. Whereas earlier there was a possibility of gaps and delays due to batch processing of some of these documents/exchanges - now it is real-time and completely automated. It has thus also helped in building a trusting and collaborating culture thereby encouraging support and commitment between PCS 1x and CFS and ICDs,” said the release.