| Assessing the Impact of Automating the Operational Processes on Enhancing the Efficiency and the Competitiveness of Khalifa Port |
| Hazzaa Aljneibi (1), Hesham Helal (2), Mohamed Elkersh (3), Dragomir Cristina (4) |
| DOI NO. https://doi.org/10.59660/52726 Received 04/11/2025, Revised 16/12/2025, Acceptance 23/02/2026, Available online and Published 01/07/2026 |
Abstract
This study sets out to examine the effects of automation of operational process streams on operational efficiency and competitiveness improvement at Khalifa Port using a strategy, operations, commerce and service integration analytical framework. The study uses a qualitative methodology to geopolitically capture the perceptions of Digital Transformation (DT) and automation of operational process streams to enhance institutional performance through the lens of the Port employees strategically positioned at the apex of the organization and at the levels of strategy, project management, business development, customer service and commerce. The study establishes a near consensus on DT and operational process automation as key to enhancing operational efficiency, including, but not limited to, increased operational productivity, reduced operational cycle times, and improved resource productivity vis-a-vis unit operational cost reduction, increased service reliability and enhanced customer service experience. The study establishes automation’s shift of the Port’s operational strategy through the improvement of the Port’s capabilities on data driven decision making, increased place/space resilience in the face of disruptive change, and in the improvement of the Port’s competitiveness and operational efficiency on the global market. The study also identifies the challenges of system integration, change management, and the upskilling of the workforce, to underscore that the successful operationalization of automation is more than a technological solution within a system, but is also a function of the organization’s posture. The research helps address a gap in the literature by providing a multifaceted analysis of the connections between the outcomes of automation applications and institutions, as well as offering explanatory principles that may direct future research on smart ports and sustainable competitiveness.