CONFERENCE RECAP: TERMINALS
DP World is already developing training programs and simulation environments to prepare workers for this new era. “It’s not about replacing people,” he insists. “It’s about giving them better tools — and better jobs.”
trade more sustainable and affordable. “Customers will get cheaper products, faster services, and more transparency. And it will create new jobs — data analysts, software engineers, systems integrators — jobs we can’t even fully define yet.” The new customer equation For all the talk of automation and AI, Mihic returns to one enduring truth: the customer remains the ultim- ate driver. “Nothing will ever change that,” he says. “Customers will always ask for better service and lower costs. Our job is to meet that demand faster and more efficiently.” To do that, DP World is focusing on standardization and integration. Across its terminals, the company is aligning systems, processes, and equip- ment specifications. “When you standardize,” he explains, “you create a platform for continuous improvement. You can compare, meas- ure, and innovate globally.” The company’s goal: to synchronize all terminals through a unified digital backbone, allowing performance mon- itoring, predictive maintenance, and AI-based optimization from Dubai headquarters. People: The constant in a changing world Despite his focus on technology, Mihic is emphatic about one point: “Don’t forget about people.” The port of the future, he says, won’t eliminate jobs — it will change them. “Our next generation of operators grew up playing video games. Their hand-eye coordination, spatial aware- ness, and digital comfort make them perfect for the new control interfaces,” he says. “Instead of climbing a crane in the rain, they’ll sit in an ergonomic chair with a digital twin, enjoying a coffee while managing precision operations.”
DP World is already developing training programs and simulation environments to prepare workers for this new era. “It’s not about replacing people,” he insists. “It’s about giving them better tools — and better jobs.” Closing the lap: Where the race goes next As Mihic nears the end of his presen- tation, he circles back to his McLaren analogy. “In racing, innovation never stops. Every part, every system, every line of code is re-evaluated if it can make the car faster. For DP World, our race is about eliminating waste, reducing energy use, and meeting cus- tomer demand faster.” He outlines several key takeaways for the industry: • Terminal capacity and capability are lagging behind customer expectations and requirements. Ports must design today for vessels and volumes that will arrive 20-to-25 years from now. • Digital maturity in the port sector trails other industries. “When was the last time you went to a bank teller?” Mihic asks. “We all do banking online now. The bank still exists, the people still work, just dif- ferently. Ports will go through the same transformation.” • Standardization enables global excellence. Common platforms and processes are the foundation for scale and innovation. • Integration is inevitable. “Cyber- physical systems and data-driven autonomy are coming to our industry. It’s not optional — it’s evolution.”
• People remain the heart of progress. “Technology changes everything except human creativity,” he says. “That’s what will carry us forward.” A glimpse of the future terminal Mihic ends by describing a short video DP World developed — a digital twin simulation of what future oper- ations might look like. Instead of traditional crane cabins, operators sit in control rooms sur- rounded by immersive displays. The system shows live 3D representations of vessels, yards, and trucks, powered by AI that anticipates movements and assists decision-making. “It looks like a video game,” he says, “and that’s intentional. The kids who grew up gaming are our next operators. They’ll be running terminals more safely, efficiently, and comfortably than ever before.” The final word As the session closes, Mihic reflects on DP World’s journey and the broader transformation of the port industry. “Every industrial revolution has made us stronger,” he says. “This one will too. It’s not about machines replacing people — it’s about people using tech- nology to achieve what wasn’t possible before.” Ports, like race cars, can’t afford to stay in the pits. The world is acceler- ating toward smarter, cleaner, data- driven logistics — and DP World is determined to be in pole position. “In Formula One, every second mat- ters. In global trade, every hour does. That’s the race we’re running — and we intend to win.”
October/November 2025 — PACIFIC PORTS — 33
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