Adani Ports Partners with Kaleris for AI-Powered Container Terminal Operations

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) is expanding its partnership with U.S.-based software provider Kaleris to deploy AI-enabled operating systems and automation tools across its global container terminal network, as India's largest integrated transport operator accelerates its push towards handling one billion tonnes of cargo annually by 2030.

Under the multi-year agreement, Kaleris will roll out its terminal operating system and AI-augmented optimisation solutions across 15 APSEZ container terminals spanning nine ports in India and overseas. The expansion builds on an earlier phase of deployment across six ports and is aimed at creating a unified digital backbone across APSEZ's maritime and logistics operations.

The initiative forms part of APSEZ's broader plan to invest $850 million in technology upgrades and decarbonisation initiatives by 2031. The company said it plans to allocate up to $100 million in two phases specifically to accelerate automation and optimisation through its partnership with Kaleris.

The deployment is expected to improve operational efficiency, with APSEZ estimating gains of up to 20% in Rubber Tyred Gantry (RTG) crane productivity and as much as 14% in terminal truck productivity. The company said the technology upgrade would support its efforts to scale efficiently while enhancing service quality and customer experience.

"Ai-enabled automation will define the next frontier of competitiveness in ports and logistics. While APSEZ has already deployed an end-to-end digital platform from shore to door, which provides seamless track-and-trace and integrated command and control capabilities, the Kaleris integration will enhance productivity, improve turnaround time, and consistently deliver a superior customer experience," Ashwani Gupta, Whole-time Director and Chief Executive Officer of APSEZ, said.

Kaleris said the expanded mandate reflected confidence in the results achieved during the initial phase of deployment.

"APSEZ is demonstrating the real impact of an AI-enabled port network at scale. Expanding to all 15 terminals reflects the results already achieved and the trust behind this partnership. At Kaleris, we measure success by customer outcomes, and with N4 and our Advanced Optimization solutions, those results can now be amplified across the entire network," said Kirk Knauff, President and CEO of Kaleris.

As global supply chains grow more complex and cargo volumes increase, APSEZ said it is stepping up investments in artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, computer vision and advanced optimisation technologies to enable real-time visibility, smarter resource allocation and faster decision-making.

The deployment will extend Kaleris' N4 Terminal Operating System across APSEZ's network to improve yard utilisation, speed up vessel turnaround times, enhance planning accuracy and deliver more predictable cargo movement for customers.

The company also expects technology-driven efficiencies to help unlock an additional 91 million metric tonnes of capacity by 2030, equivalent to roughly 10% of its installed capacity.

The digital transformation underlines the scale of APSEZ's ambitions. The company noted that while it took more than a decade to handle its first 100 million tonnes of cargo, each subsequent milestone has been achieved at a faster pace, supported by an integrated logistics network spanning ports, rail, roads, trucking, warehouses and cargo gateways.