Assessing the Digital Transformation in the Maritime Transport Sector: A Case Study of Croatia

Abstract

In this research, the authors investigated the factors of digital transformation in the maritime transport sector, which were applied to the case study of Croatia. Since there is a pronounced lack of research dealing with the digital transformation factors in the maritime transport sector both globally and in Croatia, as a first step the authors identified the aforementioned factors using the literature review method and interviews. Moreover, the survey was carried out among a representative group of stakeholders involved in the maritime transport sector in Croatia, including administrative entities such as port authorities, ministries, and harbormaster’s offices, as well as commercial participants such as freight forwarders, agents, and terminal operators. The goal was to obtain the state of the art of digital transformation in the maritime transport sector. A total of 94 organizations provided valid responses. Finally, the authors proposed measures to improve the digital transformation in the maritime transport sector in Croatia. The results highlighted the importance of various digital transformation factors, such as information security, investment in emerging technologies, leadership motivation, and expertise. The case study presented serves as a valuable reference for comparable countries that recognize their resource constraints but aspire to enhance their efficiency and competitiveness.