The Role of port community systems in streamlining export processes for Sri Lankan SMEs

Abstract

Strategically located in the hub of international trade, Sri Lanka is one of the biggest players on the international arena. Despite this, the inefficiencies of the country’s export processes, especially among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), remain insurmountable obstacles to the country’s competitiveness in the world market. By streamlining export processes in a simple and easy manner, Sri Lankan SMEs can be empowered through Port Community Systems (PCS) to overcome these problems. Data were collected from 47 export-oriented SMEs employing a structured Likert scale questionnaire based on a positivist philosophy and deducting from a quantitative and positivist philosophy of data analysis using SPSS. Three critical dimensions have been focused on, namely, system usability, information transparency and collaboration with port authorities. The findings show that the adoption of PCS effectively increases export efficiency by reducing the procedural delays, enhancing data transparency and better coordinating the stakeholders. In the case of resource constrained SMEs usability becomes a key factor, and the user-friendly interface of PCS draws a higher adoption rate. Through PCS, information transparency is made possible for real time data sharing, this will reduce errors and would lead to faster decision making. Further, port authorities are better integrated into the export environment within PCS to minimize bureaucracy and promote collaboration. The potential adoption of PCS in Sri Lanka is low as to infrastructural deficits, low awareness, and resistance to change. The study then makes a recommendation for adoption of PCS by recommending strategic measures such as government incentives, awareness campaign, capacity building programmes and public private partnership. PCs utilization can be further strengthened for efficiency and additional global competitiveness of Sri Lankan SMEs, leading to a path forger to a sustainable export growth. In particular, this research provides useful insights into the modernization of Sri Lanka’s export sector through digital innovation for the benefit of policymakers, port authorities, and SME stakeholders.