Digital transformation in the management of Buenos Aires ports

Purpose: Describe the adoption of technologies in port management in the towns of Mar del Plata and Bahía Blanca located in the south-southeast of the province of Buenos Aires (República Argentina) within the framework of the evolution towards smart ports. Methodology: The research is based on a qualitative case study methodology with the application of interview and direct observation techniques and analysis of secondary sources of information. Results: A high degree of digitalization is observed in port management through the administrative management and surveillance systems of the vehicular and maritime fleet in the towns of Mar del Plata and Bahía Blanca, with a higher level of maturity in the latter and use of facilitating technologies. Integration is presented in a partial form, requiring strategies for greater interaction between the areas. Research limitations: The limitation is found in the reduced number of dimensions of analysis, the one corresponding to the so-called technological axis, with respect to digital maturity, since it has been revealed in this first work in the dimension related to advances in digitalization. Originality: Study of the south-southeast territory of the province of Buenos Aires on the evolution in the adoption of enabling technologies that makes possible the characterization of the advance in digitalization and the detection of technological gaps, a focus of interest for the development of public policies.