Transport transformed

Plane or train, car or port, we’re in the thick of a transportation transformation. And it’s accelerating towards us, fast.

Drop in on a smart terminal in Tianjin, China, where 76 unmanned electric container trucks and remote-operated cranes help the port run with 60% fewer staff, handle 20% more containers per hour and reduce energy by a fifth.

Or fly in to Spain to experience its Smart Airport 2.0 and Intelligent Operations Center (IOC) solutions, which integrate over 30 airport systems into a unified real-time control dashboard, use fiber optic sensing + AI to detect airfield perimeter intrusions and deploy cloud infrastructure with 99.99% availability to reduce system recovery time from 1 hour to just 5 minutes.

From Spain, perhaps drive east across central Europe, tapping into OceanConnect IoT and connected-vehicle platforms which enable cloud-based vehicle connectivity and international mobility services.

Alternatively, switch continents again and take a train ride in Mozambique, where the Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS) and Urban Rail Cloud platforms support critical functions such as train control, dispatch, CCTV, and passenger information, enhancing scheduling efficiency, ensuring operational safety, and providing scalable digital transformation for operators.

These examples aren’t science fiction or early-stage pilots. They’re live, operational, and increasingly defining the new reality of the transport world. The potential for end-to-end smart transport solutions – and all the ones above happen to come from Huawei – is limitless. Whether it’s shipping, airports, rail, or road networks, AI and automation are reshaping how people and goods move — and even how they’re warehoused and supplied.

At Huawei’s 25,000 square meter smart logistics center in Dongguan in China, technologies like RFID, goods-to person (GTP) robotics, pick to light systems, carousel storage, and real time digital visualizations support automated order fulfilment, reducing costs and boosting efficiency.

Congestion avoided, planning optimized, data coordinated, maintenance predicted, traffic emissions shaved, commute times and flight delays slashed and security tightened.

It’s a flight deck of green lights for businesses and passengers alike, as the industry bursts with energizing opportunities and efficiencies. No wonder the cover of this edition of Transform looks as if it can barely contain the future-facing surge.

It’s enough to put a smile on even the grumpiest passenger’s face. And there’s cause for still greater cheer from the array of experts featured in this edition.

• The CIO of the PRASA railway network, Marjorie Ngonyama, explains how cutting-edge tech is keeping South Africa’s digital transformation strategy on track.
• President and Secretary-General of the Brussels-based Smart Transportation Alliance, Dr. José F. Papí, predicts travel will be more dynamic and seamless, with most of it happening quietly in the background without user inputs or feedback.
• Ma Yue, the vice-president and CEO of Huawei’s Intelligent Transport Unit predicts a future marked by smooth logistics and convenient travel.
• And Robin Chase, the entrepreneurial co-founder and former CEO of the Zipcar ride-sharing service, tells me car-centric cities will be consigned to the past, urging us all to “stop chasing the alluring shiny technology without giving a second thought about where we actually want to go.”

Of course, challenges remain, from skills shortages and data calibration to upfront costs and human job displacement. But the upside is undeniable. Intelligent transport means more efficient economies, better customer experiences, and a more sustainable planet. The question now isn’t whether AI belongs in transport — it’s how fast we can deploy it wisely, and who gets left behind if we don’t.

Smart transport is a tech revolution: a free ticket for a first-class journey. It’s time to climb aboard.