The case of Ashdod’s connected workforce transformation.
Overview
Bridging physical space and digital intelligence at a major cargo port.
In the high-stakes environment of global logistics, speed and precision are the only currencies that matter. Port of Ashdod, a cornerstone of Israel’s maritime infrastructure, recognized that while their physical machinery was world-class, their information delivery was lagging behind. Critical operational knowledge was often trapped in silos, failing to reach the technicians on the front lines when they needed it most.
This case study explores the strategic implementation of the Treedis Connected Worker solution - a transformation that bridged the gap between physical space and digital intelligence. By creating a high-fidelity Digital Twin, Port of Ashdod didn’t just modernize its maintenance; it created a real-time knowledge hub that empowers every technician with the collective expertise of the entire organization.
“In our Industry, even a minute of crane downtime leads to operational losses and service delays. We needed a solution that matched the pace of our operations”Nissan Levy, CEO of Port of Ashdod
The challenge
An experience gap and diagnostic deadlocks in crane maintenance.
Operating one of the region’s busiest cargo hubs requires flawless synchronization. However, Ashdod faced a critical, two-pronged challenge that threatened operational continuity:
- The Experience Gap: A brain drain was imminent. With veteran employees nearing retirement, decades of nuanced, unwritten technical knowledge were at risk of disappearing.
- Diagnostic Deadlocks: Maintenance knowledge was scattered across disparate legacy systems, paper manuals, and individual mental silos. During a breakdown, technicians spent more time searching for answers than actually fixing the equipment.
Elad Yosefi, Head of Crane and Machinery Maintenance, highlights the gravity of the situation:
“In crane maintenance, critical knowledge is scattered across different systems and veteran employees. When someone isn't available, troubleshooting stalls. Every minute a crane is down disrupts the flow and costs the port and our customers significant revenue.”Elad Yosefi, Head of Crane and Machinery Maintenance
The approach
An Industry 4.0 strategy where the environment provides the answers.
Ashdod bypassed traditional, text-heavy documentation in favor of a multi-faceted Industry 4.0 strategy. The goal was to move beyond digital records to where the environment itself provides the answers.
The approach centered on three pillars:
- Spatial Mapping: Scanning massive crane structures to create a navigable, pixel-perfect 3D replica.
- Data Integration: Linking IoT sensors and historical documentation directly to the 3D components they represent.
- Contextual Delivery: Shifting the focus from the desk to the field. If a worker is standing in front of a motor, the system should know exactly what information that worker needs in that specific spot.
The solution
A Connected Worker app: the technician’s ultimate field guide.
The solution was anchored by the Treedis No-Code Studio, which allowed Ashdod to digitize complex workflows without a dedicated software team. This resulted in a specialized Connected Worker App that serves as the technician’s ultimate field guide.
Key Capabilities:
- AR-Powered Troubleshooting: Technicians use Augmented Reality to see step-by-step repair overlays on the actual machinery, eliminating guesswork and reducing human error.
- Physical AI Knowledge Hub: By integrating all documents and operational data into the 3D interface, technicians can search the physical crane to find technical specs or historical logs instantly.
- Treedis Notes Collaboration: This feature enables location-based digital notes. If a technician discovers a unique workaround or a recurring fault, they leave a digital pin in the 3D space for the next shift.
- Indoor Navigation: In a massive port environment, finding the exact point of failure is half the battle. The system guides workers through complex structures to the precise location of the alert.
“The information is delivered directly to technicians at the point of work. No time is wasted searching. With shared knowledge, every employee follows the same process, ensuring that the next technician can pick up exactly where the previous one left off”Elad Yosefi
The results
Faster troubleshooting and durable institutional knowledge.
The pilot program at Ashdod Port didn’t just provide “proof of concept” - it provided a radical shift in performance metrics. By unifying knowledge and making it spatially accessible, the port achieved staggering efficiency gains:
84% faster troubleshooting for newcomers, and 50% faster troubleshooting for veterans.
The implementation has fundamentally changed the culture of maintenance at the Port of Ashdod. The fear of the unknown during veteran turnover has been replaced by a stable foundation of digital institutional knowledge.
The success of the pilot has transitioned Treedis from an experimental tool to a core component of the port’s future.
“After proving its value in the pilot, Treedis expanded to more cranes and will become a must-have operational standard in the port.”Nissan Levy, CEO of Port of Ashdod