Case Study: Global Leader in Multimodal Transportation
Situation Overview
This company has been a global leader in integrated shipping and transportation since the mid-1990s, with over 50 U.S. facilities.
Previously, security was managed via a central contract with a multinational security provider, relying on onsite guards for gate operations and perimeter patrols, with minimal use of cameras or sensors. Guards also entered gate operation data into the Yard Management System.
Despite a centralized contract, each site was treated separately, with no sharing of lessons learned or incident tracking/reporting—limiting improvement opportunities.
Trigger for Change
There was no single incident prompting the change, but the goal was to improve service quality at equal or lower cost.
Complaints from municipalities about slow truck processing at gates—causing road blockages—sparked an initial search for automated, tech-enabled gates. This expanded to perimeter security, incident tracking, and cross-site learning.
The Search for Birdseye
Birdseye Security Solutions was chosen for a pilot project to replace on-site guards with automated gates and remote monitoring.
Birdseye’s value came from combining technology with trained agents who tracked, reported, and analyzed incidents across sites—reducing time to root cause and sharing best practices network-wide.
Evaluations showed potential security budget savings of up to 25%.
Operational efficiency is critical to our organization. In switching to Birdseye we not only achieved improved efficiencies, but also reduced our overall spending, and improved quality of service.
Solution Overview
Phase one covered five sites in North America. AI-enhanced cameras, speakers, and sensors provided 100% perimeter and yard coverage.
Automated gates and Birdseye ID-Verifi equipment were installed at inbound/outbound gates, with multiple lanes for high traffic.
Systems connected to a private network allowed Birdseye remote agents to monitor 24/7. Transition from guards to Birdseye took 3–4 months per site.
Protocols were jointly developed for normal operations and emergencies. Operational/incident dashboards and standardized reports were created for continuous improvement.
Outcomes
Early results included faster gate processing—under 4 minutes vs. significantly longer before—eliminating municipal complaints.
Management gained data for operational decisions and safety programs. Security budgets were cut by 10–25%, and liability from “mystery damage” claims dropped because Birdseye footage proved damage occurred before arrival.
25% Security Savings
Improved Gate Efficiency
Real-Time Data Access
Lower Liability Costs
Conclusion
The Continuous Improvement team now considers Birdseye a partner, working together on systemic improvements across the network rather than yard-by-yard fixes.
Birdseye acts as an extension of the company’s management, invested in the safety, security, and efficiency of its yards.