As 2025 disappears in the rear-view mirror, 2026 arrives with a clear message: the market pressures that dominated 2025, far from being temporary, are now an everyday reality. Labour shortages, rising compliance requirements, increasing customer expectations and fragmented systems have become the baseline reality for UK ports, transport, logistics, and infrastructure operators.
In the first blog in this series, From 2025 Lessons to 2026 Demands, we explored these challenges; while in Port of Dover: Building a New Era for UK Ports, Transport, Logistics and Infrastructure, we learned how the Port of Dover future-proofed for the years ahead. In this final blog in the series, we turn those insights into a practical 6–12-month roadmap for operators to move from manual, siloed processes to a modern, scalable digital backbone with Mastek and Oracle.
Defining the target: what a future-ready operator looks like
The market for UK supply chain and infrastructure is expected to reach USD $163.77 billion by 2030, up from $142.33 billion in 2025. To achieve that level of growth, a future-ready operator must have a clear set of digital, operational and governance capabilities. Yet a recent critical infrastructure operator survey found that nearly half (48%) cite “lack of internal expertise” as the top barrier to adoption. To make sure your organisation is in the half that’s ready, you will need:
- A unified digital backbone. With Oracle Fusion Cloud ERP, SCM and HCM at the core, and OTM and GTM where cross-border, fleet or multimodal moves require it.
- A single source of truth. Finance, HR, asset management, warehousing and logistics operate from consistent, high-quality data that leaders can trust.
- Automated billing and compliance workflows replacing manual processes.
- Real time visibility and AI driven planning. Warehouse 360, scanning tools, forecasting models and analytics.
- Strong governance and an intelligent client function to guide investment and protect long-term value.
The Modernisation Roadmap: a 6–12 month plan
So, how do you achieve all of the above? Fortunately, through years of experience and fine-tuning our approach across thousands of use cases, we have the answers. Simply follow this step-by-step phased approach:
Step 1 (Months 1–3): Assess and prioritise
Start with a readiness assessment across your systems, processes, data and people. Build understanding amongst your leadership team of what a modern digital backbone delivers. Identify two or three high-impact pain points that hold the business back: common candidates include billing delays, compliance stress, spreadsheet-driven planning or the absence of real time operational data.
Step 2 (Months 2–4): Design your digital backbone
Define the target architecture with Oracle Fusion Cloud at the centre, supported by OTM, GTM and sustainability dashboards where needed. Customs Declarations UK for example highlight the need for operational investment in “predictive algorithms… automated equipment [and] real-time sensor feeds”. Start by establishing the governance process early with clear roles, decision rights and an agreed benefits case. Use Dover’s story [link] as a proof-of-concept that disciplined transformation reduces operational friction and improves financial control.
Step 3 (Months 4–9): Deliver in sprints through the Glide Program
Mastek’s Glide Program allows operators to move from complexity to clarity in manageable increments. The primary goal of Glide is to streamline and speed up complex cloud migrations and implementations, accelerating and de-risking your digital journey. Choose a flagship use case that demonstrates value quickly: automated billing, customs workflows or duty and emissions reporting are all good ones to pick. Deliver in sprints, measure impact and reinforce new ways of working.
Step 4 (Months 9–12): Optimise, innovate and protect the future
Once this backbone is in place, layer on AI and analytics to strengthen forecasting, routing, resource planning and warehouse performance. By 2026, over three-quarters of European transit agencies are piloting or have already deployed AI in their operations, primarily for predictive maintenance, dynamic scheduling, and enhanced passenger flows. Keep customisation lean and track benefits to monitor performance. The Mastek Webinar Who is moving to Oracle Fusion Cloud and Why? advises KPIs for process optimisation, system adoption, information output audit and compliance, tracked with an analytics dashboard.
Focus areas for 2026
1. Unify operations from warehouse to wheels
Operators gain the greatest value when warehouse, fleet and finance data sits in one place, with processes that join-up seamlessly. For example, DP World’s recent mega warehouse has been praised in the sector for exemplifying “the push for integrated port-centric logistics”.
2. Automate the pinch-points
Billing and compliance carry the highest manual workload and the highest risk. Automation here frees up people’s time, reduces disputes and strengthens margin control. According to a recent market analysis report by Mordor Intelligence, “Complex post-Brexit documentation and the staggered Border Target Operating Model” have spurred investments into “artificial-intelligence brokerage software” and “automated data capture”.
AI tools for demand forecasting, slot planning, dwell management and routing can all help operators shift from firefighting to proactive operations.
3. Choosing the right partners: Mastek and Oracle
The combination of Mastek and Oracle gives operators a proven path to a modernised, scalable transport and logistics backbone. Mastek combines decades of enterprise delivery with deep Oracle Cloud expertise, purpose-built for the complexity of your sector. We understand the nuances of moving goods and people, from customs to cargo.
4. Mastek brings domain depth and delivery experience
We employ over 2000 Oracle industry and tech experts across over 40 countries. Our portfolio includes The Glide Program, OTM customers, Warehouse 360, Dynamic Demand Forecasting and Equipment Tracking, while case studies and testimonies including our Port of Dover transformation [link] offer proof of our market-leading expertise and delivery. As Chris Hughes, Business Transformation Director for the Port of Dover, says, “I like the expression ‘say what you're going to do and then do what you said’. And that's exactly how Mastek approached this project with us.”
5. Oracle provides a trusted operational core
OTM, Fusion Cloud SCM and ERP, GTM and AI enabled analytics support operators with robust, secure and proven capabilities. Operators gain a disciplined, collaborative approach that reduces risk and makes adoption easy.
Book your Modernisation Roadmap Session Today
When operators choose Mastek, they get more than just a tech provider – they gain a strategic partner, focused on your KPIs. To help operators take the first step on their modernisation journey, Mastek offers a complimentary 60–90 minute Modernisation Roadmap Session [add link]. In the session we will:
- Review your current systems and pain points
- Map Dover-style lessons to your operational context
- Sketch a tailored 6–12 month roadmap with phased delivery and clear benefits.
- Partner with the change management experts at Shape Associates – who have worked at both the Port of Dover and Port of Tyne.
A partnership model with Mastek is built on clear governance and hands-on delivery. If you’re ready to future-proof your operation, let’s start a conversation together.
