Thames Freeport has named the winning technologies from its Connectivity Lab programme, with the selected systems set to be deployed or extended at the Port of Tilbury, DP World London Gateway and Ford Dagenham.

The programme tested eight technologies in live commercial settings after the three industrial partners reviewed more than 140 applicants. The work was backed by £4 million in 5G infrastructure investment through Verizon and a further £1.2 million invested directly in the lab.

Each innovation is expected to deliver at least a 25% increase in productivity. The model also cuts the usual procurement process for new technology by more than 100% and reduces risk for site operators considering adoption.

The Port of Tilbury chose to extend pilots with Aible, Allread and Streamwide. Aible uses AI-based analysis to help port teams make operational decisions, while Allread applies AI imaging to CCTV footage to track containers moving by rail in and out of the site.

Streamwide provides a communications platform that connects parties across the port and improves responses to alerts, thereby supporting operational efficiency.

Ford Dagenham also selected Aible for an extended pilot focused on process flows around vehicle movements. It has also extended a pilot with Focalx, which uses AI analysis on mobile devices during vehicle inspections to reduce disputes and standardise the process.

Nokia also ran a pilot with Ford, using 5G-enabled cameras to improve visual and audio awareness in areas not covered by existing systems. Discussions are continuing with Ford and the Port of Tilbury.

At DP World London Gateway, the programme introduced Conroo and Purple Transform, with both still under engagement. Conroo offers a smartphone app that tracks container arrivals at port gates, aiming to reduce lorry loading and discharge times, improve routing and ease congestion.

Purple Transform uses existing CCTV data to automate the detection of context-specific personal protective equipment around heavy machinery and vehicles. DP World also piloted MapBI, which built a digital twin of the site’s container inventory to provide operational data for loading, discharge and inventory planning.

MapBI is continuing discussions with all three sites. The lab forms part of Thames Freeport’s wider strategy to use technology trials as a route to broader industrial deployment across logistics and manufacturing operations.

Operator Trials

The programme was designed to give scale-ups and larger businesses access to industrial environments where new systems could be tested under operating conditions. For site operators, it offered a way to assess technologies before making longer-term purchasing decisions.

Stuart Rimmer, Interim Chief Executive Officer, Thames Freeport, said, “As the UK’s Next Generation Growth Zone, Thames Freeport is focused on turning innovation into deployment. The Connectivity Lab shows how new technologies can be tested in live operating environments and adopted at pace. This is about improving productivity, safety and resilience across critical industrial sites.”

For DP World, the work focused on whether the technologies could fit into existing port operations. Alan Shaoul, UK Chief Financial Officer – Ports & Terminals, DP World, said, “At DP World, we’re focused on continuously improving how our operations perform and how we support our customers across their supply chains. Technology is an important part of that, and the Connectivity Lab gives us a useful opportunity to assess new solutions from Conroo and Purple Transform in a live operational setting before making decisions on wider adoption.”

At the Port of Tilbury, the selected pilots focused on data analysis and cargo tracking. Ross McKissock, Director of Unitised, Port of Tilbury, said, “Being part of the Connectivity Lab has enabled us to run an initial pilot and extended pilots with both Aible and Allread, expanding our data analysis and container tracking capabilities to drive better decisions, efficiency and cost savings. The Connectivity Lab has enabled us to pilot these technologies at speed. We’re proud to have been part of this programme, which will unlock efficiencies and sustainability for trade and industry across the UK and ultimately enhance the country’s performance on a global scale.”

L Marks, which was involved in the programme, described the lab as a way to shorten a typically slow route to procurement in port settings. Daniel Saunders, Chief Executive Officer, L Marks, said, “The pathway to procurement in port environments can take years because, at this scale, every decision carries commercial and operational weight. The Lab cut that to weeks by generating the evidence before the commitment is made, so operators no longer have to bet on a technology they have never seen perform. Seeing the trial, as well as the ROI specific to their business case, is what drives adoption and the productivity gains that follow.”

Oboloo has launched a free procurement software plan for SMEs and charities, available globally.

The London-based provider said its new Free Forever Plan is aimed at smaller organisations that still manage suppliers, contracts and renewals through spreadsheets despite rising cost pressures. The platform brings supplier records, contract information, sourcing activity and savings tracking into one system.

The launch comes as smaller businesses face tighter margins and greater scrutiny of recurring costs. Oboloo cited official UK statistics showing about 2,000 business failures a month, most of them SMEs, and pointed to industry research suggesting that 25 to 40 per cent of subscriptions and licences go unused or underused.

Auto-renewals are a particular concern for companies trying to control spending. The free plan includes automated email alerts for upcoming contract renewals, alongside audit trails designed to give businesses a clearer record of procurement decisions and supplier agreements.

Core tools

The free plan includes a central hub for supplier and contract information, a step-by-step process for supplier sourcing events, a tracker for savings achieved and integrations with a range of third-party business software. It is designed as a self-service cloud platform.

Oboloo is targeting a gap in the market where dedicated procurement systems have often been used by larger organisations, while smaller firms have relied on manual processes. As subscription spending and vendor complexity have grown, many SMEs have been left to manage supplier relationships and contract deadlines without specialist tools.

The company compared the move with the wider adoption of customer relationship management software, arguing that procurement systems should also be within reach of smaller businesses. It says procurement software has remained too expensive or too difficult to adopt for many SMEs and charities.

James Lancaster, co-founder of oboloo, outlined the company’s case for the launch.

“SMEs are the backbone of the UK economy, yet they are the hardest hit during periods of economic instability,” said James Lancaster, co-founder at oboloo. “Every day brings new financial pressures, and businesses simply can’t afford to let costs spiral due to a lack of visibility or well-intentioned but outdated procurement practices.

“With our Free Forever Plan, we’re removing cost as a barrier and putting powerful procurement tools directly into the hands of businesses, helping them stay on top of supplier decisions and costs.

“Unlike traditional procurement solutions that are often expensive and complex to implement, oboloo has been designed to be intuitive, fast to implement and easy to scale.

“This launch marks a significant step in oboloo’s mission to democratise procurement technology, making it accessible to every business, regardless of size or budget, at a time when it matters most.”

Cost pressure

The announcement reflects a broader effort by software providers to win smaller customers by reducing upfront fees and simplifying deployment. For SMEs, procurement has often ranked behind finance, sales and payroll systems when technology budgets are tight, even though supplier spending can account for a large share of total costs.

Businesses without a clear view of contract expiry dates, negotiated terms or active subscriptions can struggle to cut unnecessary spending quickly. Smaller organisations are also more exposed to staff turnover and informal processes, making it harder to maintain a complete record of supplier commitments.

By offering a no-cost entry point, oboloo is seeking to widen adoption among businesses that may not previously have considered procurement software. Founded in 2021, the company said it was created by procurement and technology specialists with more than 25 years of experience advising businesses on procurement strategy.

Its pitch centres on visibility and control over supplier and contract data at a time when many businesses are reviewing every line of expenditure. Users can create an account and begin using the platform within minutes, according to the company.

The free plan is open to SMEs and charities, giving them access to tools for sourcing, contract oversight, supplier management and savings tracking without a software charge.

Harmonic will showcase new fibre access products and an AI-based network operations system in London, targeting European broadband operators.

The lineup includes a network operations intelligence system, fibre expansion hardware, and software for multi-dwelling unit deployments. Harmonic will also present its Open ONT framework, designed to allow operators to choose customer premises equipment from multiple suppliers rather than tying deployments to a single vendor.

The announcement comes as telecoms groups across Europe continue expanding full-fibre networks while trying to contain installation costs and reduce engineer visits. As they push deeper into suburban and rural areas and connect more apartment buildings, operators are seeking greater automation to manage larger access networks.

Harmonic says its new network operations intelligence system is designed to shift broadband operations from reactive monitoring to proactive oversight. It is designed to work across different networks, equipment vendors, and software tools, providing operators with a single operational view.

Network Focus

The broader fibre portfolio on display is built around Harmonic’s cOS virtualised core platform and a range of access devices. The company highlighted Fin OLT, Ripple modular nodes, Wharf and Pier high-density OLT shelves for extending 10G fibre, and the Oyster low-power node.

The focus is on network scale and reach. The products are intended to support different deployment densities and speeds as operators adjust build plans to local demand and economics.

That is especially relevant in Europe’s fragmented broadband market, where operators often have to combine urban infill, greenfield roll-outs, and upgrades to existing access infrastructure. Multi-dwelling units remain a particular challenge because installation routes, in-building wiring, and landlord access can add cost and delay to fibre projects.

Open ONT is positioned as a response to another long-running issue in fibre roll-outs: dependence on a narrow group of customer device suppliers. By separating the access network from a single CPE path, operators may gain more flexibility in managing costs, procurement, and service models across different markets.

European Push

Harmonic has framed the launch around demand from European service providers for tools that can shorten deployment times and improve network uptime. It also links the products to efforts to cut truck rolls, the industry term for field engineer call-outs that can weigh on operating costs.

“As fiber deployments accelerate across Europe, service providers need immediate solutions to boost deployment velocity, reduce costs and enable data-driven, intelligent operational decision-making,” said Stefan Meier, Vice President of Broadband Sales, Europe, at Harmonic.

“Harmonic is at the forefront of fiber innovation, equipping operators with advanced solutions that keep pace with growing connectivity demands while enabling sustained network evolution,” Meier added.

According to Harmonic, its cOS platform is used by broadband operators worldwide on nearly 41 million CPE devices across North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia. That installed base offers some indication of the company’s reach in broadband access, even as competition remains intense across fibre software, optical line terminals, and home devices.

Suppliers to the fibre sector are under pressure to demonstrate that software and hardware can reduce operating costs while supporting higher speeds. For operators, the business case for full-fibre build-outs depends not only on subscriber growth, but also on the cost of activating, maintaining, and upgrading networks over time.

Against that backdrop, automation in fault management and performance monitoring has become a stronger selling point for vendors. Harmonic’s latest offering suggests it is trying to expand its role from access infrastructure into day-to-day network oversight, where operators increasingly want tools that work across mixed estates rather than in isolated product silos.

The latest products are designed to help operators build broadband networks that can scale over the long term while offering greater flexibility in deployment choices and supplier relationships.