We spoke with Carmen Mas and Óscar Pérez about APPA's new management system.
In recent months, port digitization has taken a significant leap forward with the award to Pandora Global System of the new management system for Andalusia's public ports. A contract that, in addition to consolidating the Pandora model as the industry standard, will accelerate the development of Pandora Pro, the new version of our ERP, which is more connected, modular, and scalable.
But this journey did not begin here. Pandora Pro is a project that has been in the works for some time, and now, thanks to the impetus provided by APPA, it has a clear roadmap, institutional support, and the possibility of defining real processes together with the ports that will use it on a daily basis.
We spoke with Carmen Mas, functional architect at Pandora and a key figure in its evolution for more than 25 years, and with Oscar Perez, CTO of Ports Software Solutions, to learn how this new system is being designed... and why any port that reads it should feel part of the project.
Carmen, you have known Pandora since its inception. How has the system evolved?
Carmen Mas: We started by digitizing very basic processes: contracts, moorings, invoices. But the important thing is that this digitization has always been built hand in hand with the ports. Each evolution of the system has responded to a real need. Today we work with tools that allow us to anticipate operations, facilitate daily management, and provide more comprehensive support to port teams.
The project with APPA represents precisely that: bringing all of that experience to a public setting, with a wide variety of cases and needs.
Oscar PerezWe are at a point of maturity and evolution. We have built a very robust system that is adapted to the real needs of ports, and now we are taking the step towards a more scalable, more flexible product with a much more advanced digital layer. Pandora Pro was created with this ambition in mind: to maintain everything that already works, but to incorporate new standards of quality, integration, and usability.
What is the role of the project with the Andalusian Regional Government in this development?
CarmenThe APPA project gives us the final push. It's not starting from scratch: many of the improvements we are going to roll out were already in development. But working alongside such a diverse network of public ports—marinas, fishing ports, commercial ports—allows us to validate real processes, quickly adapt the product, and create a solution that not only serves these ports... but many more.
Oscar: Exactly. This is not a custom development for the Board. It is a product that we are building with a vision for the future and that will be applicable to any port that wants to improve its daily management, automate processes, comply with regulations, and offer a more connected experience to its users.
What would you say is the main challenge of this project?
Oscar: This project takes us to another level. It is not just another installation: we are talking about creating a comprehensive system that connects 19 directly managed ports, 12 fishing facilities, and multiple indirectly managed concessions. Each one has different needs, different flows, and very diverse levels of digitization.
From a technological standpoint, the challenge is to build a solution that is modular, interoperable, scalable, and aligned with public administration. And from a human standpoint, it must respect the way each port works and facilitate the day-to-day tasks of its staff.
What changes will teams working in ports notice?
Carmen: Agility. Ultimately, the entire system design is geared toward those who work on a day-to-day basis, resolving incidents, assisting users, and managing procedures. We are working hard to ensure that the tools respond to this reality.
And this goes beyond digitizing a file: it means improving how work is done at the port, providing visibility into what is happening, reducing unnecessary steps, and, above all, supporting those who are on the ground.
And what does this mean for the end user?
Oscar: In a more connected experience. A system like the one we are working on not only improves internal operations: it also allows nautical users to experience less friction when using port services. We are already seeing this with Portview: reservations, QR access, mooring guidance, document delivery... The vision is to build an ecosystem where the port and the sailor are truly connected, simply and effectively.
Carmen, you are also a sailor. How does that influence your work?
CarmenA lot. As a user, I saw very different models for entering the port. In some cases, everything was manual and involved a lot of paperwork; in others, it wasn't clear where you were supposed to go.
And I'm not saying this as someone in the industry, but as just another sailor: there's room for improvement. At Pandora and Portview, we're working to fill that gap. We want users to feel welcome, to have clear information, and for the port to be able to better manage their arrival.
How is the collaboration with the APPA team going?
Oscar: Very smoothly. They have a very clear vision of the change they want to lead. And that's essential: when there's alignment between what's needed and what's being built, everything goes better.
What's more, they are allowing us to tailor the system to their way of working, their language, and their priorities. That speaks volumes about their commitment to change.
What does this project mean to you?
For me, it is an opportunity to demonstrate that a complex system can be transformed while respecting its essence. That nothing should be imposed: we must build together with those who are already part of it.
OscarIt is also a way to continue everything we have learned with clubs and private marinas, but on a larger scale. With APPA, we are taking another step forward in our mission to connect technology and human experience in ports.
This project not only modernizes public port management in Andalusia. It also marks a firm step towards more efficient, accessible, and connected boating. A vision that Pandora and Portview have shared for more than 25 years.