Q: What are the biggest day-to-day challenges in yard operations? 

• Transportation Manager: “Visibility is the biggest one. You have to know what’s in the trailer, where it’s located, how long it’s been there, and where it needs to go next. When you don’t have that, everything slows down.  Different products require different handling and dock assignments, which makes visibility even more critical. Big parcels go to one side of the building, small parcels to another. If you don’t know what’s in the trailer, you’re already behind.” 
  
• Logistics Supervisor (SLO): “Getting trailers of mail to and from the dock in FIFO order successfully and efficiently. Having visibility of all mail checked into the facility with accurate timestamps.” 
  
• Vehicle Operations Assistant (VOA):  “Maintaining constant control of trailer movement in, out, and within the yard.” 

Q: How does a Yard Management System help solve that? 

• Transportation Manager: “With the YMS, we can enter the contents of the trailer right away. That tells everyone exactly which dock it needs to go to. There’s no guessing. The YMS gives yard teams real-time access to load status, location, and timing, ensuring that clerks, spotters, supervisors, and managers are aligned and working from the same source of truth.” 

• Logistics Supervisor: “YMS gives visibility to all trailer information so that mail can be accurately moved to the docks in the correct order and reduce overall cycle time.” 
  
• Clerk:  “I am able to verify inbound trip information as part of the check-in process. Dispatch procedures allow me to communicate with the drivers face to face when dispatching from the yard. I can control where the trailers are assigned in the yard. This aids in keeping accountability of the movement and placement of trailers according to the yard layout.” 

Q: What happens in yards that don’t have a YMS? 

• Transportation Manager: “I’ve seen it. I worked at a facility that did everything on paper. My head was spinning. Without a YMS, peak season created major challenges. They couldn’t put everything to the dock because there were too many trailers. Once trailers were staged in the yard, it was hard to keep up with what was out there. The result was lost time, delayed processing, and constant catch-up. That experience pushed them to pursue a YMS, because paper processes could no longer support the volume they were handling.” 
  
• Logistics Supervisor: “Yards without YMS are subject to human error. Without accurate information, daily plans and operations are much more likely to fail.” 
  
• Vehicle Operations Assistant: “Operating without a YMS is cumbersome. Trailer movement between dock and yard must be done via the radio. This often leads to incorrect trailers being picked or sent to the wrong dock or yard spot. We call it ‘going blind.’’” 

Q: How does YMS help you stay on top of yard activity? 

• Transportation Manager: “I get reports every two hours. They go to transportation and the building. I use them every day. 

Rather than overwhelming teams with data, the reports are configured to surface only what matters most: 

• Trailer number 
• Check-in time 
• Time on site 
• Current location (yard or dock) 
• Load status and contents 

“I don’t need all the tabs. I just need to see what I’m looking at right away.” 

• Logistics Supervisor:  “It allows me to get a full scope of the whole operation from one system. I can monitor spotter movement to assure trailer movement to and from the docks is done timely. I can also see all inbound and outbound trips displayed so that I can monitor accurate trip information and ensure trailers are safe to pull from the docks.” 
  
• Vehicle Operations Assistant: “It allows me to move the correct trailers to the correct dock/yard spot. It aids with verification of trip information and contents.” 

Q: How does that impact decision-making during the day? 

• Transportation Manager: “It lets us explain what’s happening instead of guessing. Even when trailers stay in the yard longer than expected, the system provides context. If something’s been there 12 or 13 hours, we know where it is and why. Maybe it’s at the dock, but the product isn’t scheduled to be processed until later. The system tells us that. This visibility allows teams to prioritize work accurately and avoid unnecessary escalation.” 
  
• Logistics Supervisor: “The YMS tells the story. It gives accurate timestamps when actions on trailers were made. There is no guess work, when trips were attached, when pulls were made, when trailers are departed.” 
  
• Vehicle Operations Assistant: “Certain mail is unloaded and loaded in specific docks. It allows for placement of those trailers based on operational needs.” 

Q: What’s the biggest difference between working with and without YMS?  

• Transportation Manager: “Control. With real-time visibility, structured reporting, and clear accountability, the yard shifts from reactive to controlled. If you have a yard with a lot of dock doors and a lot of trailers, this system helps you keep up with it. Without it, you’re always behind.” 

• Logistics Supervisor:  “Reassurance. With information at your fingertips, decision making is done faster, and safety is heightened. And we’re able to retrieve data or information up to 12 months back” 
  
• Vehicle Operations Assistant: “Control” 

Final Takeaway 

For transportation teams, yard operations don’t have to feel chaotic. With Kaleris YMS, visibility replaces guesswork, reporting replaces manual tracking, and control replaces constant firefighting. It allows you to set up your yard with efficiency, safety, and accountability in mind. 

The post Inside the Yard: What Transportation Teams Are Saying About Visibility, Control, and Why YMS Matters  appeared first on Kaleris.

Managing and Connecting the Most Critical Points in the Supply Chain  

Kaleris doesn’t just provide software. We have helped more than 680 organizations in 105 countries transform supply chain hubs into strategic performance engines. From seaports and rail terminals to industrial yards and crossdock facilities, our solutions eliminate operational friction while unlocking productivity gains.   

Our portfolio spans:  

Terminal Operating Systems (TOS) – Powering container and general cargo terminals worldwide, including the widely used N4 platform, the world’s most prevalent TOS, with an estimated 1 in every 3 containers globally processed by a Kaleris TOS in 2025.  

• Yard Management Systems (YMS) – Optimizing yard operations, gate workflows, and asset tracking, saving shippers up to $500,000 annually in fuel and repair costs. Named a representative vendor in the 2025 Gartner Market Guide for Yard Management and overall leader in ABI Research’s Competitive Assessment for Yard Management based on its strengths in asset tracking, and time to value.   

• Transportation Management Systems (TMS) – Orchestrating complex inbound and outbound logistics over truck, rail and ocean corridors; resulting in a 2024 Top Software and Technology Award for Kaleris’ TMS + YMS combined offering.  
  
• Execution Visibility Platform – In-app and cross-solution reporting that unifies operational data across modes and nodes where over 25 million TEUs are managed worldwide every year.   

These supply chain software systems are trusted by bluechip brands across industries, from retail and manufacturing to logistics and maritime. They deliver operational continuity, realtime decision support, and powerful performance improvements in environments where downtime simply isn’t an option.  

Why Supply Chain Matters  

According to the American Association of Port Authorities, in the US alone, seaports and inland facilities supported 2.5 million jobs and generated $311B towards the US GDP. In addition, over $2.1 trillion worth of goods, more than 40% of US trade flow, moves through US ports. Many of these facilities are managed with Kaleris software.  

Kaleris uniquely empowers supply chain leaders at critical junctures worldwide. For example, at the Port of Tanjung Pelepas, Southeast Asia’s busiest transshipment hub, Kaleris’ Advanced solutions helped operations teams reduce truck cycle times by 13%, boost truck productivity by 14%, and cut fuel use while improving yard throughput.  

And globally recognized customer brands have leveraged Kaleris YMS to reduce loaded reefer hours by nearly 40%, saving hundreds of thousands of hours in operational time and high costs on fuel and maintenance in cold chain logistics.  

These outcomes speak to our expertise in how to practically manage the highest-impact nodes in the supply chain. The true value goes beyond the execution: Kaleris builds long-term partnerships with our customers. We use our deep knowledge of operations to transform complexities into a competitive advantage through outcome-based solutions and software.

How Kaleris Optimizes the Supply Chain  

1. Outcome Based Solutions: Driving Measurable Results  

For Kaleris, constant improvement isn’t an abstract concept – it’s a measurable strategy rooted in real business outcomes. Across our solutions, customers consistently see:  

• Reduced dwell time and detention fees — by eliminating bottlenecks and accelerating movement through critical nodes.  
• Improved asset utilization — through intelligent tasking and visibility at the asset level.  
• Greater operational predictability — with dashboards and analytics that connect data across systems.  

Kirk Knauff, CEO of Kaleris, underscores this outcomeoriented ethos after Kaleris was named a Top 100 Logistics IT provider in 2025 by Inbound Logistics:  

“In an unpredictable supply chain landscape, our solutions offer the visibility, efficiency, and productivity our customers need to overcome challenges and secure longterm success.”  

By focusing on results, not just technology, Kaleris helps customers measure the true impact of digital transformation, drive continuous improvement, and realize short and longterm ROI. 

2. Step Wise Improvements: The Intelligent Path to Continuous Advancement  

Constant improvement isn’t oneanddone; it’s a journey that evolves as systems, networks, and business models change. That’s why Kaleris champions stepwise deployments of solutions: a unique-to-Kaleris pragmatic and iterative approach that creates quick wins while laying the groundwork for deeper transformation. Our supply chain software measures success based on two frameworks: “Did the plan work?” and “Is it better than before?”  

With realtime data flowing from Kaleris’ Execution Visibility Platform and workflows that adapt as conditions change, customers can:  

• Modernize manual tasks — removing human delay and error.   
• Enhance decision quality — with visibility into operations across nodes.   
• Scale intelligently — adding Advanced modules as needs evolve.  

This structured progression equips organizations to build confidence and capability with every step, ultimately moving from reactive operations to proactive and predictive performance.  

  3. Elevating the Supply Chain of Tomorrow  

Elevating the supply chain of tomorrow is a core priority at Kaleris. We focus on continuously improving our software to shape how our solutions sense, adapt, and respond in real time. By steadily enhancing core workflows with deeper insight, Kaleris equips customers to operate more efficiently, make better decisions, and confidently adapt to changing conditions:  

• Anticipate disruptions before they happen  
• Recommend actions based on realtime data  
• Drive decision-making that keeps operations fluid  

Industry research shows that mature, data-driven software platforms can significantly improve planning decisions and operational agility. As supply chains face growing complexity, continuous enhancement of core systems is essential to enabling the next generation of performance, growth, human-centric operations, and adaptability.  

Kaleris’ mission is to lead this evolution by continuously strengthening our software with deeper insights, forward-looking capabilities, and practical solutions, empowering people to make supply chains smarter, faster, and more resilient.  

A Vision for the Future

As the world’s supply chains become more complex, partnerships become even more essential. Kaleris is dedicated to forging lasting relationships, enabling our customers to not just manage complexity, but capitalize on it. Through joint innovation and measurable outcomes, we co-create operational confidence and resilience for supply chain leaders worldwide. The future belongs to those who build strong alliances, see across every node in the network, and adapt continuously,  and that journey is powered in partnership with Kaleris.  

The post Solving Supply Chain Complexity: How Kaleris Brings Order to Operational Chaos   appeared first on Kaleris.

Another Manifest is in the books, and after three days in Las Vegas connecting with over 7,200 of the industry’s brightest minds, I’m coming back to the office energized. 

If you’ve been to Manifest in previous years, you know the vibe has often heavily favored visionary futurism. But this year felt different. Walking the floor and sitting in on sessions, the tone has clearly shifted from “what if” to “what now.” The conversations our team had with shippers, carriers, and retailers weren’t about experimental pilots; they were about budget-ready solutions that solve immediate, messy, real-world problems. 

For us at Kaleris, it was an incredibly fulfilling week. The industry is converging exactly where we have been building. Here are my top three takeaways from the event and what they mean for our customers in 2026. 

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Author

Darius Landrum
Sr. Product Marketing Manager

1. The Cold Chain is No Longer a Side Conversation 

One of the most significant shifts this year was the spotlight on temperature-controlled logistics. It wasn’t just a niche topic tucked away in a corner; it was a main event, complete with a dedicated pavilion and stage. 

This renewed focus made our conversations at the booth incredibly productive. It is exactly why we brought Kaleris ColdLink to market. 

The feedback we received on the floor was clear: shippers are tired of trying to force-fit generalist platforms into specialized cold chain workflows. They need purpose-built technology that ensures product integrity and compliance from the moment the door closes to the final delivery. Seeing the industry embrace this need confirms that our focus on deep, specialized visibility for refrigerated assets is hitting the mark at the exact right time. 

• Manual reconciliation cycles that never end
• Inconsistent units and fuel naming across vessels and fleets
• “Why did this number change?” debates before every submission
• Last-minute surprises that become last-minute cost

2. “Agentic AI” is Replacing Generative Hype 

For the past two years, the industry buzz has been dominated by Generative AI. However, the discussions at Manifest 2026 moved firmly toward Agentic AI. 

We saw a clear trend of software providers pivoting away from passive bots that offer advice, moving toward autonomous agents that execute tasks. This tracks with recent market data from ABI Research, which found that 76% of supply chain professionals now see the potential for autonomous AI agents to handle execution tasks like reordering and shipment rerouting [1]. 

As a Product Marketer, I find this shift exciting because it aligns perfectly with our goal of delivering actionable intelligence. The industry is done playing with AI; they are ready to let it handle the manual drudgery of execution. 

This is the exact philosophy driving the AI routing capabilities within our Kaleris TMS. Instead of just passively analyzing historical transit times or suggesting a route, our TMS leverages AI to autonomously evaluate real-time network conditions, carrier capacities, and dynamic constraints to actually execute the most efficient, cost-effective routing decisions. By automating the heavy lifting of complex freight planning, we free up your human teams to step out of the tactical weeds and focus on overarching strategy. 

3. Security Meets the Digital Chain of Custody 

Security was a dominant theme, and for good reason. According to the year-end 2025 report from Verisk CargoNet, while overall theft incident volume remained relatively stable, the total estimated value of stolen cargo surged by 60%, reaching nearly $725 million [2]. Furthermore, the average value per theft rose 36% to nearly $274,000. Thieves are getting smarter, targeting higher-value goods with more precision. 

The solution isn’t just about stronger hardware anymore—it’s about connectivity and strict perimeter control. We observed a wave of innovation where physical asset manufacturers are bridging the gap with software to create a “digital chain of custody.” 

But securing the asset on the road is only half the battle; securing the facility is where execution software truly shines. This is exactly where Kaleris YMS steps in to close the vulnerability gap and prevent unauthorized access. We protect against sophisticated freight fraud by automating perimeter defenses: 

• Controlled Appointment Scheduling: By enforcing strict, pre-approved arrival windows, the system ensures only expected carriers approach the facility, instantly flagging suspicious or unannounced arrivals. 

• OCR at the Gate: Optical Character Recognition (OCR) automatically captures and verifies trailer, container, and license plate numbers. This eliminates manual data entry errors and stops bad actors from slipping past the guard shack with spoofed paperwork. 

• Double-Blind Verification: We eliminate the risk of verbal confirmation by requiring drivers to provide specific reference numbers that must perfectly match the secure, pre-loaded data in the YMS before access is ever granted. 

It’s not enough to lock a trailer; the facility itself must act as a digital fortress. This integration of physical security with digital execution data is the only way to combat the rising cost of freight crime. 

Final Thoughts 

We left Las Vegas with a confirmed sense of purpose. The industry is maturing, and the tolerance for disconnected, “hype-first” tech is lower than ever. 

The themes of Manifest 2026—specialized execution, autonomous action, and connected security—are the pillars we are building on. It was great to show the world how Kaleris ColdLink, TMS, and YMS fit into this new era, and we are ready to help our customers turn these takeaways into operational reality this year. 

Missed our big news in Las Vegas? 

Catch up on our official Kaleris ColdLink announcement from Manifest 2026 to see how we are delivering purpose-built, temperature-controlled orchestration to protect your most sensitive cargo. 

References: 

1. ABI Research (October 2025). 2025 Supply Chain Survey Results—Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage and Investment Plans. 
2. Verisk CargoNet (January 2026). Cargo Theft Losses Surge to Estimated $725 Million in 2025, Verisk CargoNet Analysis Reveals. 

The post Manifest 2026 Recap: Moving from Hype to Execution in the Cold Chain and Beyond  appeared first on Kaleris.

Here’s what compliance teams quietly fight every month:

• Manual reconciliation cycles that never end
• Inconsistent units and fuel naming across vessels and fleets
• “Why did this number change?” debates before every submission
• Last-minute surprises that become last-minute cost

And the worst part? Even when you do submit, you’re left thinking: “If a verifier asks, can we defend this confidently?” Let’s fix that.

The Rule That Changes Everything: Merge First. Calculate Second.

Most teams calculate too early—then spend weeks trying to explain the result. High-quality emissions reporting starts with disciplined data joining. Not dashboards. Not “one more spreadsheet.” Not another last-minute patch.

Step 1: Collect Without Forcing Everything into One Format

Your goal isn’t to make inputs pretty. Your goal is to make them connectable.

Bring in the truth from every place it lives:

• Fuel consumption logs & bunker documents
• Noon reports + voyage events (departure/arrival/anchorage)
• Engine/sensor snapshots (where available)
• AIS distance and voyage legs
• Third-party datasets (charter, routing, port activity)

The key mindset shift required here is to not demand one perfect format upfront. Ingest first. Standardize after alignment.

Step 2: Align Inputs Using Real Shipping Identifiers

This is where most reporting systems fail: they treat records like they’re universal. In shipping, they aren’t.

The most reliable alignment keys are:

• Vessel identifier (IMO / internal vessel ID)
• Voyage or leg identifier (when available)
• Timestamp hierarchy: Event time > Report time > System ingestion time

This alignment step is how you stop the classic nightmare of the same voyage being counted in three different ways by three different sources.

Step 3: Standardize Consistently (Where Quality Is Won or Lost)

Standardization is where emissions data becomes either audit-ready, or audit-risk. To reach the first state [SS1] [SE2] there are the following non-negotiables:

• Harmonize units (mt, kg, MJ, kWh, nautical miles).
• Map fuel types to a controlled dictionary and keep mappings transparent and traceable.
• Apply consistent calculation rules per framework. IMO vs EU requirements aren’t interchangeable.
• Use emission factors that are sourced, traceable, and consistent across fleet reporting and reporting periods.

If your rules aren’t consistent, your numbers can’t be stable. And if your numbers can’t be stable, your compliance process can’t scale.

The Verifier-Proof Layer: Quality Controls Catching Issues Before Verifiers Do

“Data quality” isn’t a promise. It’s a set of checks that fire every time—without debate. The controls that really prevent painful surprises are:

Duplicate Detection catches repeated bunker lines, repeated voyage events, double-ingested legs or duplicated reports from overlapping feeds.

Completeness Checks flag missing noon blocks, gaps inside voyages, incomplete fuel splits or missing port time segments.

Plausibility Checks test fuel against distance against speed, ballast/laden consumption patterns, port hours against consumption behavior, outliers that “look normal” in a spreadsheet until they don’t

Cross-Source Validation compares fuel used against the expected consumption envelope, AIS distance against reported voyage distance and event timelines against operational reality.

This is the difference between: “We have emissions data.” and “We have emissions data we can defend.”

Aggregate at the Levels Your Business Actually Runs On

Once inputs are aligned and clean, aggregation becomes powerful—and trustworthy.

Build reporting that works at:

• Voyage-level (one voyage, one story)
• Vessel-level (trendlines + outliers you can act on)
• Fleet-level (benchmarking, exposure, commercial reporting)
• Reporting period-level (audit trails + submission structure)

And this doesn’t just support compliance. It supports optimization and performance comparisons, identifying systemic waste and informing future-fuel decisions with real evidence.

Where This Shows Up in Bluetracker (and Why it Matters)

A compliance process becomes scalable only when reporting is systematic, repeatable, and defensible — month after month.

Inside the Bluetracker Suite the Bluetracker Environmental Module is your baseline layer. It is built for operators who need clarity without chaos, including an easy overview of fleet emissions and historical trends, digital records aligned to MARPOL, an “all-in-one” view of sustainability compliance and automated monthly EEOI and AER reporting.

The Bluetracker CII Module leads you from pure monitoring to informed decisions. It is designed to move beyond observation and tracks performance over time, anticipates tougher thresholds and uses prediction + AI/ML simulation to test corrective actions and future outcomes.

The compliance advantage is not just being compliant. It’s being consistently compliant with confidence — without burning your team out in spreadsheets, without re-living the same reconciliation drama every month, and without fearing the verifier’s first question.If you want an emission reporting that you can defend, start with a data aggregation you can trust. We can show you how Bluetracker, part of the Kaleris Carrier & Vessel Solution, connects and validates your emission inputs, so your submissions become repeatable, audit-ready, and low-friction.

The post Your Emissions Problem Isn’t Carbon: It’s Data (Here’s How to Fix It) appeared first on Kaleris.

The Problem: Manual Processes Create Delays, Blind Spots, and Operational Strain

From a transportation manager’s perspective, manual yard processes quickly become a bottleneck, especially in large, high-traffic facilities.

Without a centralized, real-time system:

• Yard teams waste 15–30 minutes per trailer searching for equipment, multiplying into hours of lost productivity each day.
• Clerks, spotters, supervisors, and drivers operate without a shared source of truth, increasing miscommunication and errors.
• FIFO workflows are difficult to enforce, leading to trailers sitting too long and slowing downstream processing.
• Managers lack instant access to accurate inventory data, making it harder to plan labor, prioritize moves, and meet service-level expectations.
• Reporting becomes reactive instead of strategic, requiring manual checks rather than real-time insights.

In short, transportation managers are forced to spend valuable time tracking assets instead of managing performance, improving flow, and planning the next move.

How Kaleris addresses this problem

Your yard deserves smoother entry, fewer delays, and a better carrier experience, all without adding complexity for drivers or staff.

Learn more

No App Fatigue, Faster Driver Check-Ins

Kaleris removes friction at the gate with SSO-enabled, no-download driver solutions. Drivers can check in through kiosks at their convenience, in any language, without needing another app on their device. This ensures:

• Faster gate thoroughput
• Secure verification of authorized drivers and shipments
• Immediate visibility for yard managers to plan dock assignments and moves

Real-Time Visibility That Eliminates Searching

Transportation managers shouldn’t have to send multiple spotters searching through hundreds of yard locations. Kaleris provides live inventory checks with accurate ETAs, load status, and asset condition updates across trailers, containers, and equipment.

With this level of visibility, managers can:

• Locate assets in 30 seconds or less 
• Prioritize moves based on real-time data 
• Increase operational productivity by 30% 
• Spend less time reacting and more time planning 

Together, Kaleris YMS and TMS create a unified platform that exponentially increases impact, eliminating app fatigue, reducing dwell and detention, and providing the real-time, end-to-end visibility teams need to act faster and stay ahead. 

Built-In Accountability and Exception Management

Yard operations can feel chaotic without clear accountability. Kaleris uses RTLS and real-time asset tracking to ensure:

• Precise location accuracy
• Clear ownership of yard moves
• Reduced move frequency and wasted labor
• Better exception tracking with historical data for audits and analysis

This allows transportation managers to reallocate yard driver time more effectively, maintain airtight data quality, and keep operations flowing without guesswork.

Turning the Yard Into a Strategic Advantage

Kaleris YMS is designed to work with yard teams, not against them. Through automated workflows, real-time insights, and seamless system integrations, transportation managers gain:

• Stronger control over yard activity
• Improved security and compliance
• Lower operational costs
• Confidence that goods will move efficiently, regardless of yard size or complexity

Control the Yard, Don’t Chase It

For transportation managers, the difference between a reactive yard and a high-performing one comes down to visibility, automation, and trust in the data. Manual processes slow teams down, create unnecessary stress, and limit the ability to plan ahead.

Kaleris YMS transforms the yard from a daily challenge into a strategic asset, empowering managers with real-time control, faster throughput, and actionable insights that drive better decisions.

Ready to spend less time searching for assets and more time moving your operation forward?
Explore how Kaleris YMS can help you take control of your yard and drive efficiency where it matters most.

The post Control the Yard, Don’t Chase It appeared first on Kaleris.

Welcome to the TOS Quarterly Newsletter, Edition 01 – a new way for us to share what’s new, what’s working, and what’s next across Kaleris Terminal Operating Systems. This newsletter is designed to help you understand how terminals are advancing performance through stronger foundations, smarter operations, and practical optimization. 

A Look Back at Our Customer Summits in Singapore + Dubai

These events brought together the maritime community for collaboration, with breakout sessions highlighting TOS innovations, customer successes, and focused 1:1 conversations that helped us stay closely connected with many of you who attended. 

Keep an eye out for future events. Kaleris is dedicated to building relationships and fostering conversations around supply chain innovation, growth and efficiency.

EMEA Summit

View Drive

APAC Summit

View Drive

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In the Spotlight

The Benefits of Embracing Change

 A recent World Cargo News feature highlights how Seayard terminal in Marseille Fos is optimizing berth planning and execution with Kaleris’ Berth Window Management (BWM) software. The solution is helping drive smarter decisions and streamline operations for improved efficiency.

Learn more

Elevating the Supply Chain of Tomorrow with AI

Rene Alvarenga shares practical insights on how artificial intelligence is reshaping port and terminal operations. As the industry moves beyond the initial novelty of artificial intelligence, success depends on building a solid data strategy, embracing change, and forging strong strategic partnerships.

Learn more

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You Don’t Want to Miss This 

Modernizing Operation at the Port of Auckland: An exclusive Q & A with Gary Elmes on the N4 4.0 Upgrade

In partnership with Kaleris, the Port of Auckland launched a major upgrade at Fergusson Terminal, transitioning to the advanced N4 4.0 system. To learn more about this digital transformation journey, we sat down with Gary Elmes, General Manager Digital, who led the project, to discuss the goals, challenges, lessons, and future vision for the port.  

Learn more

Where You’ll Find Us Next—Meet the Team There

Manifest – February 9-11, 2026  

• Breakbulk Middle East – February 4-5, 2026 
• CTAC Americas – February 24-25, 2026 
• TPM26 February 28, 2026 
• Happening Now: Manifest – February 9-11, 2026  
• CTAC Americas – February 24-25, 2026 
• TPM26 February 28, 2026 
• Fiesta Logistica Valencia, March 6 
• Intermodal South America, April 14-16 
• TOC Europe, May 16-18 

Learn more

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Advancing Terminal Operations Worldwide with N4 & AO 

Over the past year, Kaleris has maintained a strong global presence across the terminal ecosystem-through TOC events in Europe, Asia, and the Americas, CTAC forums, Customer Summits in Singapore and Dubai, and ongoing engagement with customers and partners. Across these conversations, one message stood out clearly: N4 remains the foundation of modern terminal operations, and everything we build extends its value. 

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TOS on the Global Stage 

At industry forums worldwide, Kaleris positioned Terminal Operating Systems not just as software, but as the operational backbone that enables terminals to scale, adapt, and perform. These discussions reinforced shared challenges across regions and the importance of technology grounded in real perational experience. 

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N4 4.0 : Strengthening the Foundation

As terminals scale automation and optimization, a stable and reliable core is essential. N4 4.0 delivers a major step forward in reliability, performance, and stability, with many customers already upgraded. The impact is tangible. The world’s first fully automated terminal, MVII, Rotterdam upgraded to N4 4.0 in early 2025 laying the groundwork for their Automated Terminal Trucks and advanced rail automation. At Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP), Malaysia the move to N4 4.0 delivered immediate productivity gains with no patches, no downtime, and no disruption, highlighting the platform’s maturity and robustness. Key enhancements such as Kafka-based messaging and improved configuration have significantly improved speed, uptime, and stability.

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From Foundation to Measurable Impact 

N4 is the base layer-delivering the robustness and reliability terminals depend on daily. Advanced Optimization (AO) builds on this foundation, helping terminals improve equipment utilization, throughput, and predictability. Sustaining these gains requires the right mix of technology, domain expertise, and strong operational teams- an approach central to Kaleris’ philosophy. 

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Advanced Optimization as a Growth Enabler 

Every terminal is unique in layout, maturity, and constraints. That’s why Kaleris enables phased, flexible adoption of optimization, allowing terminals to scale capabilities at a pace aligned with operational readiness rather than forcing a one-size-fits-all approach.

Our Advanced Optimization journey is delivering value, with many terminal partners already using it to make better use of resources and equipment — improving productivity and supporting cost efficiency. 

Successful implementations and strong partnerships continue to help us refine and strengthen our solutions together. 

Proven Success: RTG-O and TT-O 

Terminal Truck Optimization (TT-O) and RTG Optimization (RTG-O), as part of our Advanced Optimization capabilities, are delivering proven results at Port of Tanjung Pelepas, Port Houston, and Porto Itapoá – demonstrating how advanced, coordinated optimization improves overall terminal performance. 

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What’s Next: Optimizing the Yard 

The yard is the heart of the terminal and optimizing it is the next frontier. Kaleris’ next evolution focuses on yard optimization, strengthened by an AI-augmented decision-support layer. AI works alongside operators providing context, priorities, and better next-move recommendations helping reduce unnecessary moves and get more value from existing assets, while keeping humans firmly in control. 

As this journey continues, one thing remains clear: N4 is not just the system of record,it is the system of progress, enabling terminals to perform better today while preparing confidently for what’s next. 

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As one of New Zealand’s major hubs for containerized and multi-cargo operations, the Port of Auckland serves as a critical point of trade and innovation in the region. While the Port of Auckland is recognized for its ongoing innovation, the Fergusson Terminal was preparing for its next leap forward. After ten years of dedicated service with N4 2.6, the team saw an exciting opportunity to embrace new technology, enhance efficiency, and scale to meet growing trade demands.  

In partnership with Kaleris, the Port of Auckland launched a major upgrade at Fergusson Terminal, transitioning to the advanced N4 4.0 system. To learn more about this digital transformation journey, we sat down with Gary Elmes, General Manager Digital, who led the project, to discuss the goals, challenges, lessons, and future vision for the port. 

1. Can you describe the key reasons behind the decision to upgrade from N4 2.6 to N4 4.0 at Fergusson Terminal? 

• Honestly, we were on a version that was over ten years old, costing us a lot to have it supported, missing a decade’s worth of improvements, and holding us back. The upgrade wasn’t just a “nice to have”, it was essential to our operations being reliable, secure, and future-ready to meet our customer and industry demands. 

2. What performance or business goals were you hoping to address with this major upgrade? 

• A stable, modern platform that could support faster, smarter, and more resilient operations. That meant better system stability, improved integration capability, enhanced user experience, and the ability to adopt future N4 features quickly. From a business perspective, it was also about reducing operational risk and ensuring our technology stack could keep up with the scale and complexity of New Zealand’s largest import terminal. 

3. How does innovation factor into the Port of Auckland’s long-term strategy, and how did this project support that vision? 

• Innovation is at the heart of our Strengthening Our Mana strategy – built around Customers at the Core, Infrastructure for the Future, and Whanaungatanga, which is all about connection and looking after our people. 
• This N4 upgrade delivers on all three. For customers, it’s about giving them a reliable service today and opening the door to new technology that will improve efficiency, productivity, and the overall customer experience. It modernises our core systems so we’ve got the right infrastructure for what comes next — whatever that future technology may be. And it makes work easier and safer for our people, strengthening that sense of whānau (family). 

It’s the solid foundation we need to keep innovating with confidence. 

4. What were the biggest challenges you faced with the legacy N4 2.6 system? 

• The upgrade to v4.0 was a major leap — we understand the largest in Kaleris’ history — so we anticipated it wouldn’t be straightforward.  Two key challenges stood out: 

Functionality gap – We had missed out on a decade of enhancements, which meant we’d missed out on valuable new technology and improved capabilities. 

Risk – Running unsupported software increased costs to maintain support, introduced security vulnerabilities, and made significant issue resolution more complex and costly. 

Additionally, the upgrade was more complex than usual because it involved not just updating the software but also implementing entirely new infrastructure and security measures. 

5. Could you walk us through the main steps or milestones of the implementation, such as planning, testing, and go-live?  

• We started with a discovery and planning phase, where we scoped impacts across all user groups and mapped out dependencies. From there: 

Execution Phase - Updated the Project Execution Plan to ensure everyone was aligned, along with a Change Management Plan, High-Level Solution Architecture and Test Strategy as foundation documents for the next stage.    

Solution Design – Developed the detailed Solution Design, including workshops with the Kaleris Team. 

Environment builds & configuration – Ordering and provision hardware, setting up and tailoring N4 4.0 for our operation. 

Testing phases – Including functional testing, integration testing, and full end-to-end operational scenarios with our users. 

Training & onboarding – Preparing our teams so they were confident before go-live. 

Go-live & hypercare – Close vendor collaboration, daily check-ins, and rapid issue resolution to ensure stability. 

6. How did you and your team prepare for the transition to N4 4.0? Was there anything unique in your approach? 

• We placed strong emphasis on early, targeted engagement with subject matter experts (SMEs) and operational teams. To ensure issues were identified and prioritised promptly, we established business feedback loops during testing.   
• A key element to our approach was change management, not only training people on the upgraded system but helping them understand why the change was happening and how it would make their work easier.  To support this, we brought in an experienced Business Change Manager dedicated to guiding and supporting the teams throughout the project.   
• We also engaged an extremely experienced consultancy firm called Hatch that provided independent, expert feedback throughout all phases of the project.  They ensured our project plan was comprehensive and offered valuable insights to support our approach throughout the duration of the project. 

7. How would you describe the collaboration between Port of Auckland and the Kaleris team throughout the project? 

• It really felt like a partnership. With such a big upgrade, there were definitely some unknowns on both sides, but Kaleris stayed responsive and worked with us to find solutions. They were flexible when timelines or priorities shifted, which made it easier to navigate challenges together. Overall, it felt like one team working towards the same goals, building on our 10-plus years of working together. 

8. Were there any standout moments or key contributors on either the Port of Auckland or Kaleris side that helped drive the project’s success? 

• Definitely.  On our side, many of the project team and subject matter experts (SMEs) were balancing their regular day-to-day roles while deeply involved in the project.  A great example of using our High Performance, High Engagement (HPHE) methodology was the close collaboration with stevedores, stevedoring trainers, and equipment controllers to develop the MDT screen display used in our straddles, hoists and stackers. 
• The buildup to our go-live weekend was another standout moment.  We conducted full cut-over rehearsals with our users, including rollbacks, and developed a step-by-step cutover schedule so everyone knew exactly what was happening and when.  This plan was created collaboratively by all impacted users, including Kaleris and our external partners, ensuring alignment and readiness.  Throughout that period, significant internal and external communications kept everyone informed and engaged. 
• Kaleris had their technical leads onsite which was crucial for troubleshooting and guiding us though the complexity of this huge transition.  The go-live weekend was a masterclass in calm, focused joint problem-solving between both teams, which really helped drive the project’s success. 

9. Since going live, what operational improvements or efficiencies have you observed? 

• This upgrade was a ‘like-for-like’ move designed to set us up for future innovation. A backlog of enhancements is currently being worked on, and the new system allows us to implement upgrades more frequently, targeting two per year, with minimal impact on users.  These more frequent upgrades will also mean we’re keeping the system current and optimised to support our evolving business needs. 

To ensure a smooth transition to version 4.0, we closed the terminal for 48 hours to perform the upgrade, conduct thorough testing, and progressively go live. We now have a full test suite that can be run for every upgrade, which was one of the key reasons we hadn’t upgraded for over 10 years before this project. 

10. How does this upgrade position the Port of Auckland for future growth or new technology initiatives? 

• It gives us a future-proofed platform. It’s also improved our ability to adapt quickly-whether that’s responding to regulatory changes, introducing new features, or scaling to meet demand. This upgrade wasn’t the end goal; it was the starting point for the next chapter in our digital transformation. 

By upgrading to N4 4.0, Port of Auckland has strengthened its capacity for innovation and collaboration, benefiting not only its operations but also its customers and community. Fergusson Terminal is now equipped to adapt and thrive in a dynamic industry, laying the groundwork for ongoing progress. 

Thank you to Gary Elmes and the Port of Auckland team for sharing your insights and partnership on this milestone project. 

The post Modernizing Operations at the Port of Auckland: An Exclusive Q&A with Gary Elmes on the N4 4.0 Upgrade  appeared first on Kaleris.

In today’s digital-first supply chain, container terminals are under relentless pressure to operate faster, smarter, and more profitably. Yet, ongoing bottlenecks-whether in yard management, equipment utilization, or truck turnaround times continue to challenge both large and mid-sized terminals striving for operational excellence. 

Terminal Insights from Kaleris is a game-changing blend of software and expert services, part of our strategic push for advanced optimization in terminal operations. This solution empowers terminal leaders with the granular data insights and actionable guidance they need to optimize every part of their business. 

Why Traditional Approaches Aren’t Enough 

Most terminals rely on legacy systems and manual reporting, leaving critical Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) scattered or hard to access. This contributes to: 

• Delayed Decision-Making: Lack of real-time data leads to slow reaction times. 

• Inefficient Resource Allocation: Incomplete KPI data results in overstaffed shifts or idle equipment. 

• Reduced Productivity: Missed opportunities and persistent performance gaps erode profitability. 

• Poor Customer Satisfaction: Untracked delays cause vessel bottlenecks and unhappy customers. 

What Makes Terminal Insights Different? 

Terminal Insights is a comprehensive digital solution and consulting service, built specifically for the complex needs of modern marine terminals as part of our Advanced Optimization initiative. Here’s how it works: 

1. OpsView: Real-Time, KPI Dashboards 
Stay connected to live terminal performance from the palm of your hand. OpsView’s mobile-friendly dashboards provide operational leaders on-the-ground with up-to-the-minute views of throughput, crane movement, gate activity, and more. Whether you’re in the yard or at the office, you can monitor trends, compare shifts, and spot anomalies before they become problems. 

2. Analytics: Deep Dive into Historical Trends 
With a robust, cloud-hosted analytics warehouse, Terminal Insights offers powerful tools to dig into historical performance. Identify recurring bottlenecks, evaluate the impact of operational changes, and uncover new opportunities for cost savings and process improvement. 

3.: Actionable Reporting using “OpsInsight” 
Go beyond generic views with domain-specific reports and customized performance tracking. Surface the “DNA” of your terminal with granular KPIs that pinpoint trouble spots, empower rapid resolution, and enable ongoing process tuning. 

4. EVP API Suite: Seamless Integration 
Terminal Insights connects effortlessly to your existing TOS, crane systems, sensors, and external carrier platforms through standardized APIs. No heavy-lift IT projects or long development cycles- just quick wins and rapid ROI. 

5. Expert Business Analysis & Collaboraton 
Technology is only half the story: our expert analysts and service teams partner collaborate with the terminal operational team to interpret the data, troubleshoot bottlenecks, and implement process changes that stick. From onboarding to ongoing optimization, the Kaleris team ensures terminal’s investment delivers lasting results. 

Real Results: From Bottlenecks to Breakthroughs 

Adopters of Terminal Insights have realized measurable improvements in just a few months, which eventually improved their terminal throughput and performance. That includes-

Higher productivity: Visible improvement in truck moves per hour.

Operational efficiency: Noticeable gains in gross moves per hour in under a year.

Equipment performance: Significant increase in RTG moves per hour.

Reduced rehandles: Brought down from 25% to 15.8% within a year.

All of these achieved through the strength of our solutions and the dedicated team supporting terminals on their growth journey.

Why Now? The Case for Action 

With growing vessel sizes, tighter turnaround requirements, and increasing pressure from global supply chains, now is the time for terminals to embrace smarter, data-led operations. 

Terminal Insights-—as part of Kaleris’ Advanced Optimization suite—gives you the tools, insights, and expert support to move from reactive firefighting to proactive excellence, transforming old bottlenecks into new opportunities for growth. 

Ready to unlock the future of terminal performance with advanced optimization? 
Register for our Kaleris Terminal Insights webinar or connect with our experts to schedule a demo and discover your terminal’s true potential. 

The post Turning Bottlenecks into Breakthroughs: The Advanced Optimization Advantage for Container Terminals  appeared first on Kaleris.

The dynamic environment of a container terminal demands efficient coordination. Without it, operations descend into chaos that costs terminals time, money, and safety. Manual processes and dated systems are often the root cause of the chaos because they cannot compete with the demands of today.

This ebook examines the operational challenges that complicate effective terminal tractor management. It then explores the advantages and business impact of solving them using advanced optimization technology.  

The post Eliminating Costly Chaos: Optimizing Terminal Truck Operations appeared first on Kaleris.

As the world’s leading trade fair for logistics, mobility, IT, and supply chain management, “transport logistic” in Munich brings together the entire industry. Decision-makers, experts, and innovators gather here to discuss the latest trends and developments and explore business opportunities. 

Last week I had the honor to attend this event on behalf of Kaleris. As a Product Marketer, my focus is not only customer appointments, but I also to attend sessions, listen to forum discussions, and attend other events on the broader agenda to stay current on the latest and greatest happenings in the supply chain industry. 

Insights From the Showroom Floor

The exhibitor range at the show covers the branches of IT, telematic, e-business, telecommunications, intralogistics, warehouse management systems, auto ID and packaging, equipment for freight transport, services, freight transport and logistics. What makes this event so unique is that it brings together all parts of the supply chain and therefore enables discussions amongst all stakeholders and the pain points they face together. 

A particularly interesting forum discussion for me was “Marilog – Shipping in times of global uncertainty: How geopolitics, tariffs and protectionism are a challenge to the industry”. This high-class panel was led by the German Maritime Journal DVZ and the panelists were the CEO of Hapag Lloyd (representing the stakeholder of ship operators), the CEO of HHLA (representing terminals), the chef analyst of Alphaliner, the CEO of Rhenus Group (representing freight forwarders) and the General Manager of ShiftX (representing the beneficial cargo owners). What was very prominent in the discussion is that all stakeholders strongly feel that they must network and co-operate to face the challenges in the quickly changing conditions to make reliable and secure cargo deliveries possible.

Each of the stakeholders needs to have basic knowledge about the business drivers and vulnerabilities of its neighbor stakeholder and how disruptions may affect their business operations. It is obvious that collaboration is nurtured by reliable relationships, common goals, respect for all other parties, and finally by a common view on data about cargo and assets throughout the process. All panelists agreed that visibility on cargo data, asset data and logistics processes enables all stakeholders to finetune their business in operations to align with the latest developments that have an impact on the supply chain. 

Why adopt software solutions to optimize your operation now?

Changing conditions like the pandemic, geo-political conflicts, tariff wars or route blockages have a direct impact on stakeholders in the supply chain.. Port congestion, re-routing of any kind, missing cargo, lost cargo, container incidents, custom clearance problems and upcoming tight GHG regulations all impact transportation and delivery processes at various points in the supply chain. Due to tight schedules and asset disposition, demanding end customers and different business focuses, all stakeholders in the process need to constantly align with the previous and the following transportation modes during cargo transport. 

This is exactly where Kaleris steps in.  Kaleris empowers stakeholders in the supply chain to take control of their operations with the data necessary to navigate supply chain disruptions and challenges. 

Kaleris’ software helps stakeholders to control and optimize critical supply chain workflows and gives them access to real-time data so that operational and business decisions can be made with confidence. Across all transportation modes, Kaleris’ solution offers cargo owners, freight forwarders, yard managers, ship operators and terminal operators the possibility to connect the processes and take a look at data from a single source of truth. Terminal , transportation , yard , and ship operations can all benefit from Kaleris’ comprehensive approach to enhance how supply chain partners collaborate with each other. This leads to unrivaled connectivity between ports, terminals, shipping lines, inland facilities, and shippers enabling an accelerated supply chain ecosystem. 

Author

Selke Eichler
Marketing Director, Carrier and Vessel Solutions

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