essentos

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  • Essentos puts the container at the center of operations and accelerates efficiency

    Essentos puts the container at the center of operations and accelerates efficiency

    In many facilities, operations run one way and software runs another. Essentos is a TOS that closes that gap with a simple, demanding idea: The container is the center and everything else organizes around it. That approach is not an add-on or a separate bundle. It’s a design philosophy we call C-CORE (Container-Centric Orchestration, Rules & Evidence), the invisible foundation we used to build Essentos so day-to-day work becomes predictable, traceable, and measurable.

    Result: Less dwell, fewer reattempts, fewer penalties, and fewer minutes in line, without swapping hardware and while leveraging what you already have.

    What does it mean to put the container at the center?

    It means people, processes, and data treat the container as the unit of truth, and the physical and documentary states move forward together. When that happens, noise drops and available capacity per shift rises.

    • Dwell: The time a container remains idle between two relevant milestones inside the facility. Reducing dwell frees space and lowers demurrage/detention risk.
    • Truck Turn Time (TTT): Minutes from truck gate-in to gate-out. Lower TTT prevents congestion and improves the driver experience.
    • Orchestration: Processes turned into clear tasks with prerequisites, defined ownership, and closure with evidence.
    • Evidence: Photos, reads, weights, signatures, license plates, and user/device/time/location stamps per event. Without evidence, there’s no traceability.

    What is C-CORE and why does it matter if it’s “invisible”?

    C-CORE is the operating philosophy that guides how we design and configure Essentos TOS:

    Container-Centric Orchestration, Rules & Evidence = Container, Orchestration, Rules, and Evidence.

    • It is not a product and not a “special mode.”
    • It is not a separate process you “switch on.”
    • It is the way we think and build Essentos so every decision starts from the container, executes with simple rules, and leaves minimum required evidence.

    That “invisible software” creates real advantage: Less friction, Self-validating data, and KPIs that reflect what actually changes the shift. Other systems can copy screens; copying a design philosophy is a different league.

    C-CORE Principles

    1. Container first: Every decision starts from its real status.
    2. Simple orchestration: Short checklists, clear prerequisites, visible ownership.
    3. Exit-oriented rules: Placement, pre-staging, and sequencing look to the next milestone.
    4. Minimum required evidence: Just what adds value, no bureaucracy.
    5. Continuous measurement: KPIs that matter for ops and customers, not vanity metrics.

    Essentos functionalities aligned with C-CORE

    • Role-based orchestration with prerequisites: Valid documents, verified identity, available location, active time window.
    • Pre-validations before gate and before handoff to avoid in-yard rejections and recirculation.
    • Evidence capture (automatic and manual): License plate and container reads, weights, condition photos, signatures, and geo-stamps.
    • API/EDI integrations with your TOS/WMS/ERP/PCS, scales, and readers already in place.
    • Exception handling with assignment, guided action, and traceable closure.
    • Weekly improvement loop: Adjust rules based on incidents and KPIs.

    What if you’re running another TOS today?

    We don’t force cold cuts. Essentos coexists and integrates with your current TOS to test, measure, and de-risk. Once the team sees improvements and ROI, migrating to Essentos stops being a leap of faith and becomes a financial and operational decision.

    Low-risk migration path

    1. Discovery: Mapping of critical flows.
    2. Light integration: States, events, and evidence.
    3. Controlled parallel: Two flows with shared KPIs.
    4. Phased cutover: By process families on low-load days.
    5. Adoption: In-field training and rule review.

    Typical outcome: Fewer redundant licenses, Lower support cost, Faster change velocity, and an operation that doesn’t break when rules need adjusting.

    Measurable examples your team can verify

    1) Urban depot with high rotation

    Context: Capacity 1,200 TEU; 80% average occupancy; 3.2 days dwell.

    Action with Essentos: Exit-oriented placement rules, prerequisites before release, evidence at handoff.

    Result: Dwell 2.6 days after 45 days.

    Calculation: 0.6 days × 960 TEU average occupancy = 576 TEU-days returned to the cycle per week.

    Translation: More usable slots without expanding the yard and lower penalty exposure.

    2) Intermodal ramp with uneven queues

    Context: TTT avg 62 min; 90th percentile 94 min; first-attempt success 71%.

    Action: Gate prerequisites, 30-minute appointments, document checklist before opening the work order.

    Result: TTT avg –18% (51 min), p90 –22% (73 min), first-attempt success +12 pp.

    Impact: 300 trucks/day × 11 minutes saved = 55 hours of waiting removed per day.

    3) Yard with high rehandles

    Context: 0.7 rehandles per useful move; 400 moves/shift.

    Action: Exit-oriented rules and pre-staging by train or pickup window.

    Result: 0.7 → 0.4 rehandles.

    Impact: 0.3 × 400 = 120 rehandles avoided per shift. At 2.5 min each, that’s 300 minutes freed per shift.

    4) Disputes on condition and timing

    Context: 28 disputes/month; 9-day resolution; 42% favorable.

    Action: Mandatory evidence by incident category and a disputes board with internal SLA.

    Result: 28 → 14 disputes; 4-day resolution; favorable closures +20 pp.

    5) Export with early train arrival

    Context: Train arrives 45 minutes early; last-minute maneuvers and gate queues.

    Action: Pre-staging by train window, protected critical lanes, and time-slot alerts.

    Result: –35% last-minute moves; on-time train +8 pp.

    Every site has its unique reality and adaptation. The data above reflects some of our customers and how Essentos impacted their facilities.

    How do we deploy Essentos under the C-CORE philosophy without stopping operations?

    Week 1: Field discovery, baseline for dwell, TTT, reattempts, and disputes.

    Week 2: Minimum viable rules and 5–7 step checklists. Light integration and live boards.

    Week 3: Rule tuning by root cause. Mandatory evidence on key events. Time-window alerts.

    Week 4: Consolidation and impact report: Dwell, TTT, reattempts, disputes, and penalties.

    Data governance that makes improvement possible

    • Controlled catalogs: Container types, incident categories, zones, and rejection reasons.
    • No free text on critical fields: Customer, flow, milestone, status, exception reason.
    • Trustworthy stamps: User, device, time, and location per event.
    • Useful retention: Keep evidence long enough for audits and customer care.
    • One visible state: Documentary and physical in the same view to avoid contradictions.

    How do we design exit-oriented rules?

    1. Identify the next dominant milestone per flow: Train, pickup, inspection, transshipment.
    2. Define preferred locations and alternatives by compatibility, height, and safety.
    3. Protect critical zones to avoid last-minute rehandles.
    4. Set max stack heights by equipment and safety.
    5. Measure the effect on rehandles and TTT by time band.
    6. Adjust weekly by root cause, not intuition.

    Exceptions: From signal to action

    Practical taxonomy

    • Documents: Releases, VGM, permits, restrictions.
    • Identity: Invalid driver or license plate.
    • Location: Safety, height, or rack incompatibility.
    • Time window: Out-of-range appointment or early train.
    • Inspection: Hold or condition detected.

    Standard response

    • Assign to a role, short checklist, and minimum evidence.
    • Time limit and block the next milestone.
    • Close with root cause and learning to prevent recurrence.

    KPIs Essentos watches from day one

    • Dwell by flow family and zone.
    • TTT average and 90th percentile.
    • First-attempt success at gate.
    • Rehandles per useful move.
    • Open disputes, days to resolution, and favorable closure rate.
    • Demurrage/Detention by customer and root cause.
    • Effective occupancy and zone utilization.
    • On-time alert handling and SLA compliance.

    Frequently asked questions

    Does Essentos replace my current TOS on day one?

    Not required. We can coexist with your current TOS, integrate states and evidence, measure impact, and migrate when it makes economic and operational sense.

    Do I need to change hardware?

    No. We leverage your existing scales, readers, and equipment wherever possible.

    Who defines rules and checklists?

    Your team and ours, together, in the field. We prefer six rules everyone follows to twenty nobody remembers.

    When will I see results?

    Within 4 weeks you’ll see reattempts and TTT trending down. Dwell reduction typically consolidates in 8 to 10 weeks.

    Ready to validate Essentos in your facility?

    We propose a 30-day Impact Trial on two operational flows. We walk the yard with your team, implement rules and evidence, and measure dwell, TTT, reattempts, disputes, and penalties.

    Essentos is the TOS. C-CORE is the philosophy that makes it perform.

    Everything around the container.

  • Europe accelerates toward eBL: What changes by 2030 and how we prepare with Essentos

    Europe accelerates toward eBL: What changes by 2030 and how we prepare with Essentos

    Madrid, November 27, 2025. Container shipping is moving into a new phase of documentary digitalisation. The carriers grouped under the Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA) have publicly committed to reach 100 percent electronic Bill of Lading (eBL) adoption by 2030, with an intermediate target of 50 percent within five years. In parallel, the United Kingdom’s Electronic Trade Documents Act 2023 gives electronic trade documents the same legal effect as paper, and several EU countries are advancing legislation aligned with UNCITRAL’s MLETR to recognise electronic negotiable instruments. For shippers, forwarders, terminals and ports, the direction is clear. It is time to redesign processes, data and evidence to operate without paper and with real interoperability.

    What changed and why now?

    Carrier commitments have removed the “if” and shifted the conversation to “how.” On the legal side, the UK Act confirms that an electronic trade document can be possessed and indorsed and has the same effect as its paper counterpart. Across the EU, MLETR-aligned laws are progressing so that eBLs can be treated as transferable titles. At the same time, eIDAS 2.0 strengthens identity and trust services such as electronic signatures and seals. Together, these forces make eBL adoption both feasible and strategically advantageous for European supply chains.

    What is an eBL in practical terms?

    An electronic Bill of Lading is the digital form of the traditional bill of lading. It preserves the three classic functions: evidence of the contract of carriage, receipt of the goods and, when applicable, a transferable title. The difference is that issuance, transfer, endorsement and presentation happen in a secure digital system that ensures singularity, control and traceability. For operations and commercial teams this means fewer courier cycles, lower risk of loss and real-time visibility that aligns with how we already run logistics.

    How far has the industry gone?

    • Carrier commitments. DCSA members target 50 percent eBL within five years and 100 percent by 2030. Several carriers have restated the pledge individually.
    • Legal recognition. The UK grants full legal effect to electronic trade documents. EU countries are moving toward MLETR-style equivalence so electronic negotiable titles are recognised.
    • Insurance readiness. The International Group of P&I Clubs has updated its approval process and lists approved eBL systems, which simplifies compliance and due diligence.
    • Interoperability progress. The first standards-based interoperable eBL transactions have been announced, and specifications such as PINT APIs are designed to enable platform-to-platform transfer.

    Who is truly affected in Europe?

    • Shippers and BCOs managing title transfers, contracts and letters of credit.
    • Forwarders and NVOCCs issuing at master or house level and coordinating endorsements.
    • Terminals and ports that must prove custody and handover and keep operations aligned with document status.
    • Carriers executing the 2030 roadmap and seeking interoperability across platforms.
    • Banks and insurers updating policies and templates to handle electronic negotiable instruments safely.

    What day-to-day changes will you notice?

    1. Document speed. Control of a bill no longer depends on couriers. An endorsement or title transfer can be validated in minutes rather than days.
    2. Fewer disputes. Evidence tied to events and signer identity reduces ambiguity. Who released, when and based on what is captured in the record.
    3. Interoperability in the spotlight. The value compounds when an eBL can move between platforms and counterparties without friction. Breaking silos becomes a requirement, not a wish.
    4. Trust by design. Signatures, seals and timestamps under eIDAS 2.0 raise legal and technical assurance across the EU and support cross-border use.

    What will your bank and insurer expect?

    Banks and P&I Clubs typically require a platform or system that meets recognised criteria, clear governing law and jurisdiction, and robust controls for integrity and uniqueness. If you rely on letters of credit, expect updated templates that demand structured data in addition to a human-readable view. Having a complete electronic dossier reduces queries, accelerates presentation and shortens settlement.

    How do we connect from Essentos?

    We make sure the eBL is not an isolated satellite apart from real operations.

    • Essentos Connect. We expose and consume APIs and EDI to synchronise eBL states with operational events in terminals, depots and inland transport. We publish and consume messages with the platforms chosen by your counterparties so everyone sees a single source of truth.
    • Essentos Operations. We turn each release or handover into tasks with prerequisites and evidence. Photos, reads and signatures are captured with user, device, time and location. When an eBL becomes deliverable, operations and documentation move in lockstep.
    • Essentos Analytics. We track document cycle time, rejections, identity incidents and disputes, and we provide an audit-ready trail.
    • Essentos Plus. We provide secure external access so customers and partners can view status, events and authorised documents with roles, permissions and expiry rules.

    Which scenarios can you cover now?

    • Conditional release. The eBL becomes available only when specific operational checks and one documentary check are cleared. The system records who authorised, when and with which evidence.
    • Endorsement and title transfer. Connect notifies the parties and synchronises the transfer with the operational file. Operations prevents any physical movement until the system confirms the change of title.
    • Letter of credit. We prepare the presentation pack with a human-readable view and the structured data your bank expects. Analytics tracks elapsed time from issue to payment.
    • Inspection or hold. If an authority requests information, we display the eBL state alongside the physical record to avoid contradictions and delays.

    What 90-day plan will keep you ahead?

    Days 1 to 30

    • Map documentary flows and paper bottlenecks.
    • Select an eBL platform or an interoperable network with your partners.
    • Inventory contracts and clauses that must be updated.

    Days 31 to 60

    • Integrate Connect with the chosen platform.
    • Run a pilot on two lanes and two banks.
    • Train teams on signing, sealing and endorsing electronically.

    Days 61 to 90

    • Controlled production rollout with anchor customers.
    • Activate Essentos Plus for external visibility.
    • Turn on Analytics dashboards for cycle time, rejections and disputes.

    Which KPIs will we watch?

    • Average release time from eBL issuance.
    • Identity incidents and document rejections.
    • Endorsement cycle count per shipment.
    • Dispute rate and days to resolution.
    • Savings in courier costs and rework versus paper.

    Frequently asked questions

    Is an eBL legally valid?

    Yes. In the United Kingdom the Electronic Trade Documents Act 2023 gives electronic trade documents the same legal effect as paper. In the EU, countries are adopting MLETR-aligned laws to recognise electronic negotiable titles. Always check the governing law in your contract.

    Will there be a single eBL system for everyone?

    Not necessarily. The key is interoperability so an eBL can move between platforms securely. Industry specifications and the first interoperable transactions show that this is achievable.

    What role does eIDAS 2.0 play?

    It provides the EU framework for identity and trust services used to sign, seal and verify documents and transactions across borders, which is critical for legal acceptance.

    How does this relate to ICS2 or eFTI?

    They are different frameworks. ICS2 governs pre-arrival safety and security data, and eFTI governs electronic acceptance of regulatory information. The eBL is a negotiable commercial document. From Essentos we connect the three so that operations and documentation never contradict each other.

    Ready to move to eBL?

    Want us to assess your eBL readiness? We map your documents and events, integrate with your chosen eBL platform through Essentos Connect, enforce prerequisites and evidence in Essentos Operations, give you KPIs and traceability with Essentos Analytics, and open Essentos Plus so customers and partners can view the same electronic truth you operate on.

  • ICS2 2026 in Europe: The definitive guide to retire v2 and move to v3 on time

    ICS2 2026 in Europe: The definitive guide to retire v2 and move to v3 on time

    Madrid, November 27, 2025. The European Union has completed the roll out of ICS2 Release 3 for all transport modes, including road and rail. Some Member States granted temporary derogations during 2025, yet the direction is clear. From February 3, 2026 only v3 ENS messages will be used. If you still lodge v2 and need to amend after that date, you will have to invalidate and re-lodge in v3. This article explains what changes, who is affected, how to migrate without disruption, and how we connect from Essentos so your transition is safe, measurable, and fast. 

    What is ICS2 and why does it matter now

    ICS2 is the EU customs safety and security system for Entry Summary Declarations (ENS) before arrival at the EU customs territory. With Release 3, coverage extends to maritime, inland waterways, road, and rail. The goal is better risk analysis based on complete, standardised data and more predictable controls at the external border. On September 1, 2025 ICS2 became fully operational in all Member States for all modes, with limited temporary derogations where granted. 

    In practice, this means more granular data, stricter validations, and time windows for ENS in road and rail defined by each national authority. Traders, carriers and terminals that prepare early will face fewer rejections and fewer manual fixes. 

    The dates you cannot move

    • September 1, 2025. Release 3 is in force EU wide. Some Member States allowed temporary derogations for road and rail during 2025.
    • Through December 31, 2025. Example Spain. The Tax Agency confirmed a postponement for road and rail until year end. Other countries published similar notes in 2025.
    • February 3, 2026. Hard cut. Only v3 ENS messages remain. ENS lodged in v2 before the cut cannot be amended after that date. They must be invalidated and re-lodged in v3.

    For planning and training, several customs authorities published deployment windows and phase calendars. Revenue Ireland is a useful reference, with Phase 3 for road and rail between April 1 and September 1, 2025. 

    Who needs to move now

    You are in scope if you are:

    • A road or rail carrier entering or transiting the EU.
    • A freight forwarder or logistics operator lodging ENS at master or house level.
    • An intermodal or rail terminal orchestrating pre-arrival events.
    • An IT or EDI/API provider maintaining customs flows.

    The priority is to migrate to v3 well before the cut and to align processes with your partners. 

    What changed with v3 vs v2

    • New ENS message structures and tighter validations to reduce ambiguity.
    • Better traceability between master and house data.
    • Clear rules for amendments and invalidations with known impacts.
    • Closer alignment with pre-arrival operational events and national system behaviours.

    The Commission’s official ICS2 page is explicit. From February 3, 2026 only v3 is used. Any amendment of a v2 filing after that date requires invalidation and re-lodgement in v3. 

    Derogations in 2025, and Spain as an example

    Derogations gave operators time to finish developments. They were temporary and country specific. Spain publicly confirmed a postponement for road and rail until December 31, 2025. DG TAXUD also published guidance for road and rail, including how derogations interact with NCTS upgrades. If you enter through a Member State without derogation, ICS2 was already mandatory for road and rail from September 1, 2025. Always check the national note and the DG TAXUD guidance before planning. 

    Operational impact by mode

    Road. Presentation times are close to the border crossing. Accuracy for the first point of entry and the time window is critical.

    Rail. You rely on train planning and events. Alignment with the rail operation and consistency with house level filers is essential.

    Multimodal with ports. If you combine sea, rail, and road, pre-arrival milestones and coherence across port systems and ENS are the difference between smooth and painful.

    What to do now

    1. Identify your role in ENS. Road or rail carrier, house level filer, representative.
    2. Register or refresh your credentials with your national customs and test the ICS2 channel now.
    3. Map v2 to v3 and stop relying on v2 well before February 3, 2026.
    4. Map mandatory and optional data and prepare operational evidence for audits.
    5. Orchestrate pre-arrival processes to hit ENS windows in road and rail.
    6. Align customers and EDI/API providers under a single transition timeline.
    7. Measure rejections and response times and fix root causes at the data source.

    DG TAXUD and several Member States explicitly advise not to wait until December to switch. Early testing lowers rejection rates and avoids January bottlenecks. 

    How we connect from Essentos

    Our role is to make this transition practical in real operations, without forcing hardware changes.

    • Essentos Connect. We expose and consume APIs and EDI to map and send v3 ENS and to integrate pre-arrival events with national systems. We also consolidate status returns so every team reads a single source of truth.
    • Essentos Operations. We turn each job into clear tasks with prerequisites and evidence. Photos, reads and signatures are captured with user, device, date, time and location. This reduces v3 rejections by eliminating missing or inconsistent data.
    • Essentos Analytics. We track data quality, validation rejections, presentation windows, and productivity, and we keep a full audit trail.

    We are software first and hardware agnostic. We integrate your current stack and align your data semantics with ICS2 structures. 

    External access with Essentos Plus

    Essentos Plus gives secure external access to operational and documentary information. Customers, forwarders and shippers can see shipment status, pre-arrival events and download authorised documents without flooding your team with calls and emails.

    • What users see. Status, recent events, coded incidents and their resolution with evidence.
    • How they access. Roles and permissions by customer, contract or shipment. Expiring links, access logs, optional SSO and two factor authentication.
    • Why it helps. Fewer resends, fewer discrepancies, and the same data that goes to customs via ICS2.

    If you also run port interfaces, we can align with PCS or DUEPORT. If your flow includes road legs that use eCMR, we keep that document aligned with what you file for ICS2.

    A realistic day migrating to v3

    First thing in the morning the team prepares the v3 ENS with complete data. Connect validates business rules and sends through the national channel. Operations checks prerequisites and attaches evidence to each milestone. A minor warning arrives from the customs system. The operator fixes it in minutes and resubmits. The customer logs into Essentos Plus and sees the same status that customs is using for risk analysis. Later that day a change that used to be done in v2 is not allowed anymore. Because you already moved to v3, the update is clean, auditable, and does not block a truck or a train.

    Common mistakes to avoid

    • Waiting until January to test v3. The learning curve becomes a rejection spike.
    • Master and house out of sync. Lack of coordination multiplies amendments.
    • Weak data for sensitive goods. Poor descriptions and codes trigger unnecessary controls.
    • Ignoring the entry country. Rules and windows vary by administration. Check the national note and DG TAXUD guidance.

    Test plan before the cut

    Phase 1. Lab. Unit tests for v2 to v3 mapping. Syntactic and business validations with edge cases.

    Phase 2. Integration. Full ENS v3 filings with status returns. Controlled amendments and invalidations.

    Phase 3. Live pilot. Representative corridors by country. Monitor rejections and response times in production.

    Exit criteria. Rejection rate under your threshold, time inside the presentation window, trained teams and signed procedures.

    Project checklist to be ready on time

    1. Name an ICS2 program owner and a core team.
    2. Inventory corridors, entry countries and modes.
    3. Define presentation windows by flow.
    4. Complete the v2 to v3 mapping including optional fields that improve acceptance.
    5. Align contracts and SLA with EDI or API partners.
    6. Set up test environments and a pool of real cases.
    7. Run the three phase test plan and sign the exit criteria.
    8. Train traffic and documentation teams.
    9. Publish amendment and invalidation procedures.
    10. Turn on dashboards and alerts for rejections.
    11. Launch a live pilot in December to operate smoothly in January.
    12. Disable v2 before February 3 with clear operational safeguards.

    KPIs to watch from day one

    • Validation rejection rate for v3.
    • Customs response time by corridor and country.
    • Window compliance by mode.
    • Share of shipments with complete evidence.
    • Amendments and incidents before and after the v2 cut.
    • Operational effort in minutes per file.

    Myths you should drop now

    1. Migrating to v3 is only a format change.
    2. Derogations let me wait without risk.
    3. If the forwarder is ready, I am ready.
    4. Presentation windows are the same EU wide.
    5. Data quality does not influence controls.
    6. I can amend any v2 ENS after the cut.
    7. ICS2 does not touch my operations.
    8. An EDI provider equals a passed test.
    9. Two test filings equal a robust pilot.
    10. Audits can be solved with screenshots and emails.

    90 day roadmap to the cut

    • Days 1 to 30. Audit current v2 messages, map to v3, review data sources, register or refresh access to the national channel.
    • Days 31 to 60. Pilot v3 ENS with real scenarios. Fix rejections. Tune rules in Operations.
    • Days 61 to 90. Harden evidence and Analytics dashboards, train teams, and inform customers with Essentos Plus.

    Request an ICS2 assessment

    We review your v3 messages, orchestrate ENS with Essentos Connect, enforce prerequisites and evidence with Essentos Operations, measure rejections and time windows with Essentos Analytics, and activate Essentos Plus so your customers can view the same electronic truth you file to customs.

  • What is Essentos Operations?

    What is Essentos Operations?

    Operations is the operational core of Essentos. It centralizes task execution in the terminal so every service, move, and verification happens in the right order—with the day-to-day traceability your teams need. From the moment a load is authorized in Fastport until unloading, repositioning, or exit is complete, Operations orchestrates tasks, assigns resources, records evidence, and syncs status with the rest of the modules and with your corporate systems.

    Think of it as a real-time coordination layer that understands each service’s priority, enforces business rules, and maintains a complete event log with timestamp, user, location, equipment, and context. Instructions are published to field interfaces so operators see the next best action, prerequisites are validated automatically, and exceptions are resolved through guided steps. The result is a more predictable operation, less rework, and more available capacity—without adding assets.

    Operations doesn’t replace your processes; it makes them explicit and executable. Standard operating procedures become clear, visible checklists with validations, while ad-hoc radio calls turn into auditable events. Supervisors gain a single view of status and blockers; field teams receive simple, sequenced tasks they can actually follow.

    Why Operations?

    Terminals never stop, and any inefficiency multiplies across shifts and peaks. Operations reduces operational noise by turning each order into clear, visible, executable steps. It cuts re-entries and rehandles by aligning access, weighing, and field tasks with rules your team can follow on the ground. It speeds decision-making by exposing live status and blockers to the roles that can fix them. It improves audits and customer care by preserving per-event evidence.

    Critically, Operations lets you scale complexity in a controlled way. You can add new rules or integrations as business grows—without breaking what already works. That means faster onboarding for new services, fewer surprises at shift change, and better protection of SLAs when demand spikes.

    How does it work?

    1. Start signal & work order. Essentos receives a start signal from Fastport, Connect, or your systems (e.g., an EDI pre-advice or an internal work request) and creates a work order with its operational objective.
    2. Orchestration & breakdown. Operations breaks the order into sequential or parallel tasks according to your processes, sets dependencies, and assigns an owner and equipment. It publishes step-by-step instructions to field interfaces.
    3. Validation before action. As the team executes, the system validates prerequisites (documents, holds, VGM, zone permissions), and blocks steps that don’t meet the rule—avoiding re-entries and rehandles.
    4. Evidence capture & status. Each milestone captures photos, reads, weights, signatures, and updates real-time status for Operations, Planning, and Customer Service.
    5. Exception handling. If a prerequisite is not met, a guided resolution kicks in with exception rules, notifications, and hot-swaps of resources when plans change.
    6. Closure & handoff. When the order completes, Operations closes the loop with an execution summary that feeds Analytics, Billing, and external systems via Connect—keeping documentary and operational states aligned.

    Key capabilities

    • Unified work order lifecycle. From creation and assignment through execution to verified closure, with a single source of truth for every event.
    • Configurable operational tasks. Define tasks by process for loading/unloading, inspections, document checks, positioning, pre-staging, and delivery, with clear instructions and checklists.
    • Rules & checklists by SLA. Enforce cargo type, customer, zone, and SLA rules with pre-milestone validations and required evidence.
    • Resource assignment that adapts. Assign by role, shift, and availability, with hot-swaps and priority changes when conditions shift.
    • Evidence that stands up to audit. Photos, OCR reads, weights, and signatures tied to the exact event, user, timestamp, and location.
    • Incident handling. Defined resolution paths, escalation, and operational notes that capture root cause and actions taken.
    • Real-time traceability. Fine-grained event timelines and status lookup for operations, customer service, and compliance.

    Native integrations

    • Fastport provides access authorization, appointment, and document validation that trigger or gate the order.
    • AI Reader supplies automatic license-plate and container reads as proof of passage or position.
    • Weighing seals VGM and weigh tickets that can sequence or condition tasks.
    • Securepass governs identities and permissions for people and vehicles at each milestone.
    • Connect publishes and consumes EDI/API with PCS, ocean carriers, ERP, WMS, and Customs so operational and documentary states advance together.
    • Analytics receives all events for shift KPIs, productivity, and dwell; Billing uses service milestones to propose settlements.

    Use cases

    • Unloading with pre-verification. The order enforces release, VGM, and safety checks before a bay opens, preventing re-entries and idle equipment.
    • Repositioning with exit-driven logic. Tasks place containers in the right zone the first time, cutting later rehandles and travel.
    • Inspection with mandatory evidence. Family-specific checklists and required photos/signatures shorten disputes and standardize quality.
    • Train pre-staging. Operations coordinates lane timing, train window, and queue priority to minimize waits and last-minute maneuvers.
    • Customer pickup. Document control and equipment verification before exit reduce returns, holds at the gate, and TTT outliers.

    Measurable benefits

    • Lower rehandles by applying placement rules and early verification, directly reducing non-productive moves.
    • Higher document First-Time-Right by blocking steps when prerequisites are missing and offering guided resolution.
    • Reduced Truck Turn Time (TTT) by aligning authorization, weighing, and first service without re-entries.
    • Shorter post-gate dwell by chaining tasks without idle time and with shared visibility.
    • Higher shift productivity by cutting dead time and unnecessary travel.
    • Faster incident response thanks to a single view with status, root cause, and evidence.

    Practical example

    A tractor unit enters with a confirmed appointment and validated documents. Operations creates the unloading order and activates its first task. The system verifies that VGM is sealed and there’s no Customs hold. AI Reader confirms license plate and container; Weighing adds the digital ticket; the supervisor assigns the available equipment.

    Unloading is performed and condition photos are recorded. Repositioning is triggered with exit criteria, and the final location is confirmed. Connect publishes the necessary events to the PCS and ERP, and Analytics updates shift KPIs. The customer receives a status notification and, if applicable, Billing generates the service settlement proposal.

    KPIs Operations helps you track (for clarity & SEO)

    • Truck Turn Time (in/out) by lane, shift, and service type.
    • Dwell time pre- and post-gate by zone or customer.
    • First-Time-Right rate for documents and services.
    • Rehandles per container and per area.
    • Exception rate & time-to-resolve, including escalations.
    • Task completion times and shift productivity trends.

    FAQs

    Does Operations force our teams into a rigid process?

    No. Your SOPs are modeled as tasks and rules; Operations enforces what you define and makes exceptions guided and auditable.

    Can we add new steps or checks later?

    Yes. You can introduce new rules, tasks, or integrations without disrupting existing flows.

    How does Operations reduce re-entries?

    By validating prerequisites (documents, holds, VGM, access) before a task starts and blocking work until issues are resolved.