Products
TerminalOS
TerminalOS
by Nehlum
AI TERMINAL EMPLOYEE
TerminalOS: AI Container Depot and Terminal Management Software
Stop managing tomorrow with yesterday's data.
Most depots know what was in the yard yesterday. TerminalOS tells you what's in it now, who each container belongs to, how long it has been there and what's arriving or leaving tomorrow. It reads the return notices, pickup instructions, detention extensions and shipping-line emails your team already receives, keeps every container record up to date, and plans the yard ahead. Know what's here. Know what's coming.
- Reads every email
- Knows every container
- Counts every day
- Forecasts tomorrow
- Plans the space
- You make the call
HANDLES
ISO Tanks
20ft
40ft
Reefer
Food Grade
Chemical Grade
A container yard seen from above, every container grey and unknown. Four questions appear: what's here, whose is it, how long, what's next. Six emails arrive, a return notice, a pickup instruction, a detention extension, a shipping-line instruction, an expected arrival and a customer email, but nothing connects them to the yard. TerminalOS reads them: email read, return date captured, pickup scheduled, arrival expected, inventory updated. Each container is linked to its customer. Today: 326 containers in the yard. Tomorrow: 24 expected in, 17 planned out, space planned. The yard manager approves the space plan.
01THE QUESTIONS
Do you really know what's sitting in your terminal?
Answer five questions about your yard. The meter shows how much could be slipping away every month because the yard runs on yesterday's data.
Do you know who owns every container, and who you should be billing?
How long has each container been sitting there, and has every storage day been billed?
How many trucks will arrive tomorrow that nobody told the yard about?
How many emails a day carry a return date, pickup or extension that someone has to retype?
SAR slipping every month
- Storage days never billed
- Re-handling for unplanned arrivals
- Retyping emails 104 h
- Disputes and write-offs
Illustrative estimate. Your figures will differ.
How we calculate
- Unbilled storage = containers × % out of date × unbilled days × storage rate
- Re-handling = unplanned arrivals per day × 26 working days × 2 extra moves × SAR 45 per move
- Retyping = emails per day × 26 working days × 4 minutes ÷ 60 × SAR 60 per hour
- Disputes = disputes per month × SAR 1,500
The data is already there.
What if an AI employee read every return notice and pickup instruction for you?
What if every email updated your yard before the truck reached the gate?
What if you knew tomorrow's yard today?
02THE SOLUTION
Your yard is written in your inbox. TerminalOS reads it.
Return dates, pickups, extensions and expected arrivals already reach your team by email every day. TerminalOS connects to those inboxes, reads every message, matches it to the right container and customer, and keeps your yard record and tomorrow's plan up to date.
Container record DEMU 550129-6
- Expected in
- Next movement
- Free days
- Priority
- Service booked
- Status reply
TerminalOS reads
LineSizesQuantityReturn date
It updates
Expected in (tomorrow), space reserved
Someone has to read, retype and remember each one.
What TerminalOS reads in each email, and what it updates
- Container return notice: TerminalOS reads Line · Sizes · Quantity · Return date. It updates: Expected in (tomorrow), space reserved.
- Pickup instruction: TerminalOS reads Container numbers · Customer · Truck · Pickup time. It updates: Next movement → Planned out, release waiting for approval.
- Detention extension: TerminalOS reads Container · Extra free days. It updates: Free days and storage start date.
- Shipping-line instruction: TerminalOS reads Repositioning or off-hire · Quantity · Destination. It updates: Planned out, priority.
- Expected arrival: TerminalOS reads Container or tank · ETA · Cargo history · Service requested. It updates: Expected in, service booked.
- Customer email: TerminalOS reads Container asked about. It updates: Status reply drafted for your team.
How TerminalOS works
-
01
Connect
Your shared inboxes (ops@, depot@, customer service), gate records and yard data.
-
02
Read
Every email: return notices, pickup instructions, detention extensions, shipping-line instructions, expected arrivals and customer questions. Newsletters and internal chatter are skipped.
-
03
Match
Each message is linked to the right container, customer and shipping line.
-
04
Update
Inventory, owner, days in yard, status and next movement are updated on the container record.
-
05
Forecast
Tomorrow's arrivals and departures, space per zone and lift moves are planned days ahead.
-
06
You decide
Your team approves releases, space plans and replies. Every change is recorded.
03SEE IT WORK
Twelve emails in. Thirty-six containers updated. Tomorrow planned.
This is a real-looking depot inbox on a normal morning. Click any email to watch TerminalOS read it, find the containers and update the yard. Or press the button and let it read the whole inbox.
- 12emails read
- 11actioned
- 36container records updated
- +24 in · 17 outTomorrow
Inbox · ops@0 unread
The yard, zones A to E. Containers an email touched are highlighted.
Today326 in yard
Tomorrow333 / 350 · 95%
Space check · Tomorrow 333 / 350 · 95% · Zone C full by 11:00
TerminalOS proposes: place the 12 Gulf Star empties in Zone E (overflow) and restack Bay C-6.
Space plan approvedClick an email to see what TerminalOS changed.
Before
- Container
- DEMU 550129-6
- Customer
- ?
- Days in yard
- 18 days
- Status
- ?
- Next movement
- ?
After TerminalOS
Eastern ChemicalsZone BBay 4Stack 2Tier 1Cleaned, ready
Skipped · not operational. Nothing in the yard changed.
The email, with what TerminalOS read
Eastern Chemicals · Where is our tank DEMU 550129?Hello, where is our tank DEMU 550129? Is it ready for pickup?
Reply drafted for your team
DEMU 550129 is in Zone B, Bay 4, Stack 2, Tier 1. It has been in our yard for 18 days and is cleaned and ready for pickup. Storage after the 7 free days is SAR 132.
Reply sent
04KNOW WHAT'S COMING
Today's yard is a fact. Tomorrow's yard is a plan.
Three questions every depot manager asks. Pick one.
Will we have space next week?
?Yesterday's report: 311 containers
352 / 350
+2 with no space
| Day | Start | Expected in | Planned out | End | Occupancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today | — | — | — | 326 | 93% |
| +1 | 326 | 24 | 17 | 333 | 95% |
| +2 | 333 | 30 | 22 | 341 | 97% |
| +3 | 341 | 28 | 17 | 352 | 101% over capacity |
| +4 | 352 | 15 | 21 | 346 | 99% |
| +5 | 346 | 12 | 20 | 338 | 97% |
| +6 | 338 | 10 | 18 | 330 | 94% |
| +7 | 330 | 14 | 20 | 324 | 93% |
Day +3 is over capacity. TerminalOS proposes:
- Bring forward 6 Gulf Star Lines repositioning moves from day +4 to day +2.
- Open overflow Zone E for 12 empties.
Option 1 keeps every day under capacity.
Plan approvedLift moves planned: +1 41 · +2 52 · +3 45 · +4 36 · +5 32 · +6 28 · +7 34. Plan the crew and reach stackers before the trucks arrive. Illustrative.
Which containers are costing you, and is every day billed?
- 0–7 days182Within free days
- 8–14 days76Storage accruing
- 15–30 days49Customer reminder drafted
- 30+ days194 have no confirmed billing party
- Total326
0–7 days · 182 containers
| Container | Owner | Days | Storage accrued |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEMU 771190-2 | Najd Foods | 3 | SAR 0 |
| DEMU 210511-8 | Al Noor Trading | 5 | SAR 0 |
| DEMU 318840-1 | Red Sea Container Line | 6 | SAR 0 |
8–14 days · 76 containers
| Container | Owner | Days | Storage accrued |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEMU 402288-5 | Prime Motors | 9 | SAR 24 |
| DEMU 318822-7 | Red Sea Container Line | 11 | SAR 0 |
| DEMU 660173-4 | Al Safa Logistics | 12 | SAR 60 |
15–30 days · 49 containers
| Container | Owner | Days | Storage accrued |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEMU 550129-6 | Eastern Chemicals | 18 | SAR 132 |
| DEMU 900288-1 | Delta Cold Chain | 22 | SAR 180 |
| DEMU 120934-0 | Horizon Contracting | 27 | SAR 240 |
30+ days · 19 containers
| Container | Owner | Days | Storage accrued |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEMU 550098-2 | Eastern Chemicals | 41 | SAR 408 |
| DEMU 550104-9 | Eastern Chemicals | 36 | SAR 348 |
| DEMU 731455-3 | No billing party | 52 | SAR 540 |
| DEMU 731460-6 | No billing party | 47 | SAR 480 |
TerminalOS counts every day. Your team decides who gets the reminder and the invoice. Storage at SAR 12 per day after 7 free days (12 where extended).
Can I get an answer without walking the yard?
YouWhere is DEMU 550129?
TerminalOSZone B · Bay 4 · Stack 2 · Tier 1. In yard 18 days. Cleaned, ready for pickup. Storage SAR 132 after 7 free days.
Illustrative. On your yard, answers come from your live records.
05GATE TO GATE
Can you follow one container from gate-in to gate-out without a phone call?
Every container arriving at your depot moves through a fully tracked lifecycle. Each stage is timestamped, assigned to a user and linked to billing.
DEMU 771203-1ISO tank · Najd Foods
Told by email · Expected since yesterday 08:44, Najd Foods email
- Gate In Size, type and owner logged with the checklist. Thu 14:06 · Gate Officer
- Inspection Condition assessed with photos and notes. Thu 15:10 · Inspector
- Service Food-grade cleaning tracked to completion. Fri 09:30 · Cleaning Supervisor
- Storage Placed in Zone C · Bay 6 by size and departure. Fri 13:00 · Yard Manager
- Gate Out Invoices cleared, certificate attached. Sun 20:06 · Gate Officer
Gate-In
- 01RegisterLog ISO tanks or containers with size, type and owner details in seconds.
- 02ChecklistCustomisable arrival checklist completed and signed off by the gate officer.
- 03CaptureDriver, truck and booking details entered with document and photo capture.
- 04RouteContainer routed to inspection, the cleaning bay or straight to the yard.
Gate-Out
- 01Verify invoicesConfirm all outstanding charges are settled before the gate opens.
- 02Check certificatesVerify cleaning certificates have been issued and attached to the record.
- 03Final documentsExit photos and documentation captured and stored automatically.
- 04TurnaroundTime in depot calculated automatically and logged for reporting.
Turnaround: 3 days 6 h
Gate-out confirmed06CAPABILITIES
Six modules. Nine roles. One AI terminal employee.
A container terminal management system for empty container depots, ISO tank depots and yards across Saudi Arabia and the GCC: gate, yard, cleaning, repair, billing and a customer portal, with an AI layer that keeps container inventory, dwell time and yard capacity planning current from your email.
- Email reading for return notices, pickups and extensions
- Automatic container matching
- Live yard inventory
- Dwell-time tracking
- Storage day capture
- Tomorrow's arrivals and departures forecast
- Space planning by zone
- Smart yard placement
- Status replies drafted for customers
- Ask your yard in plain language
- Reefer temperature alerts
- Turnaround prediction
Gate Management
Digital gate-in and gate-out with checklists, driver details and turnaround captured.
Yard Management
Zones, bays and stacks with live occupancy and planned movements.
Cleaning & QA
Inspections and cleaning tracked on the container record.
Maintenance & Repair
Repairs estimated, approved and tracked per container.
Billing & Finance
Storage and services charged from the container's own record.
Customer Portal
Customers check status, documents and approvals themselves.
Nine roles, one system
- AdminFull control and audit logs
- Gate OfficerGate-in and gate-out
- InspectorInspections with photos
- Cleaning SupervisorBays and queue
- MNR EngineerRepair jobs
- Yard ManagerLayout and movements
- Billing OfficerInvoices and payments
- Lift OperatorMoves on mobile
- CustomerSelf-service portal
07BEFORE / AFTER
Reactive terminal. Predictive terminal.
Switch to "Predictive" to see what changes for your team, and what management sees every morning.
| Core pain | AI action | Human outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Nobody trusts the yard count | AI keeps inventory live from every gate move and email | One number everyone trusts |
| Containers with no clear owner | AI matches each container to its customer and line | Right customer, right bill |
| Dwell time nobody watches | AI counts every day in the yard | Storage billed, old units cleared |
| Return dates buried in email | AI reads return notices and expected arrivals | Tomorrow's arrivals known today |
| Pickup instructions retyped by hand | AI captures pickups, releases and cancellations | No missed or wrong releases |
| Detention extensions missed | AI updates free days and charges | No billing disputes |
| Customers phoning "where is my tank?" | AI drafts the status reply | Customers answered in minutes |
| Surprise trucks at the gate | AI forecasts tomorrow's in and out moves | Crew and equipment ready |
| The yard fills up without warning | AI plans space by zone, days ahead | Space ready before trucks arrive |
| Management sees yesterday's report | Morning yard brief | Decisions on today and tomorrow |
| Making the call | — | You decide |
Morning yard briefTo: management · 07:00
- In yard now326 (93%)
- Tomorrow+24 in · 17 out → 333 (95%)
- Over capacityDay +3 · plan proposed
- Containers 30+ days19 (4 without billing party)
- Emails read overnight12 · records updated 36
- Pickups waiting for release confirmation2
Illustrative
Management sees yesterday's count.
Return dates and pickups sit in personal inboxes. Nobody can say what arrives tomorrow or whether the yard will fit it.
08WHO IT'S FOR
Built for every yard that stores, handles or releases containers.
Empty container depots
Shipping-line empties in and out every day, on return notices and release orders.
Sample email TerminalOS reads
Return notice: 8 × 40ft empties tomorrow 10:00.
ISO tank depots
Tanks arriving with cargo history and cleaning requirements.
Sample email TerminalOS reads
ISO tank DEMU 771203 arriving tomorrow, food-grade clean required.
Dry ports & inland terminals
Rail and truck arrivals that must be planned before they reach the gate.
Sample email TerminalOS reads
Reposition 6 empties to Jeddah by rail tomorrow.
Port-side yards & CFS
High volumes where a full yard stops the gate.
Sample email TerminalOS reads
12 empties arriving tomorrow from Dammam port.
Reefer & cold-chain yards
Set points and power slots booked ahead of arrival.
Sample email TerminalOS reads
Reefer DEMU 900314 tomorrow, set point −18 °C.
09GETTING STARTED
Three steps to go live.
Connect
We connect TerminalOS to your operational inboxes and your gate and yard records, and load your current containers and customers.
Configure
We set up your zones, bays and capacity, your free days and storage rates, the email types to read, and who approves releases and space plans.
Go live
Emails become container updates, tomorrow's yard is forecast every morning, and management gets the morning yard brief.
10FAQ
Questions depot managers ask first.
What is TerminalOS?
TerminalOS is AI container depot and terminal management software, built by Nehlum. It keeps your yard inventory live, knows who owns each container and how long it has been there, and reads return notices, pickup instructions and shipping-line emails to forecast what arrives and leaves tomorrow. It handles ISO tanks, 20ft and 40ft containers and reefers.
How does TerminalOS use AI?
TerminalOS works as an AI terminal employee. It reads operational emails, matches each one to the right container and customer, updates the container record, and forecasts tomorrow's arrivals, departures and space. It also drafts status replies for customers and answers plain-language questions about your yard. Your team approves releases, space plans and replies.
Can TerminalOS read return notices and pickup instructions from email?
Yes. TerminalOS connects to your operational inboxes and reads container return notices, pickup instructions, detention extensions, shipping-line instructions, expected arrivals and customer questions. It extracts container numbers, quantities, dates and customers, updates the matching records, and skips newsletters and internal mail.
How does TerminalOS forecast yard space?
TerminalOS adds expected arrivals and subtracts planned departures from today's inventory for each of the next seven days and compares the result with your yard capacity by zone. When a day goes over capacity, it proposes options, such as bringing moves forward or opening an overflow zone, for your yard manager to approve.
How does TerminalOS track dwell time and storage charges?
TerminalOS counts every day each container spends in the yard, applies the customer's free days, including extensions read from email, and calculates storage from the agreed rate. Containers past your thresholds are flagged, and those without a confirmed billing party are highlighted so no storage day goes unbilled.
Does TerminalOS replace our gate and yard processes?
No. It runs them in one system. TerminalOS covers gate-in and gate-out, yard management, cleaning and inspections, maintenance and repair, billing and a customer portal, with nine user roles from Gate Officer to Lift Operator. The AI layer keeps all of it current from the emails your team already receives.
Does the AI release containers or change plans on its own?
No. TerminalOS reads, updates records, raises alerts and drafts. Container releases, space plans, restacks and customer replies wait for an authorised person, and every change is recorded with who approved it and when.
How do we get started with TerminalOS?
Request a demo and we will show TerminalOS on your own yard scenarios. We then connect your operational inboxes and gate and yard records, load your containers and customers, set your zones, capacity, free days and approvals, and go live with training and support.
READ · KNOW · PLAN
Know what's here. Know what's coming.
TerminalOS does the reading, counting and forecasting. Your team makes the call.