Today, terminal owners and operators face competing pressures. Security is critical, especially based on the fact that the energy sector was the fourth most targeted sector in 2023. Yet, adding the layers of security needed often impacts terminal productivity. If you are using an outdated Terminal Automation System, you could be putting your terminal’s security at risk, as well as hurting your productivity and impacting the bottom line.
A modern Terminal Automation System (TAS) can help terminal owners meet these demands, while increasing productivity. Upgrading a TAS is a significant decision, but the return on investment (ROI) can be substantial. Here are the top three reasons to upgrade to TMS7:
1. Increased security.
Many Windows-based TAS platforms require a client-side installation. When Microsoft releases security updates, these TAS applications can be affected, requiring troubleshooting and costly IT support. TMS7 is web-based, so no client-side installations are required. In addition, TMS7 is Linux-based and separates the operating system from the application. This allows security patches to be installed without impacting the TMS7 application. Here are some other security benefits:
- High availability & disaster recovery – provides hypervisor level mirroring for a fully redundant environment, with no need for like-for-like hardware. In case of disasters, TMS7 can be back up and running in as little as 30 minutes
- User-Access Control – authenticates using Microsoft Active Directory or Oauth 2.0 for Google authentication. In TMS7, you can create user profiles and user groups with extensive role management options, without storing passwords locally
- Record level change history – enables users to run audit reports, highlighting the “who, what and when” for all changes made before and after any event to support security audits
- Linux architecture – separates the OS from the application, making security patching easier. Users can utilize additional 3rd party tools to comply with their IT’s Linux security standards. Toptech Systems also offers a Cyber Security Compliance service to better protect a customer against Linux vulnerabilities
2. Higher productivity.
TMS7 also offers features that optimize terminal operations, reducing costs and enhancing efficiency. These productivity features can save you up to 20% in processing time:
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- Dashboards – monitor load rack status, meter usage, components, and stock data graphs
- Smart links – save time by accesses related data, like driver records, without having to navigate to another screen
- Batch mode – update multiple records quickly, using batch mode to re-assign all drivers to a new carrier, for example. Or remove a seasonal blend product from all your terminals
- Templates and Cloning – increase efficiency and accuracy by creating pre-populated transactions templates for TMS7 users. Those users can then create new transactions by choosing the template or by cloning records to reduce data entry and errors.
TMS7 offers a variety of dashboards
TMS7 offers an easy-to-use transaction template builder to help you increase your team’s transaction efficiency and reduce errors
Think about how much time your team spends doing repetitive tasks like processing orders, researching driver issues, manually updating account screens. By using these TMS7 productivity features, your team can spend less time sifting through screens of data to reduce administration time and improve overall terminal efficiency and accuracy.
3. Enhanced features.
- OpenAPI – supports RESTful API, which is a standardized, secure and platform independent way to communicate data to your back office.
- Automated transaction import – tracks transactions that occur outside the terminal, such as Pipeline Transaction reports. Simply drag and drop the CSV file to populate the transaction. No need to manually create those transactions.
- Intuitive Workflow screens with data integrity feedback – steps users through a variety of daily activities, using field level error checking along the way to minimize training for new employees. And admins can customize all screens to hide irrelevant fields and pre-populate repetitive, standard information to help reduce errors and increase efficiency.
- Enhanced interoperability with Toptech’s ecosystem bringing value to the entire supply chain with inventory, transaction and master data.
Toptech Systems realizes that terminal owners are facing many challenges and need a terminal automation system that can respond to these changing needs. TMS7 is designed and supported in-house, with updates released on a continual basis. Since 1988, Toptech Systems has been committed to the industry and to helping our customers address this changing landscape.
For more information on upgrading your TAS to TMS7, contact our sales team to setup a demo.