TOM vs Legacy TOS
Thinking of moving away from a legacy terminal operating system? You’re not alone.
Here are a few reasons why terminal operators decide to move to TOM
(and why you might want to as well).
Most Terminal Operating Systems (TOS) were built decades ago. They’re hard to implement and operate, expensive, and slow to adapt. Often they’re too complex for small and medium-sized terminals, where resource limitations make existing solutions impractical.
This is why TOM (Terminal Operating Modules) was created. Built specifically for small and mid-sized terminals, TOM delivers simple, flexible, and scalable operations management. Its modular design lets terminals digitize and scale at their own pace.
See the difference for yourself
Every aspect of terminal operations is affected by the choice of a terminal operating system. From initial investment to daily operations, the differences between legacy systems and TOM are significant. Here’s how they compare across the factors that matter most:
TOM
Legacy TOS System
TOM
Legacy TOS System
Investments/Fit for small to mid-size terminals
TOM
Legacy TOS
No upfront investment
Significant upfront invest, in license, M&S, customizations, and IT-infrastructure
Implementation time (time to become fully operative)
TOM
Legacy TOS
8-12 weeks
6-12 months
Cargo coverage
TOM
Legacy TOS
Full coverage. Modular coverage of: Container, General Cargo, Roll-on/Roll-off
Focused on either container, general cargo or Roll-on/Roll-off
IT-Architecture
TOM
Legacy TOS
SaaS/Cloud-based
On-premise
Technology stack
TOM
Legacy TOS
Cloud native, state-of-the art, futureproof
Commonly outdated, a legacy a legacy of on premise from the 1990’s and 2000’s.
Operating effort
TOM
Legacy TOS
Low. IT-staff is not required
High. Requires IT-staff
Integration
TOM
Legacy TOS
Standard-API
Separate integration projets
Pricing model
TOM
Legacy TOS
- Simple, monthly pay-per-use.
- Single price per unit, such as TEU.
- This covers: subscription, support, updates and hosting.
- Booking under OPEX
- Complex, fixed prices
- Separate contracts for license, M&S, integration, onboarding/training, updates and project management
- Booking under CAPEX
Update roll-out
TOM
Legacy TOS
Continuous, frequent updates. Takes place in seconds. No friction or interruption of terminal operations
Several days, often requires terminal shut-down and reboot with high risk of failure. Low update frequency for risk mitigation.
Customization
TOM
Legacy TOS
Configuration by switching features on or off
Lengthy and cost intensive
The choice is clear
While legacy TOS systems demand months of implementation and significant upfront investment, TOM gets you operational in weeks with no upfront costs. Pay for what you use, update without downtime, and focus on your terminal operations. Not on managing complex software.
Ready to see TOM in action? Get your free demo today.