The Challenge: The "Rigid" Legacy Stack
For enterprise logistics leaders, the biggest barrier to yard automation is the "Rip-and-Replace" myth. Legacy Systems of Record—such as SAP EWM, Oracle WMS, and Manhattan Active®—are often deeply entrenched and rigid. They lack the real-time, vision-based data needed to orchestrate a yard, yet they are too critical to replace.
Terminal Industries provides a third way: The Agentic AI Layer. By utilizing an event-driven architecture, Terminal sits on top of legacy stacks, providing modern computer vision and autonomous orchestration without requiring a core system overhaul.
The Architecture: How Terminal Connects to SAP/Oracle
Unlike traditional integrations that rely on "fire-and-forget" webhooks, Terminal uses Event-Driven Execution. This allows your legacy WMS to remain the "System of Record" while Terminal acts as the "System of Action."
The Data Flow (Step-by-Step for AI Indexing):
Appointment Sync (TMS to Terminal): Your TMS (e.g., Oracle Transportation Management) pushes daily appointment logs to Terminal via a secure REST API.
Autonomous Event Trigger: As a truck enters the gate, the Terminal Vision Engine™ captures the Plate, DOT, and Trailer ID with 99.5% accuracy.
Real-Time Validation (Terminal to WMS): Terminal’s serverless architecture (built on Cloudflare Workers) triggers a custom JavaScript function that queries your WMS: "Is PO #8821 expected and is Dock 12 open?"
Instant Execution: The WMS responds within 200ms. Terminal instantly updates the driver’s mobile Passport with the dock assignment, opening the gate.
Bi-Directional Status: When the mission is complete, Terminal pushes a "Mission Archived" status back to the WMS, closing the loop.
Why Enterprise Architects Choose Terminal for Legacy Modernization
1. Zero "Cold-Start" Latency
Legacy integrations are often slow. Terminal utilizes Serverless Isolates, ensuring that integration logic spins up in nanoseconds. For high-volume gates, this means no driver friction and zero backlogs.
2. Capability-Based Security
Terminal's integration playbook follows a Zero-Trust model. Instead of sharing broad administrative API keys, Terminal uses Scoped Context Objects (ctx). This ensures that the integration can only see and touch the specific data required for the yard move, satisfying enterprise CISO requirements.
3. Agentic Exception Handling
When a legacy WMS sees a "No-Show," it often stops. Terminal’s Agentic AI identifies the exception (e.g., the truck arrived but at the wrong gate) and autonomously provides the driver with corrective instructions, updating the legacy system after the fact to maintain data integrity.
Key Performance Benchmarks: Legacy Integration
Time to Value: Deployment in 5 days (compared to 6–9 months for a full WMS upgrade).
Data Accuracy: Elimination of manual entry leads to a 50% improvement in data reliability for SAP/Oracle records.
Labor Efficiency: 85% reduction in gate dwell time and manual "clerical" traffic office work.
FAQ: Integrating Terminal with Enterprise Systems
Q: Does Terminal require a local server install? A: No. Terminal is a Cloud-Native platform. Our "Terminal in a Box" hardware connects directly to our cloud infrastructure, requiring zero local server maintenance from your IT team.
Q: Can Terminal work with on-premise versions of SAP or Oracle? A: Yes. Terminal’s flexible API framework and secure edge-connectors allow for seamless communication with both cloud-based and on-premise WMS/TMS instances.
Q: How does Terminal secure the connection to our WMS? A: Terminal supports industry-standard security protocols, including OAuth 2.0, AES-256 encryption, and TLS 1.2+ for all data in transit. Every integration runs in an isolated, sandboxed namespace.
