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Release Notes - 2025 v1

S
Written by Sandra
Updated over a month ago

Feature Improvements

🌈 Feature improvements

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Improved Look and Feel - Density

Display density now defaults to Comfortable. Users can revert to Compact view and save to their view config if desired.
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By doing continuous improvements on that view it will be set to default - More space and better readability.

How to Use

  1. Go to Column selection

  2. Choose Display Density

  3. Switch back to Comfort, if you prefer

    Don't forget to resave your view after changing the density, otherwise it will default back to the comfort view. Here is how you can do this:
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Container number validation

​Goal

We have introduced a new feature to ensure accurate and complete tracking of container numbers by validating the format of container numbers entered into the system.

How to Use

  1. Container Number Format
    A valid container number must adhere to the following format:

    1. Four-letter prefix (upper case)

    2. Six-digit serial number

    3. One check digit

  2. Validation Rules

    1. Character Limit: Container numbers must be exactly 11 characters long.

    2. No Spaces or Lower Case Letters: Spaces and lowercase letters are not allowed and will be adapted automatically while typing.

    3. Prefix Requirements:

      • The first 4 characters must be in upper case.

      • The 4th character must be one of [J, U, Z].

    4. Serial Number Requirements:

      • Characters 5 to 10 must be numeric.

    5. Check Digit:

      • The 11th character must be the checksum digit of the previous 10 characters.

  3. Real-Time Feedback
    Users will receive immediate feedback while typing container numbers:

    1. Incorrect characters will be highlighted.

    2. Error messages will indicate issues.

  4. Auto-Correction
    To enhance user experience, the system will:

    1. Automatically remove spaces.

    2. Convert lowercase letters to uppercase when saving the container number.

  5. Handling Existing Data

    1. Existing container numbers will remain unchanged to avoid disruption.

    2. Users will be informed about any incorrect formats when they attempt to update orders.

Drayage Transport Orders Re-Creation

Background

So far it was not possible in Control Tower to re-create drayage Ocean Orders like a Pre-carriage if these one have been cancelled.


​Goal

To manage the re-creation of Drayage TOs (Transport Orders) more effectively, ensuring users are able to re-create multiple Drayage TOs for the same main haul, even if the existing Drayage TOs have been cancelled before.

How to Use

  • If in a case that e.g. the already created Pre-carriage has to be cancelled the user will be able to re-create that one

  • The user can open and use the Drayage Dialog again, if at least one of the drayage orders has been cancelled

  • The re-creation is only possible for cancelled or non-created drayage orders, all others stay

New Milestone Considered To Set A Transport Order To "Finished" - Container Discharged

Background

So far the transport has been set also to Finished, even if Container Discharge had no actual set.


​Goal

To ensure correct reports and smooth processes like Demurrage/Detention calculation the Milestone "Container Discharge" will trigger the event to set the Transport Order to "Finished"

That appears for Ocean transports

Excel Export

To support larger data sets of downloads and the excel limit will be exceeded a CSV file will be generated instead of a xlsx file.

That allows the user to receive the download as CSV file and open it for example in Excel or any other program.

Customer Portal Access: Organization Selection


​Goal

With the introduction of the option to add the Organization within Customer Portal User account administration, we aim to reduce manual errors during the organization selection process. This enhancement ensures that suppliers select the correct organization when creating orders.

How to Use

  • Filter Option in AOR Customer Portal Section

    • "Organization" Filter: The system now includes "organization" as a filter option in the AOR Customer Portal section.

    • Multi-Select Support: Users can filter multiple organizations based on their relevance.

  • Organization Selection Based on Customer Portal Settings:

    • The system will offer only the selection of organizations configured in the Customer Portal settings.

    • Example: If the Customer Portal allows Organizations A and B, the user will only see A and/or B in their selection.

  • AOR Consideration:

    • The system will ensure that only applicable organizations, based on AOR (Area of Responsibility), can be selected in User Accounts.

Material Order Reference Column in Billing Grid

Background

The material order reference is currently not visible on the billing grid, making it difficult for users to track material orders within the transport order cost tab.

Goal

To enhance visibility and usability, we are adding a "Material Order Reference" column to the billing grid. This will help users see their material order references without duplication, providing a cleaner and more efficient view.

How to Use

  • New Column in Billing Grid

    • Material Order Reference Column: A new column named "Material Order Reference" has been added to the billing grid under the Transport Order Cost Tab.

    • Aggregation of Duplicate Values: Duplicate material order references will be aggregated to show a cleaner result within the billing grid and the main transport order grid.

    Additional Features

    • Control Tower Roles: The Material Order Reference column can be enabled or disabled by Control Tower Roles. The exact location for this setting is under investigation.

3 Decimal Points for Cubic Metres in Material Lines

Problem

Customers need to ship parts smaller than the current minimum volume display of 0.01 cbm. To accurately display these smaller volumes, the system must extend to 3 decimal points, allowing volumes as small as 0.001 cbm to be shown.

Goal

To provide users the ability to display and input volumes with 3 decimal points (e.g., 0.001 m³) for their orders, addressing use cases with pieces smaller than 0.01 cbm.

How to Use

  • Volume Display and Input: Users can now display and input volume values with 3 decimal points (0.000).

Commands - Trigger Customized Events

The Commands feature allows users to manually trigger actions in external systems directly from TOPS CT. This functionality enables on-demand document creation and targeted updates to integration partners.

For more details see Commands - Execute customized events to external system

New standard field Load Type - Transport Order

New standard load type field introduced to indicate, which load type applies for the transport order.

Some customers may currently use the fields Order Level or Service Level to indicate the load type. While these fields can continue to be used, note that for transaction-based invoicing, it will be necessary to switch to the new Load Type field.

For more details see Load type - Transport Order

Smaller Improvements

  • Currency on the Charge dropdown selection added to improve visibility

  • Hazard Identification Number be added for Master Data Upload

  • Airflight stops can now be opened by clicking on the Milestone

  • Account requests of Customer Portal provides now the Location requests, further details see "How to set up Customer Portal"

  • Rate calculation cost line improvement "Percentage Surcharge":

    • If a percentage rate is based on several cost items it will be summed up into 1 line instead of multiple

    • E.g. Fuel cost 1.5% of freight and "Extra cost" Surcharge will be summed up to one line instead of 2

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