TBA Group

What TBA Group does

TBA Group develops and licenses Terminal Operating Systems (TOS) and related software for ports, terminals, and warehouses globally. Its core product portfolio comprises CommTrac, an award-winning TOS for bulk, breakbulk, and general cargo terminals (handling coal, ores, grain, agri-bulk, RO-RO, and liquid bulk); Autostore TOS, a container TOS with a 25-year installed base used by marine and inland container terminals; and Industrial Automation turnkey control systems for material handling, conveyors, and waste-to-energy operations. Supporting modules include the Autostore WMS (deployed in 70+ warehouses), the CONTROLS emulation tool for virtual testing and tuning, the TOS Billing Engine for revenue assurance, the Container Handling System (CHS) for automated terminals, and the SAFE-T GAME VR training platform. Technology integrations include Awake.AI's ML-based vessel ETA prediction, OCR for automated gates, and ERP connectors to SAP, IFS, Navision, and Oracle.

The company operates a vertical enterprise software model, selling to port and terminal operators through direct field sales, industry events (TOC Europe, Breakbulk Europe), and its User Group Conference channel. Revenue is generated via TOS software licensing and subscriptions, implementation and professional services, and automation hardware/services contracts. TBA was founded in 1976 (with the Autostore TOS product line originating from a 1988 entity), is headquartered in Rijswijk, Netherlands, with primary operating centers in Doncaster and Leicester, UK, and has been a wholly-owned subsidiary of Konecranes Oyj since 2017/2019. The customer base spans 120+ sites and 150+ live installations across Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania, with named enterprise customers including ABP, Peel Ports, DP World, Port of Long Beach, Samskip, and Cargill. Its subsidiary Portwise (rebranded 2023) provides adjacent design and simulation consulting.

Name

TBA Group

Legal name

TBA Group

Website

https://tba.group

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

TBA Group, a Konecranes subsidiary, develops terminal operating systems (CommTrac for bulk, Autostore TOS for containers) and warehouse management software serving 120+ port, terminal, and warehouse operators globally, with implementation, emulation, and automation services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Terminal Operating Systems (Port & Logistics Software)

NAICS

Software Publishers (5132), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Port and Harbor Operations (48831), Support Activities for Transportation (488)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Terminal Operating Systems (TOS) & Yard/Gate Digitization (TLAHAOAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Container Terminal Operating Services & Management (Terminal Operator / Concessionaire) (TLAHAAAI), Port Operations Control Center / Port Call Orchestration (TLAHAFAI)

Keywords

• Terminal operating systems
• Port software solutions
• Warehouse management systems
• Industrial automation
• Container terminal software

Headquarters

HQ city

Rijswijk

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Software Licenses and Subscriptions: TBA generates revenue through licensing of its Terminal Operating Systems (CommTrac, Autostore TOS) and related software products to ports, terminals, and warehouses worldwide.
2. Implementation and Professional Services: Software deployment, integration, and consultancy services for terminal optimization and operational improvements.
3. Automation Services: Turnkey electrical and control systems for ports and industrial automation environments.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

TBA Group develops and licenses Terminal Operating Systems (TOS) and related software for ports, container terminals, bulk and general cargo terminals, and warehouses. Its flagship products include CommTrac (bulk/general cargo TOS), Autostore TOS (container TOS), Autostore WMS (warehouse management), Industrial Automation solutions (electrical and control systems), and supporting tools such as CONTROLS emulation, TOS Billing Engine, Container Handling System (CHS), and SAFE-T GAME virtual reality training. The company delivers these as licensed software with implementation, consultancy, and integration services to terminal operators globally.

Product overview

TBA Group provides a unified software platform for ports, terminals and warehouses under the Konecranes group. The core product portfolio consists of CommTrac (bulk and general cargo TOS), Autostore TOS (container TOS with 25-year heritage), and Industrial Automation solutions. Add-on modules include Autostore WMS for warehouse operations, CONTROLS emulation tool for testing and training, TOS Billing Engine for revenue management, Container Handling System (CHS) for automated terminals, and SAFE-T GAME for VR-based training. The products share integrated data architectures enabling operations, planning, finance, and customer visibility across the entire terminal lifecycle.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Portwise: TBA's design and simulation consultancy continuing under a distinct brand identity following the 2023 rebranding.

Products and services

• CommTrac Award-winning terminal operating system (TOS) for bulk and general cargo terminals handling coal, ores, grain, agri-bulk, general cargo, RO-RO, and liquid bulk. It optimizes non-containerised cargo management and centralizes operations through integration of data across key touchpoints. Used by terminal operators worldwide.
• Autostore TOS Terminal operating system for marine and inland container cargo facilities. Fully controls the movement and storage of various types of cargo in and around container terminals or ports. Autostore TOS V5 has been in operation for 25 years with installations worldwide.
• Industrial Automation Turnkey electrical and control systems for ports and other demanding environments. Software solutions delivering superior performance, longevity and return on investment across multiple disciplines and sectors including bulk operations, conveyor systems, tunnelling, and waste-to-energy/recycling.
• Autostore WMS Warehouse management system derived from Autostore TOS expertise, used in over 70 warehouses across automotive, beverages, confectionary and consumer goods sectors. Integrates with automation systems including AGVs and conveyors.
• CONTROLS CONtainer TeRminal Optimised Logistics Simulation - emulation tool for container terminals that tests and tunes TOS, trains operators, and visualizes operations in 2D/3D animation mode. Runs 5-30x faster than real time.
• TOS Billing Engine Stand-alone billing solution that maps multi-tier tariffs against operational and storage activities. Tracks incidental services and prevents revenue leakage. Integrates with SAP, IFS, Navision, Oracle via standard API tools. Reports up to 10% reduction in revenue leakage.
• Container Handling System (CHS) State-of-the-art system designed for semi-automated or fully-automated terminals. Offers speed, simplicity and operational performance unmatched in the industry.
• SAFE-T GAME First immersive virtual reality automated terminal game worldwide. Provides fully immersive training experiences in 3D simulation for dispatchers, mechanics and external personnel working in automated terminals. Developed in partnership with Delft University of Technology.
• SCENEMA Scenario Manager - creates realistic operational scenarios based on container flow input for CONTROLS emulation. Acts as host system and feeds scenarios into TOS via EDI.
• TEAMS Equipment Control Software Equipment control software that runs live operation for automated QCs, ASCs and AGVs at automated terminals. Integrated into SAFE-T GAME for realistic simulation.

Quantifiable outcome

• CommTrac enables up to 27% cost savings for terminal operators through improved vessel ETA predictions
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

AI capability7 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• KonecranescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTBA Group is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Konecranes, a leading global provider of lifting equipment and services for ports and industry. Konecranes acquired TBA in 2017 and the relationship provides TBA with global distribution reach and integration with Konecranes' port solutions portfolio.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• INFORM Software: Provides terminal and yard management optimization software, including TOS-adjacent optimization and AI-driven planning tools. Directly competes with TBA in the TOS and terminal optimization software market, especially in Europe.
• Navis (Accel-KKR): Largest dedicated container TOS vendor globally, serving marine and inland terminals with the N4 platform. Directly competes with TBA's Autostore TOS in container terminal deals, particularly for larger enterprise and ocean-carrier-linked operators.
• CyberLogitec: South Korea-based TOS vendor (OPUS Terminal Suite) serving global container and intermodal terminals. Directly competes with TBA's Autostore TOS, particularly in Asian and global container terminal markets.
• Tideworks Technology: Provider of TOS solutions (Mainsail, Spinnaker) for container terminals, breakbulk and intermodal facilities. Directly comparable to TBA in targeting terminal operators with TOS, planning, and gate automation capabilities.
• Jade Software (MasterGate): Provider of MasterGate terminal operating systems for ports and container terminals in Asia-Pacific and globally. Directly comparable to TBA's Autostore TOS in container terminal operating software.

Broad incumbents

• Kalmar (Cargotec): Part of Cargotec, Kalmar offers port equipment alongside integrated digital solutions including TOS, automation and electrification. Competes with TBA in container terminals by offering hardware plus software bundles, though TBA retains specialist TOS depth.
• ABB (Port Solutions / Process Industries): Global industrial automation incumbent providing port and terminal automation, electrification and digital solutions. Overlaps with TBA's industrial automation and automation-control offerings, but as part of a much broader portfolio.

Emerging players

• Camco Technologies: Specialist in gate automation, OCR, and terminal automation equipment with software integration capabilities. Emerging player addressing adjacent terminal automation problems where TBA's Autostore mobile apps and OCR-enabled gates also compete.
• Prodevelop: Spanish port visualization and smart port software vendor offering port management and digital twin platforms. An emerging player overlapping with TBA's Portwise subsidiary in port simulation and decision-support tooling.

Others

• Hitachi Transport Systems / Hitachi Rail STS (Port Solutions): Provides automation, signaling and IT for ports and intermodal terminals through Hitachi's wider industrial portfolio. Comparable to TBA's automation services as a broader infrastructure player with port-adjacent offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TheTBAGroup
• Facebookfacebook.com/theTBAGroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tbagroup

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about TBA Group