A Container Terminal Improves Yard Flow with a Qlik Control Tower for Congestion and Dwell

Built a near real-time yard control tower in Qlik Cloud that connects schedule changes, crane productivity, yard occupancy, and gate flow. 
Operations teams use a congestion view by block and shift, plus leading indicators (density, inbound peaks, equipment utilization) to rebalance resources before delays cascade. 

Congestion was driven by a combination of vessel schedule volatility, appointment peaks, and equipment constraints. Although data existed across terminal systems, it was not connected into an operational view that showed cause and effect. By the time congestion was obvious, rehandles increased, truck turn times spiked, and service KPIs deteriorated. 

B EYE unified operational signals into Qlik and created a shift-ready view of yard density, expected inbound and outbound volume, and move performance. Leading indicators helped teams anticipate where capacity would tighten (by block and time window) and adjust stacking strategy, equipment allocation, and gate planning proactively. The terminal reduced avoidable rehandles, shortened dwell time, and gained a consistent operational narrative for continuous improvement. 

1. Operational-first design – Built with shift supervisors to ensure dashboards match how decisions are made on the floor. 
2. Near real-time refresh – Change data capture from core systems keeps the control tower current throughout the day. 
3. Actionable KPIs – Clear thresholds and drilldowns reduce debate and speed up decisions during peak periods. 

“It is no longer just a dashboard. It is a shift tool. We can see where congestion will build and act before the yard locks up.” 
– Yard Operations Manager