API integrations • Real-time data • ERP • TMS • Automation

API integrations for real-time logistics data

With API integrations, you connect your ERP, TMS or WMS system directly to the systems of Trans Ocean Pacific forwarding B.V. Bookings, shipment statuses, documents and invoice data flow automatically and in real time into your own environment. No manual exports, no outdated spreadsheets, no double entry: just accurate, up-to-the-minute logistics data you can act on immediately.

API integrations require a reliable data partner, clear documentation and a secure connection. TOP offers REST APIs that any technical team or implementation partner can connect quickly, and combines them where needed with sea freight, air freight, intermodal transport, rail, barge and road transport.

Why API integrations matter in modern logistics

The volume of data in the logistics chain grows every year. In 2025, the port of Rotterdam handled a total of 428.4 million tonnes of cargo, and container throughput grew by 3.1% to 14.2 million TEU, according to the 2025 annual report of the Port of Rotterdam Authority. Every container, air cargo pallet and trailer generates a stream of messages: bookings, status updates, customs documents and invoices. Anyone processing that stream manually is almost by definition running behind the facts.

Digital data sharing demonstrably pays off. Portbase, the neutral data hub of the Dutch ports, calculated that the added value of digital data exchange for the port community rose from 550 million euros in 2024 to 630 million euros in 2025. According to the same organisation, digital data sharing in the ports eliminates roughly 30 million phone calls, 100 million e-mails and 30 million truck kilometres every year (source: Portbase). API integrations are the way for individual companies to tap into this level of efficiency.

For companies that import or export, this means less manual work, fewer errors and faster decisions. A planner who sees live that a shipment is delayed can act immediately. A finance department that receives invoices automatically closes the month faster. And a customer service team that sees the status of every import shipment in its own system no longer has to call or e-mail to chase information.

What companies often misjudge about API integrations

Many companies assume an API connection is a major IT project that takes months and requires a full development team. In practice, it is much lighter. TOP's APIs are based on standard REST principles with a predictable, structured data format. Any technical team or implementation partner can work with them; a first working connection is often up and running within days.

A second misconception is that an API is only interesting for large companies with high shipment volumes. Automation is valuable precisely for SMEs with small teams: every manual action that disappears is immediately felt in the workload. Companies also underestimate how many errors creep in when booking numbers, container numbers and invoice lines are retyped by hand. One wrong digit in a container number can already cause delays in customs clearance or at terminal pick-up.

Finally, data quality is often forgotten. An API is only as valuable as the data flowing through it. That is why TOP works with a standardised dataset in which bookings, statuses, documents and invoices are unambiguously defined, and additional data fields can be added on request to match your processes, for example around Incoterms or your organisation's EORI number.

API integration or manual data exchange?

How does an API connection compare to the classic way of working with e-mail, spreadsheets and a web portal? The comparison below shows the key differences.

In figures: sources and methodology

The figures above were verified in August 2026 against the linked publications of the Port of Rotterdam Authority and Portbase.

How TOP organises API integrations in practice

Getting started with the TOP API begins in the my.top.nl customer portal. Under 'Connect & Insights' you will find the available API products, the technical documentation and the management of your subscriptions. No access yet? Your account manager will arrange it quickly, or you can send an e-mail to top@top.nl with your company name and phone number.

The API provides access to booking information, shipment and operational statuses, transport and commercial documents, invoices and additional operational data. Your IT team or implementation partner connects this data to your ERP, TMS, WMS or custom application. Because everything runs on standard REST principles with a predictable data format, implementation is fast, scalable and secure. And because every company works differently, additional data fields can be added on request, so the connection grows with your needs.

Want to know what an API integration can do for your logistics process? Then request a quote right away, or go to book a shipment to prepare your shipments digitally. If it is specifically about customs handling, you can also request a customs quote. Prefer to discuss the best approach first? Then schedule an introduction with TOP.

Which companies is TOP right for?

TOP is right for companies that trade internationally and want their logistics information in order. That includes SMEs processing many shipments with a small team and looking to automate manual work, as well as multinationals with recurring cargo flows and high demands on data quality, reporting and system integration.

Boards want cost control and reliable management information. Logistics managers want real-time visibility of shipments and early warning of delays. Procurement and IT look at security, standards and the effort of implementation. An API integration touches all of these interests at once: one data stream that feeds planning, finance and customer contact.

That is why TOP works in an advisory and practical way. No unnecessary jargon, but clear explanations of which data is available, how the connection works and what it means for your daily processes. Where the API is part of a broader chain, TOP thinks along about combinations with sea freight, air freight, rail, barge and road transport. For broader developments in digitalisation in transport and logistics, TOP also refers where relevant to industry information from Transport en Logistiek Nederland.

Frequently asked questions about API integrations

What is an API integration in logistics?

An API integration is a secure digital connection through which your ERP, TMS or WMS system automatically exchanges data with the systems of a logistics service provider. You receive real-time bookings, statuses, documents and invoices without manual work.

Which data is available through the TOP API?

The TOP API gives access to booking information, shipment and operational statuses, transport and commercial documents, and invoice data. Additional data fields matching your processes can be added on request.

What do I need to get started with the TOP API?

You need access to the my.top.nl customer portal. Under 'Connect & Insights' you will find the API products, documentation and subscription management. Request access through your account manager or by e-mail to top@top.nl.

Does the TOP API work with my ERP, TMS or WMS system?

Yes. The TOP API is based on standard REST principles with a structured, predictable data format. Any technical team or implementation partner can connect it to ERP, TMS, WMS and custom systems.

How secure is an API connection with TOP?

The connection is secured and works with personal API access that you manage yourself in the my.top.nl portal. Only authorised systems within your organisation gain access to your booking, status and invoice data.

How quickly can my organisation go live with the TOP API?

Once your portal access is set up, your IT team can start with the documentation right away. Thanks to the REST standard, a first working connection is often up and running within days, depending on your own system landscape.

Conclusion: real-time data is the foundation of modern logistics

API integrations are not a technical gimmick but a competitive advantage. Real-time visibility of bookings, statuses, documents and invoices means faster decisions, fewer errors and a team relieved of repetitive manual work. The figures from the Port of Rotterdam Authority and Portbase show just how valuable digital data sharing in the chain has become.

TOP makes that value practically accessible: a secure REST API, clear documentation in the my.top.nl portal and a team that thinks along about the connection with your ERP, TMS or WMS. From first request to live integration: TOP handles the execution and keeps the overview across the chain.

Want to know more about Trans Ocean Pacific forwarding? Visit the TOP homepage.

Last updated: August 2026. Figures: Port of Rotterdam Authority and Portbase. Online findability and AI readiness of this page in collaboration with HEF Digital.