Ripple selected by Pentagon to run AI customs and warehouse operations in the UAE

Ripple, the enterprise-grade AI platform that runs logistics and supply chain operations, has been selected by Pentagon Freight Services (“Pentagon”), a highly specialised integrated freight forwarding, project logistics and ships agency provider, to deliver an AI customs and operations platform for its operations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Under the agreement, Ripple will automate customs documentation processing, customs entry preparation, export documentation, Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG) inventory management, warehouse operations, storage billing and operational reporting across Pentagon’s Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA) warehouse and yard.

Ripple will replace manual, spreadsheet-driven processes with AI-powered workflows. It will extract and validate data from commercial invoices, packing lists and Bills of Entry, prepare customs entry data for Pentagon’s declaration processes, and generate outbound commercial invoices and packing lists for user validation before release.

Ripple will also maintain a single, fully auditable system of record for every OCTG and oilfield equipment item held on site, from pipe specifications and yard locations to HS codes, customs declarations and customer ownership, updating automatically as goods arrive and depart. The system will continuously generate storage statements and customer inventory reports, replacing manual month-end reconciliation and accelerating billing, while Pentagon’s customers can review their inventory status at any time.

Ripple’s AI will orchestrate these workflows end-to-end across customs, inventory and warehouse operations, integrating with Pentagon’s existing systems, so teams no longer re-key the same data across multiple platforms. The system routes exceptions and missing information to authorised users for review, with timestamped decision logs and approval workflows that ensure a complete audit trail for every transaction.

The agreement builds on Ripple’s strategic partnership with JAS, announced in July 2026, and its existing customs work with Pentagon Freight Services in the UK, where Ripple has eliminated up to 1,400 hours of manual customs preparation per week, reduced clearance costs by 60% and cut software costs by 40%.

“Customs and inventory in a free zone are exactly the kind of high-volume, document-heavy work where Ripple’s AI makes an immediate difference,” said Adrian Smith, Co-Founder and CEO, Ripple. “Pentagon handles complex oilfield cargo where every pipe, every declaration and every storage day has to be accurately accounted for. We are giving the Pentagon team one platform that runs the work end-to-end, with full traceability (including client access) from the moment a shipment lands to the moment it is billed.

“Extending our work with Pentagon from the UK to the UAE, and deeper into the JAS group, shows what happens when AI delivers in production: it earns the right to do more.”

Alex Lewis, Area Director Middle East & India, Pentagon, added:

“Our JAFZA operation manages large volumes of high-value OCTG and oilfield equipment for customers who need accurate, real-time visibility of their stock and customs position. Much of that has relied on manual data entry and spreadsheets. Ripple gives us a single source of truth, faster and more accurate billing, and the capacity to grow volumes without growing headcount at the same rate.

“Just as importantly, our customers will be able to see their inventory whenever they need to, which raises the standard of service we can offer across the region.”

The deployment takes Ripple’s AI solutions deeper into energy logistics, one of the most document-intensive and compliance-critical areas of global supply chains.

About Ripple

Ripple builds and runs enterprise-grade, model-agnostic AI for logistics and supply chain operations. Ripple’s AI works across existing systems, inboxes and operational workflows to reduce manual work, increase capacity and lower technology costs. Ripple is in production and in active deployment with freight forwarders, transport companies, 3PLs, shippers and carriers globally, delivering results including 95% less manual effort, 99%+ accuracy and up to 75% lower technology costs.

About Pentagon Freight Services

Pentagon Freight Services is a specialist freight forwarding, project logistics and ships agency provider with more than 50 years’ experience serving the oil and gas, energy, marine and construction industries. Headquartered in the UK, Pentagon has more than 1,200 employees across 65 offices worldwide and became part of JAS in 2025.

About JAS

JAS, a global leader in logistics and supply chain solutions, was founded in Milan, Italy, in 1978. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, USA and supported by 8,000 team members in more than 100 countries, it builds innovative and sustainable solutions that focus on customer needs and a better future for all. At the heart of JAS’s success is its people who deliver customer value. As one of the largest and fastest growing privately-owned logistics companies, JAS is committed to creating opportunities for our communities, customers, and colleagues to thrive. Together.