Logistics

Background & Challenges

A logistics and freight forwarding company specializing in container-based transportation for exporters and importers was grappling with disjointed operations. Despite being a vital link in the global trade chain, their internal systems were far from optimized.

The company relied heavily on spreadsheets to manage bookings, inventory, and customer communication. There was no centralized system for tracking container status, managing documents, or streamlining operations. As a result, they faced:

Frequent document mismanagement
Lack of visibility into container space and routing
Difficulty in coordinating with multiple clients per shipment
Poor customer experience and rising complaints
Declining customer retention

These inefficiencies made it difficult to scale or ensure operational consistency, especially when dealing with multiple clients sharing the same shipping container.

Solution

To bring structure and scalability to their operations, we implemented a tailored Odoo ERP system, designed specifically around the nuances of freight forwarding and container logistics.

Core Modules Implemented:

Fleet Management for tracking vehicle and container movement
Inventory to monitor container space, manage stock associated with shipments, and track usage
Invoicing to simplify billing and consolidate multi-client charges per shipment
CRM to manage client relationships and follow-ups
Custom Modules for:
- Container Management: Enabling visibility and assignment of goods and clients to specific containers
- Route Optimization: Helping plan the most efficient container movements to reduce transit times and operational costs

Unique Workflow Introduced: One of the most impactful additions was a custom workflow for container space optimization. The system allowed the client to associate multiple customers with a single container in a structured, rule-based manner—ensuring that container space was always maximized. This not only reduced operational waste but also drove down shipping costs for all customers involved, turning it into a strategic advantage.

Implementation Strategy: The rollout was phased, beginning with foundational modules like CRM and Fleet Management before extending into custom solutions. Although adoption was initially challenging due to unfamiliarity with structured systems, our focused change management and hands-on training helped ease the transition.

Results & Impact

The transition to a centralized, automated system brought immediate and measurable benefits across departments.

Streamlined Documentation

What was once a recurring issue dropped to negligible levels. Documents are now securely stored, easily accessible, and systematically linked to client records and shipments.

Boost in Customer Retention

With improved workflows and faster, more reliable service, the company was able to reverse declining customer retention trends. Client complaints significantly decreased.

Smarter Space Utilization

The container-sharing optimization workflow not only reduced shipping costs but also increased container usage efficiency, directly impacting profitability.

Improved Internal Coordination

Real-time container visibility and automated route planning helped their team stay aligned across departments.

Scalability Enabled

With centralized data and better process control, the business is now positioned to scale, and the client anticipates up to 10x growth backed by the new system.