Case Studies

This approach helps large conglomerates like this company maintain operational flexibility across diverse business units while consolidating financial data. It also provides consistency in processes across the company's air and ocean divisions, simplifying employee training and onboarding. Two other advantages of Boltrics 3PL system are flexibility and scalability. 3PL companies are increasingly moving toward offering a full range of logistics services to remain competitive. Some forwarding solutions lack strong warehousing capabilities, while others excel in warehousing but lack robust forwarding management systems. 3PL Dynamics stands out by offering a comprehensive solution that integrates warehousing, forwarding, and transportation management. This flexibility enables logistics companies to provide multiple services without needing separate systems, supporting their vertical and horizontal expansion. 3PL Dynamics' scalability makes it an excellent fit for both small and large logistics companies.

With the decision made to set up Boltrics' 3PL system in a decentralized architecture, it was time to address the specific issues with the new solution. Freight forwarding is a "race against the clock" involving multiple parties and time-sensitive operations. Forwarders must coordinate trucks, containers, shipments, and customs while ensuring timely documentation to avoid costly delays. The complication: the majority of the process is handled through emails. Forwarders must manage large volumes of emails efficiently, as most steps in the process have hard deadlines that, if missed, can disrupt the entire delivery chain.

One of the key features of this solution tackles this issue. Boltrics' 3PL system automates processes, including the steps involved in the email process. A highly configurable and flexible solution, Boltrics 3PL utilizes pre-existing functions from an extensive library of automated processes, making it faster and easier to address specific requirements. With 3PL Dynamics, no custom coding is required. This company utilizes over 70 pre-configured email templates for various touchpoints, including booking confirmations, sales quotes, tracking updates, and proof of delivery. The system tracks the shipment process through specific steps (e.g., preparing documentation, tracking shipments), and automated triggers ensure tasks are completed at the right time and in the correct order, ensuring no step is skipped.

Estimated and actual dates are also recorded to track progress, ensuring compliance with deadlines such as those set by U.S. Customs. This automation has significantly reduced email processing time and streamlined operations, greatly reducing the risk of missed deadlines and errors. One of the biggest benefits of email automation is that it reduces the time required to train employees. There is no college degree or formal training program required for individuals working for forwarding companies. New employees must be trained on the job, but companies can't afford mistakes. Errors in forwarding can be costly, including fines and potential loss of licenses, making automated validations critical.

Because the Boltrics 3PL system allows for the creation of checklists and automated validations to guide users through processes, training time and the likelihood of errors are reduced, especially for new employees. The system also ensures compliance with regulations by including mandatory checks, such as verifying known shipper IDs for air exports. By providing built-in steps, dependencies, and options, Boltrics 3PL ensures regulatory compliance while streamlining the process of getting new employees up and running. Another improvement the company experienced is in the area of reporting. Boltrics 3PL makes it easy to automate reports generated for customs (e.g., bill of lading, dock receipts), simplifying complex paperwork requirements.