performance reporting tools. National Oak Distributors now has access to six daily status updates across three regions, which equips it with the reliable data it needs to manage critical shipments. Another plus is that the reports integrate seamlessly with the company’s existing platform. DEDICATED SUPPORT “It’s a very consultative relationship,” says Beckman. He compares it to other partnerships where, after the initial setup and installation, there can be little to no interaction. “With IL2000, we have dedicated support,” he adds. “We have regular meetings where we look at how to improve and optimize. There’s follow-up with issues.” Gone are the days when National Oak Distributors had to conduct its own investigation when something went wrong within the supply chain, from reduced carrier capacity to poor visibility and poor carrier performance, as well as rising costs. Because the company has such a vast freight operation, resolving these issues was often an expensive and frustrating endeavor.
innovative technologies, consistent communication, and steadfast reliability. “Our goal is to understand a client’s business inside and out,” Thomas adds. IL2000 had the analytics National Oak Distributors was looking for. “The software is user friendly but also has capabilities for us to add functionality in the future,” Beckman says. “We wanted to have that potential.” In nancial terms, IL2000 was not the most cost competitive of the companies National Oak Distributors considered. But for this warehouse distributing company with the largest distribution footprint in its industry, it was more about the complete package and solution than cost.
The company specializes in LTL, full truckload (FTL), parcel, international, less-than-containerload (LCL), full containerload (FCL), and air freight. “Providing custom-tailored solutions to t each one of our clients is what we do,” says Matt Thomas, national account manager at IL2000. The company’s calling card is
CASEBOOK STUDY Full Speed
Ahead THE CHALLENGE
ZEROING IN The problem was National Oak
National Oak Distributors, an automotive paint, body and equipment (PBE) warehouse distributing company with a large footprint, lacked visibility and control over its shipping and tracking. It sought improvements to cost structure, on-time delivery, and reporting. THE SOLUTION The company contracted with IL2000, a full-service freight and logistics company, to enhance its supply chain visibility and to get help resolving routine supply chain disruptions. THE RESULTS National Oak Distributors realized more than $500,000 in freight cost savings in less than one year. The company now receives quick assistance when facing supply chain issues so it can make good on its promise of next-day delivery to customers. Moving forward, it has access to proven data to make optimal business decisions surrounding logistics.
Distributors lacked visibility and control over its shipping and tracking. Its huge portfolio of 50,000-plus products from numerous manufacturers stocked in 24 warehouses across the United States adds up to a lot of moving parts. A hiccup in the supply chain interferes with its ability to provide on-time delivery to customers. IL2000 used its proprietary BI platform to develop a suite of customized on-time
NEXT STEPS Following National Oak
Distributors’ acquisition of its largest competitor in 2021 and resulting volume expansion, the work to streamline all the newly acquired LTL business, which was put under IL2000’s umbrella, will continue.
National Oak Distributors, Inc. is a leading automotive paint, body, and equipment warehouse distributor. Its portfolio consists of 50,000+ products from more than 200 manufacturers to cover a variety of industries including automotive, industrial, marine, commercial, and others.
198 Inbound Logistics • July 2022
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