Tool Manufacturer Reduces Fleet and Freight Costs by Aligning Systems and Processes
Tool Manufacturer Reduces Fleet and Freight Costs by Aligning Systems and Processes
Fleet analysis, freight pay improvements, and TMS support deliver measurable cost savings and stronger visibility
❝They are my on-the-ground, get their fingers dirty, go-to team.❞
Simon Sterck
Serax
A leading global manufacturer of tools and hardware was experiencing rising transportation costs, fragmented systems, and inconsistent freight payment processes across its network. While tools like a TMS were in place, they weren’t being used to their full potential—and internal resources were stretched thin.
SPARQ360 partnered with the company to analyze current performance, align key processes, and deliver a roadmap to improve cost control and operational execution.
The Challenge
Transportation was managed across multiple sites with limited integration between systems, teams, and reporting practices. Although the company had implemented a Transportation Management System (TMS), it wasn’t delivering the expected visibility or cost savings. Freight invoices were handled manually or inconsistently, and fleet utilization lacked centralized oversight.
These issues made it difficult to:
- Understand real freight costs across modes and business units
- Prevent overpayment or delays in freight invoice resolution
- Optimize fleet routes, capacity, and asset use
- Leverage the TMS to support better decision-making
While the internal team had deep operational knowledge, they needed a partner to help assess the system end-to-end and guide focused improvements.
SPARQ360’s experienced team deploys a boots-on-the-ground approach and mediate operations and customer’s leadership teams allowing us to make unbiased, objective decisions based purely on what is best for our customers. Our team provided hands on guidance to warehouse staff, documented process changes and enabled inter-departmental communication to maximize their 3PL engagement. This was the missing link for this client.
The Strategy
SPARQ360 performed a detailed current state assessment of the client’s transportation processes, including fleet operations, freight payment workflows, and TMS integration. Interviews with internal stakeholders across operations, finance, and IT helped uncover gaps between how processes were designed—and how they were actually working.
The strategy focused on:
- Capturing savings through better use of existing systems
- Improving process consistency across business units
- Defining clear next steps that could be led internally
Related SPARQ360 service: Supply Chain and Manufacturing Optimization
Get in Touch. Curious about how SPARQ360 Solutions can support you in addressing your challenges? Reach out and schedule a call to discuss.
The Implementation
Rather than start from scratch, SPARQ360 built on the systems the company already had. The goal wasn’t to replace tools, but to help teams use them more effectively.
Implementation included:
- A full audit of freight pay processes to uncover error rates, processing gaps, and automation opportunities
- Assessment of TMS use across teams, identifying missed functionality and underutilized reporting features
- Review of fleet asset use by site, highlighting opportunities to consolidate routes or reallocate capacity
- Alignment of finance and operations stakeholders on how freight and fleet data should flow between systems
The deliverables included a clear action plan with priorities, roles, and timelines—tailored to the company’s internal resource levels and preferred pace of change.
The Results
- Freight payment process simplified and standardized, reducing overpayments and manual work
- TMS performance improved through better user training and consistent data inputs
- Fleet costs reduced by addressing underutilized assets and overlapping routes
- Cross-functional alignment improved visibility and collaboration across finance, logistics, and planning
The company didn’t need a system overhaul—it needed clarity, structure, and guidance to get more from what it already had. SPARQ360’s approach delivered immediate gains while giving the internal team a stronger platform to manage future growth.
Start Your Supply Chain Journey
