CTL Global Company Profile
Headquarters
Chicago, Illinois
Industry
Third-Party Logistics Provider (3PL)
Company Type
Privately Held
CTL Global was managing and measuring their operations with a legacy ERP system that needed help from disparate systems, not connected to a single source of truth.
By relying on manual processes, CTL spent years trying to keep up with receiving, inventory, picking, packing and invoice processing. The systems they were using would take someone a day to map the fields across all their systems for new clients. Essentially, their old process was inefficient and not sustainable to scale. The loss of productivity put a limit on the potential growth of CTL’s client base.
The team knew it was time for a change and they turned to Sikich to meet current and future demands. Here were their requirements for a new system:
- Eliminate the manual generation of reports that was cumbersome
- Reduce the amount of time to input new client information
- Boost efficiency and productivity
IDENTIFYING THE BEST-FIT BUSINESS PLATFORM
After completing a comprehensive ERP assessment of CTL’s current operation, Sikich’s NAV service professionals worked closely with the company’s leadership team to develop a robust ERP software solution to meet CTL’s unique 3PL supply chain management needs. With the power of Microsoft Dynamics NAV, the Sikich team customized and integrated the flexible and user-friendly ERP system within the CTL organization. The solution had a positive impact across the business and enabled CTL to boost overall efficiency and performance throughout the organization.
An immediate benefit was to provide real-time inventory visibility to clients through CTL’s Virtual Warehouse® tool, and the MRP planning for inventory requirements and management. Clients rely on CTL to manage the procurement of consumables and manage inventory needs. The ERP solution enabled the account managers to be more responsive to client needs, and resulted in improved business productivity.
Further, the new ERP solution enabled efficient and intelligent import routines for client data and information. Using fully integrated ERP programs with full-suite API solutions, including electronic data interchange (EDI), the new ERP software solution consolidates and imports disparate customer order files and information into CTL’s system. The account managers can better track and manage projects while increasing productivity and minimizing the risk of errors.
Another key advantage of the software is that it now automates the manual processes that CTL formerly used to track activity. The software automatically measures all the billable activities that roll into its fulfillment and kitting processes, ensuring greater accuracy in picking, packing, invoicing and ultimately the measurement of profitability.
Moving Operations to Dynamics NAV
Overall, the new Dynamics NAV ERP software solution has revolutionized CTL’s daily operations and improved efficiency in its operations. As a result, CTL now has the capacity it needs to handle more work, bring on new clients and take its business growth to the next level.
3PLs serve a wide mix of clients with varying yet always pressing needs. And, as a result, they can’t afford inefficiency or downtime in their operations. CTL’s success story demonstrates the value of a comprehensive and customized software solution to maximize deployment of resources and boost efficiency in both back-office functions and front-line shipping operations. By prioritizing technology in the warehouse, 3PLs can ensure improved customer service, flexibility and increased capacity for future growth. Here is what the outcome was:
- Flexible Dynamics NAV software
- Improved customer service and efficiency
- Significantly decreased downtime
- Increased capacity