Introduction
Since its inception in 2018, Renzo, then still a student at the hotel school, and his partners with R2B Store and 2behome have experienced impressive growth. Originally started selling bicycle phone holders, 2behome was added as a brand, among others. This has expanded the range considerably, as they had to set up the supply chain for several brands. This growth was accompanied by logistical challenges. For example, R2B store has quite a few different products with different suppliers.
Renzo and his companies R2B store & 2behome have been using Cargomate (formerly Boloo Forwarding) for over 3 years now.
Collaboration Challenges
Before moving to Cargomate, Renzo faced various logistical problems:
- Lack of transparency in prices: Booking directly through suppliers was not only expensive, but also offered no possibility to compare prices, leading to unexpected shipping costs.
- Distributed shipment information: Shipments had to be managed on multiple platforms, which did not improve the overview. Think of Track & Traces at different locations, uncommunicated delays, etc.
Cargomate's Role
The Cargomate implementation helped R2B Store with their problems. Cargomate offered an integrated solution that had the following benefits:
- Centralization: all shipments were managed via one platform, which led to a significant improvement in the overview. At a glance, they were able to see which shipments are coming and when.
- Clear prices: Thanks to competitive prices and transparent costs, R2B Store was able to save & get a grip on logistical expenses. With the calculator, they can easily calculate all transport and customs costs.
- Simplified processes: Cargomate's interface made it easy to book and manage shipments, saving time. Within a few clicks, they can re-create a booking or use a template for a booking.
Room for improvement
Renzo gave a number of valuable tips for further improvement in the collaboration with Cargomate:
- Integration with inventory management systems: A link to systems such as ChannelDock would help streamline inventory management, because it would allow you to connect to an inventory system and can easily see which products to purchase and when.
- Compose pallet support: Tools for efficiently assembling pallets and a better understanding of the space required (CBM) would improve the planning of pallet shipments.
- Expanding shipping options: Adding train and truck shipments as faster alternatives to ocean freight would improve flexibility in time and price in shipping options.
Vision for the future
Renzo strives to become the market leader in their niches. They are already there in phone and laptop accessories, but Renzo also wants to achieve this with all the other niches in which they are active with their products. The main focus is on delivering quality for their customers, which is what sets them apart. Finally, Renzo hopes to reach an even larger audience on the various platforms (such as bol) and his own webshop.