The power of partnership: How CargoWise streamlined global operations for SEKO Logistics

Founded in 1976, nearly 50 years ago, SEKO Logistics (SEKO) has become a leader in logistics services, with more than 150 offices across 60 countries. Known for its innovation and flexibility, SEKO provides award-winning ecommerce solutions, air and ocean freight forwarding, customs brokerage, warehousing, and fulfillment services.

After nearly 20 years as a CargoWise customer, their recent global implementation of the platform has set the stage for impressive milestones and future growth.

A push from the pandemic

The pandemic brought significant challenges to the global supply chain, and SEKO faced these challenges head-on. To keep up with the rapid changes, SEKO realized the urgent need to standardize its processes, especially as it expanded through the acquisition of company-owned offices.

Jacquelene Manfredini, Director of Process Innovation, explains, “There wasn’t necessarily a process in place as people did things their own way. The pandemic forced us into standardizing, as well as working with our company owned branches to streamline our processes in CargoWise and improve our productivity.”

A key tool in this transition was PAVE (Productivity Acceleration & Visualization Engine), a powerful productivity engine within CargoWise.

Jacquelene notes, “We began exploring PAVE, which encouraged us to standardize our processes and properly document everything. It helped us answer critical questions like, ‘What are we doing in air freight? What steps are we taking in ocean freight?’ This not only allowed us to visualize our operations in the U.S. but also gave us insight into performance across different regions and markets. It helped us identify where to focus our efforts.”

To further enhance capabilities, SEKO launched a structured certification initiative targeting branches with five or more CargoWise users.

“We were pushing for every branch to have at least one person certified at the second level as a CargoWise Certified Specialist, and for everyone else to achieve the entry-level CargoWise Certified Operator accreditation,” explains Nicholette (Nikki) Jonas, Corporate Support Manager.

Within the first year of launching this structured certification initiative, SEKO successfully certified its U.S. branches, reaping significant benefits that emerged almost immediately.

As Nikki highlights, “After more certifications were coming in, the questions changed; they became more detailed. Instead of simply saying, ‘I can’t do this,’ there’s more comparison and analysis among team members.”

A strategic move to CargoWise Cloud

Staying at the forefront of technology is essential for any company, and SEKO recognized the urgent need to modernize its operations. Operating on nearly a decade-old self-hosted server system posed significant risks, including potential data loss and security vulnerabilities. The increasing costs of maintaining these outdated systems were also hindering SEKO's ability to pursue new business growth.

To address these challenges, SEKO made a strategic decision to migrate all servers to CargoWise Cloud. This move not only eliminated the need for new hardware but also reduced ongoing maintenance costs significantly.

“Going the hosted route with CargoWise Cloud ensures a failsafe for disaster recovery, eliminating some of the costs associated with security. Reputational and financial impacts are far too great to risk,” says Jamie Andrade, Vice President of Product Management.

Vikas Chowdhary, Director of Internal Systems, echoes the many advantages of this transition. “When the opportunity to move to a cloud-hosted solution came about, we grabbed it with two hands. CargoWise Cloud’s ability to maintain and protect us from external threats, as well as keep its operating system updated, gave us peace of mind.”

However, the transition to CargoWise Cloud required more than just technical upgrades; it necessitated a cultural shift within the organization. Jamie notes, “Initially, many viewed CargoWise merely as a tool for generating master bills, airway bills, or allowing customers to track their shipments online. It wasn't seen as a productivity tool or a standardized operating system that could enhance efficiency.”

With over 400 workflows in place, SEKO's system had become tailored to individual input rather than fostering a streamlined and efficient process. Jamie explains, “This reliance on personal workflows complicated our ability to report on and measure our success. Transitioning to the cloud not only addressed our technical needs but also provided an opportunity to rethink and improve our operational efficiency.”

SEKO's future is bright

The transformation within SEKO is evident as the company measures the impact of CargoWise on its operations.

“The standardization of our operations within CargoWise has been instrumental in setting us up for future business expansion,” notes Jacquelene.

“Without the comprehensive implementation of CargoWise, we wouldn’t have achieved the improved workflows, increased productivity, and expanded our client roster that we see today. The platform has equipped us with the necessary tools to scale our operations effectively and gain a global perspective, enabling us to reach new heights.”

Looking ahead, SEKO is excited about leveraging CargoWise to enhance its hub fulfillment capabilities.

“We’re focusing on omnichannel solutions,” Jamie explains. “As traditional retail experiences decline, we’re looking for ways to deliver products to end consumers efficiently and affordably, with good visibility and data. Our hub fulfillment options allow us to offer low-cost services without the burden of excess inventory.”

As SEKO moves forward, its strategic vision, technological innovation, and robust operational foundation position it for a bright future. By harnessing the capabilities of CargoWise, SEKO is ready to tackle modern logistics challenges and deliver exceptional service to its customers, paving the way for sustained growth and success in the years to come.