After implementing an International Transportation Management System (ITMS), one company saw a transformation in its global logistics operation—complete with measurable ROI, smarter sourcing decisions, and lower costs.

Real-time visibility allowed the logistics team to act swiftly when shipments were delayed, reroute containers when needed, and reduce administrative overhead. Within a year, the ITMS paid for itself.

Data That Drives Savings

The ITMS revealed detailed cost and performance data that had previously been difficult to access. With these insights, the company launched a data-informed RFP process and negotiated 11–12% lower contract rates with carriers. Rather than remaining tethered to the same providers year after year due to slow EDI transitions, they gained the flexibility to shift business to top performers and phase out underachievers quickly.

This "plug-and-play" approach meant new carriers could be onboarded in weeks instead of months, keeping pricing competitive without sacrificing service quality.

Unlocking Container Utilization

One of the most impactful benefits came from the system’s analytics on container fill rates. The ITMS helped identify suppliers that were consistently underfilling containers—bringing the average utilization below 80%. With targeted training and process adjustments, the company increased utilization to 84%, cutting total annual ocean freight costs by 5%.

They also uncovered excessive use of 20-foot containers in lanes that would benefit from more cost-effective 40-foot or high-cube containers. Combining good data with expert analysis resulted in big wins.

Long-Term Payback

Yes, running an ITMS introduced new operational costs. But those new costs were far outweighed by the new savings and the gains in efficiencies, cost reductions, and added agility. This system also helped validate invoices, track booking behavior, and address issues like rolled containers before they became costly.

Global shipping, once a stress point, became a strategic asset. With the right data and tools, the company now navigates change with confidence and speed.

Looking to boost your shipping ROI? WOWL’s team and platform help you take full advantage of your ITMS investment—delivering insights, improving performance, and reducing spend. Let’s work together to unlock your logistics potential.

Andyg@WOWL.io

Andy Gillespie