Zengistics: Optimizing the Supply Chain with Collaborative Logistics

As the craft beer industry grows, demand for specialized logistics solutions that maximize the relationship between the brewery, their unique supply chain, and the consumer has evolved. Matt Zimmer, COO of Zengistics elaborates on an instance where a major player in the craft beer market faced logistics issues due to a lack of transparency in the carrier networks. Without accurate data, the company could not optimize the cost structure as they didn’t have the ability to fill trucks on high-priced, long-distance routes to distributors. Zengistics created a national freight network for the craft beer industry that allows them to share routes to common destinations to enter markets that would otherwise be cost prohibitive.

Zengistics’ ability to funnel data and provide analysis proved critical, enabling its clients to understand the cost structure, details of shipped materials, the location of shipment, and more. The company took their world-class service up a notch by taking over the planning duties and implementing a master planning schedule, placing the responsibility of delivering the products to the distribution networks on them. Zengistics developed the best lane optimization and managed to utilize the full capacity of the trucks, thus saving the client thousands of dollars. This was achieved through constant communication with the carriers, empowering them with real-time market information updates and how their products are being pushed through the cost points in the supply chain. “We are very customer-focused and customer-driven in applying our technology to provide our services much more efficiently and effectively,” adds Eric Limburg, CRO at Zengistics.

We’re on a journey to blend the traditional values of a high service broker with advanced technology to create the greatest universe of carriers and the highest level of quality and on-time delivery,” says Chris Winslow, CEO of Zengistics.

Providing a glimpse into the company’s future, Zimmer mentions their plans to embark on the journey of further digitalization of their services, offering a seamless end-to-end connection for the customers, carriers, and employees. Zengistics looks forward to expanding its expertise into ocean freight, drayage, and bulk transportationas well. “With the platform, services, and the team that we have, we can navigate through the whole portfolio of supply chain solutions, globally,” Zimmer concludes on an optimistic note.