Modernizing Logistics Operations Through System Integration

Context
McCollister’s Global Services, a national leader in transportation and logistics, faced a common challenge among fast-scaling third-party logistics (3PL) providers: operational complexity had outgrown the company’s systems. Quotes, orders, and client accounts were being managed across multiple third-party platforms, many of which required manual input and oversight. This fragmented environment hindered visibility, increased error rates, and limited the company’s ability to respond to customer needs in real time.

Engagement
Atlantic Zero was engaged to redesign McCollister’s digital operating system from a consultancy and engineering perspective. Our first step was to conduct stakeholder interviews across management, operations, and IT to identify pain points and inefficiencies. This diagnostic revealed a dependency on manual reconciliation between systems, unclear data ownership, and limited ability to scale processes efficiently.

We developed a comprehensive integration strategy centered on automation and interoperability. Our consultancy team defined the blueprint for a custom administrative dashboard that allowed employees to manage orders, quotes, and customer accounts within one interface. Behind the scenes, our engineers built a set of APIs connecting McCollister’s legacy systems, client platforms, and external logistics partners, replacing hours of manual data entry with real-time communication.

The platform also included public API endpoints, enabling enterprise clients to integrate McCollister’s logistics capabilities directly into their own systems. To ensure sustainability, we implemented governance frameworks for data hygiene, access control, and workflow management - ensuring that the platform’s efficiency gains translated into long-term operational resilience.

Outcome
McCollister’s transitioned from a reactive operations model to a unified, data-driven logistics environment. Employees gained control over workflows through a single dashboard, and leadership could now track performance indicators across business units in real time. The reduction in manual oversight not only saved thousands of labor hours but also created the foundation for further digital innovation within the organization.

Reflection
The McCollister’s project embodied Atlantic Zero’s consultancy approach: begin with systems thinking, design around people, and deliver technology that amplifies both. Efficiency is rarely a byproduct of automation alone - it emerges when technology, governance, and human workflow align under one clear operational vision.

‍