by vanessahuber | Jun 12, 2025 | News
A Warehouse Management System (WMS) transforms warehouse operations into a well-coordinated, data-driven environment that directly benefits customers. By delivering orders faster, more accurately, and with better transparency, a WMS becomes a critical tool in creating a superior customer experience and fostering long-term loyalty. Here are the benefits of implementing a Warehouse Management System (WMS) into your operations.
Streamlined Operations
A WMS helps streamline warehouse operations by automating various processes, from receiving goods to shipping them out. This automation reduces the likelihood of human error, ensuring that customers receive the correct products on time. By minimizing delays and mistakes, businesses can build trust and reliability with their customers.
Improved Inventory Control
Effective inventory management is essential for meeting customer expectations. A robust inventory control system, integrated within a Warehouse Management System (WMS), enables businesses to maintain accurate stock levels. This ensures that popular products are always in stock, reducing the likelihood of backorders and stockouts. Customers appreciate knowing that the items they want are readily available, which enhances their shopping experience.
Real-Time Data Access
One of the most significant benefits of a WMS is the ability to access real-time data by utilizing built-in business intelligence platforms. With up-to-date information on inventory levels, order statuses, and shipment tracking, businesses can provide customers with accurate and timely updates. This transparency fosters customer confidence and alleviates concerns about their orders, leading to a more positive overall experience.
Enhanced Order Fulfillment
A WMS optimizes the order fulfillment process by efficiently picking, packing, and shipping orders. This system ensures that orders are processed quickly and accurately, thereby reducing the time it takes for products to reach customers. Fast, accurate order fulfillment is a key component of customer satisfaction, as it meets the growing demand for quick and reliable delivery.
Cost Efficiency
Implementing a WMS can lead to cost savings that benefit both the business and the customer. By reducing waste, optimizing labor, and improving inventory accuracy, companies can lower operational costs. These savings can be passed on to customers through competitive pricing, enhancing the overall value proposition.
Better Customer Support
A WMS provides customer service teams with the tools they need to offer superior support. With access to detailed order and inventory information, representatives can quickly address customer inquiries and resolve issues. This efficiency not only improves the customer experience but also strengthens the customer-business relationship.
Logistics Plus Warehousing Solutions
Are you looking for a reliable and trusted warehouse partner with a WMS that provides real-time inventory visibility? Look no further. Logistics Plus has been delivering warehousing, inventory management, distribution, and fulfillment solutions to customers for over two decades.
Contact us today for more information or to request a no-obligation quote. In total, Logistics Plus has over 10 million square feet of commercial warehouse space across North America.
by Scott Frederick | May 28, 2025 | News
This is something we recently compiled in response to an external media inquiry, so we thought we’d share it here as well.
Introduction
In the world of supply chains and global logistics, a few companies manage to stand out. Fewer still can trace their success to a story as personal — and unlikely — as that of Logistics Plus.
At the heart of it is Jim Berlin: a guy who didn’t come up through boardrooms or business schools, but through real work, real risks, and a relentless belief that there had to be a better way to do things.
The following is by Jim Berlin, Founder & CEO of Logistics Plus, Inc. (with some input from his personal AI chatbot 😀)
The Reluctant Logistics Revolutionary
I didn’t set out to build a company. I was just trying to make a living — driving trucks, taking odd jobs, figuring things out as I went. I didn’t have a fancy degree. What I did have was curiosity, grit, and a belief that most problems had solutions if you looked at them the right way.
Over the years, I worked in just about every part of logistics — from the ground floor up. Along the way, I learned that moving stuff from Point A to Point B wasn’t just about trucks and warehouses — it was about solving puzzles. It was about people. It was about trust.
By the early 1990s, I had built a reputation for taking on messy, complicated problems — and actually enjoying the challenge.
In 1996, came the real turning point: GE Transportation in Erie, Pennsylvania needed help managing transportation logistics during a big outsourcing shift. A lot of people thought the project was doomed. I thought it sounded like fun.
I set up shop with little more than a phone, a borrowed desk, and an idea: do whatever it takes to get the job done — and do it better than anyone expects.
That was the start of Logistics Plus.
The Birth of Logistics Plus
At the beginning, it was just a few of us squeezed into a tiny office inside GE’s massive site. The only promise we made was simple: Passion for Excellence.
It wasn’t just a slogan. It meant we were going to care more, work harder, and figure out smarter solutions than anyone else.
The “Plus” in Logistics Plus mattered, too. It stood for creativity, service, and the mindset that no matter what a customer needed, we were going to find a way — and then add a little extra.
Every customer felt like our only customer.
No job was too small. No detail was too minor.
That approach became the foundation of everything we built.
Vision and Core Values
I never wanted Logistics Plus to be a place where people just punched a clock. I wanted it to be a place where people actually liked what they were doing — and took pride in doing it well.
Our core values grew naturally out of that spirit:
- Passion for Excellence: Find a way to be better today than yesterday.
- Global Mindset: Solve problems anywhere, anytime, with a local touch.
- Entrepreneurial Spirit: Think like an owner. Take initiative.
- Customer Focus: Build partnerships, not transactions.
- Integrity and Transparency: Do the right thing — even when nobody’s looking.
Build a team of people who care, trust each other, and love the work — and the results take care of themselves.
Solutions That Redefined an Industry
What started with GE grew quickly.
We took on more clients, bigger challenges, crazier projects — and just kept figuring it out.
Today, Logistics Plus offers full-service supply chain solutions, including:
- Freight Management: Truckload, LTL, ocean, air, rail — you name it.
- Warehousing & Fulfillment: A growing network for storage, distribution, e-commerce, and installations.
- Global Logistics: International freight forwarding and project cargo.
- Supply Chain Consulting: Helping clients rethink and optimize everything.
- Technology Solutions: Creating user-friendly TMS, WMS, and other logistics applications.
One thing that’s never changed: we specialize in tough stuff — oversized, high-stakes, complicated projects.
If it’s easy, it’s probably not for us.
Global Growth and Recognition
From a borrowed desk in Erie, we’ve grown into a global organization, fast approaching one billion in global sales, with offices in over 50 countries and a network that spans six continents.
Along the way, we’ve earned recognition like:
- EY Entrepreneur of the Year (and a spot in its Hall of Fame)
- Inc. 5000 Fastest-Growing Companies (multiple years)
- Top 3PL Provider by industry publications
- Great Place to Work Certification (year after year)
We’re proud of the awards — but prouder of what they stand for: a team that never forgot its roots, no matter how far we’ve come.
The Culture Behind the Success
Ask anyone at Logistics Plus what makes us different, and you’ll hear it: culture.
We’re not a top-down corporate machine. We’re a tight-knit group that values creativity, individuality, and trust.
Anybody here can walk into my office with an idea or a problem — and they do.
In a world racing toward automation and AI, Logistics Plus stays human.
Our customers aren’t just numbers. They’re relationships. They’re friends.
Looking to the Future
Nearly three decades in, and Logistics Plus is just getting started.
We’re doubling down on what’s always made us different: creativity, flexibility, and a willingness to take on the tough stuff others won’t touch.
We’re expanding our global reach, building smarter supply chains, and helping our clients grow by finding solutions where others only see obstacles — taking away headaches so they can focus on running their businesses.
The world keeps changing fast — and while we’ve always embraced cutting-edge technology to stay sharp and competitive, we’ve never lost sight of what matters most.
At Logistics Plus, we’re trying to make sure that even as we stay human — building real relationships and solving real problems — we also have all the high-tech tools our customers need, and always will.
At the core, our mission stays simple:
Solve problems. Create opportunities. Have fun doing it.
Conclusion: A Legacy of Possibility
From a single desk in Erie to a worldwide network, the story of Logistics Plus proves that vision, heart, and persistence still matter.
We didn’t grow because of some master plan.
We grew because we cared.
We solved problems.
And we always — always — tried to do just a little bit more.
The best part?
We’re still just getting started.
Onward!
by vanessahuber | May 28, 2025 | News
Navigating the complexities of international shipping can be a daunting task for businesses, especially when it comes to understanding customs regulations and legal requirements. This is where the role of an Importer of Record (IOR) becomes invaluable. This article discusses the timing of when you should enlist an Importer of Record, along with the benefits of using one for your international shipping requirements.
What is an Importer of Record?
An Importer of Record is a person or entity responsible for ensuring that goods are imported in compliance with all local laws and regulations. The IOR handles all necessary documentation, pays the required duties and taxes, and ensures the shipment adheres to the country’s import policies. Essentially, the IOR acts as a legal entity that assumes responsibility for the importation process.
When do I Need an Importer of Record?
You need an Importer of Record when you’re importing goods into a country and are responsible for ensuring those goods comply with local laws and regulations. The IOR is legally responsible for filing entry documents with customs, paying duties and taxes, ensuring compliance with import regulations, and maintaining records. Most commonly, a company requires an Importer of Record when importing goods into a country where it has no legal presence, such as an office or entity.
Streamlined Customs Clearance
One of the primary benefits of using an Importer of Record is the streamlined customs clearance process. The IOR has a deep understanding of local import regulations, which helps avoid delays and potential fines. By ensuring all documentation is accurate and complete, the IOR facilitates a smoother customs process, allowing your goods to reach their destination on time.
Cost Efficiency
Partnering with an Importer of Record can lead to significant cost savings. Without an IOR, businesses risk incurring penalties for non-compliance with customs laws. The IOR’s expertise in navigating these regulations helps to prevent such costly mistakes. Additionally, the IOR can often negotiate better rates for duties and taxes, further reducing expenses.
Expertise in Compliance
Compliance with international trade laws is crucial, and an IOR provides the necessary expertise to ensure your shipments meet all relevant legal requirements. By staying updated on changes in trade policies and regulations, the IOR helps your business avoid legal pitfalls and maintain a good standing with customs authorities.
Liability Management
Another advantage of utilizing an Importer of Record is liability management. By acting as the legal importer, the IOR assumes responsibility for all import-related issues. This relieves your business of the burden of managing potential legal complications, allowing you to focus on your core operations.
Simplified International Shipping
International shipping involves numerous complexities, from understanding country-specific regulations to managing logistics. An Importer of Record simplifies this process by handling the intricacies of shipping, documentation, and compliance. This enables businesses to expand their global reach without being hindered by administrative challenges.
Logistics Plus Importer of Record Solutions
If you’re struggling to find a reliable Importer of Record, look no further. From ensuring compliance and managing liabilities to streamlining customs processes and reducing costs, Logistics Plus will help facilitate smooth and efficient international shipping. By leveraging the expertise of our team, your business can focus on growth and expansion in the global market.
Contact us today for more information. With a global network of offices in over 50 countries, the Logistics Plus IOR team possesses the local knowledge and expertise necessary to deliver comprehensive solutions.
The Logistics Plus (LP) Japan team successfully transported three food processing machines from Belgium to Japan. This breakbulk operation required precise planning and coordination across international and domestic logistics ports to ensure the safe and timely delivery of heavy equipment for one of Japan’s major confectionery manufacturers.
Megan Stetz, International Manager of Imports
