ZeroDown Brochure

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FREIGHTOPTICS

CORE SERVICES

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CASE STUDIES | TESTIMONIALS

ADDITIONAL SERVICES

FREIGHT | CORE SERVICES

PARCEL

ZERO DOWN

UNLOCK THE BEST KEPT SECRET IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN INDUSTRY

IF YOU’RE INVOLVED IN SUPPLY CHAIN OPERATIONS, WE CAN SAVE YOU MONEY! At Zero Down Supply Chain Solutions, we provide our clients with a consultative-style approach that dramatically reduces transportation and supply chain expenses while providing unparalleled visibility. Our team comes prepared with decades of carrier and client-side experience in sales and operations. With this experience came the knowledge that most customers don’t have the time, technology, or expertise to negotiate favorably with their carriers or leverage their data to obtain optimal rates and bottom-line savings.

Zero Down puts an end to that disadvantage!

Since 2003, we have been passionate about helping companies achieve savings and efficiencies through our best-in-class Audit and Optimization services, robust Business Intelligence, and our cutting-edge Transportation Management System. Our services are powered by the leading technology of our proprietary software suite, FreightOptics.

REVOLUTIONARY. INSIGHTFUL. CUSTOMIZABLE. The most innovative logistics platform in the industry.

As the supply chain industry undergoes a digital transformation, FreightOptics leads the competition in technological capabilities, overall visibility, and ease of use. Our cloud-based platform was conceptualized by a team of technology and supply chain industry leaders in search of a comprehensive, profit-driven software solution that enhances supply chain visibility.

FreightOptics analyzes each critical element of your supply chain to maximize all savings opportunities and streamlines your shipping data into one consolidated dashboard that can be customized to fit your individual needs.

Using one simple login, customers have access to all modes of transportation.

With a winning combination of human intelligence and advanced technology, FreightOptics provides ultimate visibility over the critical details of your supply SPEND BY SERVICE

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MAPS Illustrates geographical outbound and inbound spend data

FREIGHTOPTICS

Provides spend and number of shipments by service type data

PARCEL - CORE SERVICES AUDIT Our comprehensive Audit services include Rate/Service Audit, Claims, Allocation, and Bill Pay. We make sense of the thousands of data points in each carrier invoice, check the invoices for accuracy and extract the most relevant data on your behalf as information you can leverage. We perform a forensic data audit on each shipment, looking for all savings opportunities both big and small. Our system uncovers every inaccurate charge and obtains reimbursement to your account.

Whether you ship via UPS, FedEx, USPS, DHL, Canada Post, Purolator, or with Regional Carriers such as OnTrac, GSO, or one of the many other regional options, we monitor for a multitude of errors such as service failures, incorrect or missing discounts, erroneously-billed surcharges, and more.

BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE Our Business Intelligence dashboard offers customizable, exportable dashlets with incredibly precise drill-down capabilities. Use just one login to access all modes of transportation and gain 24-7 access to your supply chain visibility dashboard and custom reporting from anywhere with an internet connection. It’s even mobilefriendly, so we’re in your back pocket — ready whenever and wherever you are.

Using our Report Module, you can generate customizable reports that can be saved, scheduled, and run ad hoc directly to your inbox. The Invoice Module can pull up any invoice, no matter which carrier was used to investigate invoice details.

Our system allows access to multiple carriers and saves both time and money.

OPTIMIZATION We provide contract negotiation support and bid management, saving our clients considerable time, effort, and money. Accurately comparing one rate agreement to another is more complicated than it seems. Our indepth analysis is automated to uncover the blind spots and show savings down to the penny, complete with a total landed cost side-by-side comparison across multiple carriers and proposals. Our clients make all final decisions and typically don’t have to change carriers in order to save money.

Our results are unmatched in the industry and typically provide

savings of 10 – 30%

TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (TMS)

PARCEL

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CORE SERVICES

Our Parcel TMS is a multiple carrier manifesting system that allows you to easily and effectively obtain quotes from your carriers, initiate and track shipments, and create shipping labels. Leveraging our web-based technology means you can access our TMS from wherever you are. Our system is extremely user-friendly, and most clients are comfortable navigating the system after just one training session.

Using our TMS, you can optimize at point of shipment to the right service level and right carrier; dispatch, print shipping labels, and track shipments from one system; use your specific rates obtained via API connectivity; and utilize address verification to avoid incurring correction fees.

FREIGHT - CORE SERVICES No matter how you ship - Less than Truckload (LTL), Truckload (TL), Ocean, Air or Rail your supply chain is full of opportunities for increased savings and efficiencies. With our experienced team and innovative technology on your side, shipping in any mode can be simpler and more cost-effective than ever before.

AUDIT We perform a forensic data audit on each shipment, looking for the big and small errors.

From incorrect or missing discounts, incorrect base rates, or erroneously-billed surcharges, such as residential or liftgate, we uncover every inaccurate charge before invoice payment.

In fact, our team manages all exceptions directly with the carrier on your behalf, allowing you to focus on your business. We also manage the rate errors to a successful ending with an accurate invoice.

How do our Freight Audit services differ from our Parcel services?

The Freight Audit will yield a cost avoidance rather than a refund. We are able to obtain the corrected invoice from the carrier prior to payment, keeping more money in your pocket.

The implementation for Freight Audit services typically involves an EDI connection as the carriers are not as automated as parcel carriers. You could invest money, time, and manpower to implement an internal audit, or simply let Zero Down handle it for you!

BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE With our Business Intelligence offering, you gain complete visibility of your supply chain.

Our Business Intelligence dashboards provide you with insight into the critical elements of your supply chain. Our dashboards offer customizable, exportable dashlets with incredibly precise drill-down capabilities. Use just one login to access all modes of transportation and gain 24-7 access to your supply chain visibility dashboard and custom reporting from anywhere with an internet connection.

Key features include Maps, Charts, Drill-Downs, Data Filtering, and more. Plus, our Report Module offers customizable reports that can be saved, scheduled, and run ad hoc directly to your inbox.

The Invoice Module can pull up any invoice, no matter which carrier was used to investigate invoice details. Our system allows access to multiple carriers and saves both time and money.

OPTIMIZATION This service is automated and accurate to the penny with large-scale analysis and contract negotiation support, along with complete formal bid management services.

Bid Management We handle the Bid Management entirely, saving your most valuable resource: time.

We initiate a formal bid process with multiple providers to ensure you receive marketcompetitive rates and service. During this process, we’re managing the details of the bids and providing you with full validation of the results.

Automate Your Analysis When implementing our Freight Optimization service, we manage the entire bid process directly with the carriers on your behalf while keeping you regulary updated. Our freight bid management approach typically includes multiple carriers due to the vast number of North American trucking companies (both regional and long haul) and Freight Forwarders.

Clients can be as involved as they want to be, but our approach is designed to free your up time by having our team handle the appropiate documents, rate analysis, and negotiation correspondence. We strategize with our clients and adjust to meet your needs, then present the carrier results so you can make an informed and beneficial decision. Working with us can also provided bid management training and education and education for employees who wish to learn more about the process.

TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (TMS)

Benefits of our TMS: • Get the best rates, service level, and carrier every time • Connect all your carriers, regardless of mode • Integrate FreightOptics with the tools you’re already using • Integrate your ERP, WMS, Inventory system or CRM • Customize to fit it into your workflow

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Working with us also provides bid management training and education for employees who wish to learn more about the process.

FREIGHT

You can easily and effectively obtain quotes from carriers, initiate and track shipments, and create labels/bills of lading. Our TMS is extremely user-friendly. The cloud-based technology means you can access your TMS from anywhere.

CORE SERVICES

We offer the next generation of cloud-based TMS technology to handle your LTL needs.

Our advanced system equips you with a unique balance of power, ease, and flexibility, allowing you to efficiently manage and run your operation.

ADDITIONAL SERVICES ALL MODES OF TRANSPORTATION BILL PAY We work with our clients and their carriers to achieve a shared goal of accurate, efficient, and timely freight payment and remittance processing.

Per our agreed upon schedule, we provide our clients with a summary payable across all carriers, allowing them to provide one lump sum payment which frees up valuable accounting resources. We do not commingle funds. We provide visibility of the cash flow to your specific account.

COST ALLOCATION (GENERAL LEDGER CODING) Cost Allocation can be a manual, tedious, and error-prone process; however, automation of general ledger coding has the power to achieve significant cost savings and efficiencies. Within FreightOptics, we can incorporate specific rule-based GL code logic no matter how complicated.

We provide customized reporting or direct feed into the Accounts Payable system to allocate the invoices to the proper cost center without your team lifting a finger.

DUTY DRAWBACK RECOVERY If you import and export goods, you may qualify for a duty drawback refund. Drawback is the refund of certain duties, taxes, and fees collected upon the importation of goods. Refunds are allowed upon exportation under U.S. Customs and Border Protection supervision.

Each year, over $2 billion in available duty drawback is never claimed. We successfully handle complicated drawbacks with U.S. Customs and secure substantial refunds on behalf of our clients. Not only do we step in to define your refunds on duties being processed, but we also fix any incorrect classifications upon import.

Our team can help your company take advantage of duty drawback and can even get an estimate of the refund you may be eligible to receive.

PACKAGING ANALYSIS Packaging can be an expensive and time-consuming process for companies managing it on their own. Our Packaging Analysis service examines your process and creates substantial savings opportunities that improve your bottom line. Our Packaging Analysis service includes a complete evaluation of: labor, packaging, transportation, and warehousing/storage costs; dimensional weight-based changes; automation needs and optimized box sizing opportunities; packaging inventory and management; damaged goods and return ratios; and packaging formal bid management.

We utilize methods that will optimize your packaging process and identify areas in which you can save time, money, and other valuable company resources.

CLAIMS PROCESSING

Our recovery rate is 90 – 95% because we don’t limit ourselves to collecting reimbursements from carriers. When carriers are not liable, we look to suppliers or other responsible parties to compensate you for your loss or damage. Our experience on both the shipper and carrier side allows us to negotiate effectively and resolve claims quickly in the best interest of our clients while achieving the maximum payout.

INSURANCE We provide an alternative to insuring packages through UPS, FedEx, United States Postal Service, DHL, regional and local couriers, or other freight companies. Third-party shipping insurance companies regularly provide better rates than the carriers offer for the same coverage.

Our Insurance services will protect your packages and save money at the same time.

It’s easy to implement and takes very little time. Integrating parcel shipping insurance provides the power to process more packages in considerably less time than manual methods. Our shipping insurance policies save up to 90% compared to the rates offered by going direct to the carriers.

ADDITIONAL SERVICES

If you have a high volume of parcel and freight shipments and experience numerous Lost and Damage claims, or simply have a high value claim, there is more than one way to recover your loss. We offer a variety of Claim Management services and provide solutions designed to fit your company’s specific needs.

CASE STUDIES CLIENT: A clinical

PROBLEM TO SOLVE: The client’s existing agreement that had been

diagnostics company that develops and manufactures clinical consumables and medical equipment.

successfully optimized by the Zero Down team 3 years prior was coming to an end. The client needed to negotiate a new favorable agreement with their carrier.

CLIENT: An importer

PROBLEM TO SOLVE: The client was importing rods, reels, lines and lures

and exporter of fishing equipment.

RESULTS: After Zero Down’s formal bid process, 20% savings were secured for the client, even more than in the first negotiation. The client also was able to remain with the same carrier. Zero Down used current market conditions and multiple carrier involvement to ensure the deepest discounts possible in the second negotiation project on behalf of this client.

and combining them into a single package for exportation. Though there was not any further manufacturing involved, the items that were imported under one part number were exported under another. This created confusion for Customs.

RESULTS: To gain the drawback for this client, Zero Down used a BOM (bill of materials) format to track each component and its relative duty paid, and combined all components into a single export item. After much review and consideration, the methodology was approved by customs. Zero Down prevailed and successfully claimed drawback on these goods.

CLIENT: A leading manufacturer of health and beauty products that works to empower private business owners.

They are a private company with revenue over $8.5 billion.

PROBLEM TO SOLVE: The client’s longtime incumbent payment processor/ auditor was unable to secure small parcel refunds. The client engaged a second auditor to validate the incumbent was performing adequately. The second auditor was also unable to secure any refunds after a 7-month trial period. The client ended the trial with the second auditor confident that they were being billed accurately and their account had $0 refund opportunity.

RESULTS: The client gave Zero Down the opportunity to “audit the auditor.”

Zero Down successfully achieved more than $27,000 of small parcel refunds during the first three months of implementation for the client. Needless to say, the client is extremely happy with the results and asked if the same process could be put in place for their regional small parcel carriers as well.

FOR ADDITIONAL CASE STUDIES, VISIT WWW.ZDSCS.COM

“I am proud of the savings and efficiencies Zero Down has achieved for our clients!”

Brad A. McBride CEO of Zero Down

TESTIMONIALS

A.B., Director of Finance - Freight Forwarding Industry

“Due to the overwhelming success of Zero Down’s FreightOptics audit and optimization platform, our parcel carrier actually tried to sway us to one of their less effective competitors.”

C.P., Plant Manager - Cruise Line Vendor

“We have always tried to manage our transportation needs based on our success or failures with different carriers. Zero Down has shown that they have much more visibility and understanding of the inner workings of the local carriers than we could have ever imagined. We thank you for the valued service that you are able to provide us.”

“We did not realize the amount of money leaking out of our supply chain until Zero Down started auditing our small parcel bills.”

B.T., Vice President - Sporting Goods Distributor

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“Zero Down provides outstanding service. We compared their services to another auditing company and Zero Down found twice the savings. Zero Down takes care of our freight auditing, allowing us to focus on other priorities.”

TESTIMONIALS

T.W., Purchasing Agent - Lighting Manufacturer

J.P., Vice President - Lifting Equipment Manufacturer

“Zero Down has proven to be a valuable partner in our quest to reduce transportation expenses and overspending.”

D.G., Vice President - Retail Clothing Industry

CASE STUDIES

DIFFERENCE

THE ZERO DOWN

“Love seeing credits on our weekly invoices without lifting a finger! Zero Down does all the work.”

2019-20

Zero Down Supply Chain Solutions 1560 Sawgrass Corporate Parkway, 4th Floor Sunrise, Florida 33323 1-800-785-7959 info@zdscs.com | www.zdscs.com