For NZ Carriers & 3PLs Ready to Break Down Operational Silos
The New Zealand transport and logistics landscape is evolving rapidly. Carriers and third-party logistics providers (3PLs) are no longer just moving freight from A to B—they're managing complex, multi-modal operations spanning warehousing, inventory management, order fulfilment, cross-docking and last-mile delivery. Yet many operators are still running these critical functions on disconnected systems that create data silos, manual workarounds and limited visibility.
Integrated logistics—where transport, warehousing, inventory and fulfilment operate under one unified system—isn't just a theoretical ideal. It's becoming the operational baseline for competitive NZ carriers and 3PLs who need to improve on-time, in-full (OTIF) performance, reduce costs and scale efficiently.
What Integrated Logistics Actually Means
At its core, integrated logistics coordinates every element of the supply chain—from warehouse receipt through to final delivery—under a single system of record. This means:
Orders, inventory, locations and customers all live in one ERP platform, eliminating the need to reconcile data across multiple systems. When a customer order is placed, the system automatically checks inventory across all locations, allocates stock based on business rules and proximity, and reserves the goods for picking—all without manual intervention.
Transport management connects directly to live inventory and customer service levels. Your transport planning system knows what stock is available, where it's located and what customer delivery windows apply. Exceptions—missed pickups, delayed shipments, inventory shortages—are flagged immediately, not discovered during manual reconciliation.
Warehouse operations align seamlessly with transport schedules. Picks are batched and sequenced based on carrier pickup times. Dock doors are assigned intelligently. Packing and labelling flow automatically from order data. The warehouse management system (WMS) and transport management system (TMS) work together, not in parallel.
For NZ carriers and 3PLs juggling multiple depots, customer accounts and service offerings, this integration transforms operations from reactive firefighting to proactive flow management.
The Legacy System Pain: Where Disconnected Platforms Break Down
Many New Zealand logistics operators are running on technology stacks cobbled together over years—a standalone WMS here, a separate TMS there, accounting software that doesn't talk to either. The consequences show up daily:
Duplicate Data Entry and Reconciliation Burden
When systems don't communicate, staff manually re-key order details, shipment information and billing data between platforms. One operator manages orders in the WMS, creates separate transport bookings in the TMS, then manually enters invoice details into accounting. The administrative overhead is enormous, and every handoff introduces error risk.
Delayed and Inaccurate Invoicing
Without direct integration between operations and finance, billing becomes a month-end reconciliation exercise. Transport charges, storage fees, handling costs and accessorial charges are compiled from different systems, matched manually to customer orders and eventually invoiced—often weeks after service delivery. Cash flow suffers and customer disputes increase.
Limited Visibility into Route and Lane Profitability
When transport costs live in one system and revenue in another, understanding which routes, customers or service types are actually profitable requires manual analysis. Many operators make decisions based on incomplete data or gut feel because the systems simply don't provide integrated financial visibility.
Inability to Scale or Add New Services
Want to add e-commerce fulfilment, implement cross-docking or expand into a new region? On disconnected legacy systems, each new capability becomes a custom IT project—additional integrations to build, more reconciliation processes to manage, increased complexity across the board. Growth becomes expensive and slow.
Cloud ERP resolves these constraints by centralising operational data, automating cross-functional processes and exposing real-time analytics across the entire logistics chain.
NetSuite Building Blocks for Carriers & 3PLs
NetSuite provides an integrated platform purpose-built for the complexity of modern logistics operations:
Inventory & Order Management
Multi-location inventory tracking with real-time visibility across all depots and warehouses. Advanced order management allocates stock intelligently based on proximity, availability and business rules. Customers receive accurate promise dates based on actual inventory positions and transport lead times, not guesswork.
Warehouse Management
Native WMS functionality supports sophisticated warehouse workflows—directed putaway, wave and batch picking, zone management, cycle counting and dock door scheduling. Mobile RF scanners integrate directly with the platform. Warehouse operations flow seamlessly from receipt through to dispatch without separate system logins.
Transport Management System Integration
While NetSuite provides comprehensive logistics capabilities, it's designed to integrate with specialised TMS platforms. This connected approach means transport planning, carrier rating, load tendering and shipment tracking synchronise with inventory positions and customer orders. Route optimisation decisions are made with complete visibility into what needs to move, from where, and by when.
Financial Management & Revenue Recognition
Integrated financials mean every warehouse transaction, transport movement and customer delivery automatically flows to the general ledger. Billing is triggered by operational events—delivery confirmation, storage period completion, handling activities—eliminating manual invoice creation. Multi-entity operators can consolidate financial performance across all subsidiaries in real time.
Analytics & Performance Dashboards
Real-time dashboards track the metrics that matter: OTIF performance, inventory accuracy, warehouse dwell time, cost-to-serve by customer, route profitability and carrier performance. Exception alerts notify managers immediately when KPIs fall outside acceptable ranges. Reporting spans operational and financial dimensions without needing to export data to spreadsheets.
A Practical Roadmap: Migrating from Legacy to Integrated Logistics
Moving from disconnected legacy systems to an integrated logistics platform doesn't require a risky big-bang implementation. A phased, metrics-driven approach delivers value progressively whilst minimising operational disruption:
Phase 1: Establish Your Baseline (Weeks 1-2)
Before changing systems, measure current performance rigorously. Capture baseline KPIs including:
- On-time, in-full (OTIF) delivery percentage
- Warehouse pick accuracy and productivity
- Average freight cost per order
- Order-to-delivery cycle time
- Month-end close duration
- Invoice accuracy and days sales outstanding (DSO)
These metrics become your benchmark for measuring post-implementation improvement.
Phase 2: Data Foundation & Unification (Weeks 3-6)
Clean, accurate master data is the foundation of integrated logistics. Consolidate and validate:
- Product catalogues across all locations
- Customer master data with service level agreements
- Location hierarchies (depots, warehouses, zones)
- Carrier and rate tables
- Chart of accounts and cost centres
This phase often reveals data inconsistencies that have been masked by system fragmentation—addressing them upfront prevents downstream issues.
Phase 3: Core Platform Go-Live (Weeks 7-14)
Implement foundational modules in a controlled rollout:
- Inventory management across all locations
- Order management with allocation rules
- Warehouse management for primary depot
- Carrier connectivity for common transport lanes
- Financial management with automated GL posting
Start with one depot or business unit, prove the workflows, then extend to additional locations. Early wins build organisational confidence.
Phase 4: TMS Alignment & Integration (Weeks 15-20)
Connect your transport management capabilities to the core platform:
- Synchronise transport planning with live inventory positions
- Implement automated carrier selection and rate shopping
- Enable shipment tracking with customer visibility
- Link delivery confirmation to billing triggers
This phase eliminates the manual coordination between warehouse and transport teams, dramatically reducing exceptions and delays.
Phase 5: Process Automation & Optimisation (Weeks 21-28)
With the foundation stable, layer on advanced automation:
- Intelligent putaway strategies based on product velocity
- Wave planning optimised for pick efficiency and carrier schedules
- Automated rate shopping across carrier options
- Exception alerts for inventory shortages, delayed shipments and SLA breaches
- Self-service customer portals for order status and proof of delivery
Productivity improvements accelerate significantly during this phase as manual intervention drops away.
Phase 6: Scale & Extend (Ongoing)
The integrated platform now supports strategic growth:
- Onboard new depots or warehouses in weeks, not months
- Add new subsidiaries with automatic financial consolidation
- Expand service offerings (e-commerce fulfilment, cross-docking) through configuration
- Support international operations with multi-currency and multi-language capabilities
- Integrate acquired businesses rapidly
The system grows with the business, not against it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is integrated logistics? Integrated logistics coordinates transportation, warehousing, inventory management and order fulfilment under one unified system. Rather than operating in silos with separate platforms for each function, integrated logistics breaks down these barriers to control the complete end-to-end flow—from warehouse receipt through to customer delivery—with full visibility and automated handoffs at every stage.
Does NetSuite include transport management capabilities? NetSuite provides comprehensive logistics and supply chain functionality including inventory management, order management and warehouse management. For specialised transport management requirements—route optimisation, carrier rating engines, load planning—NetSuite integrates seamlessly with dedicated TMS platforms. This connected approach combines NetSuite's unified data model and financial management with best-of-breed transport planning, giving operators the benefits of both integration and specialisation.
Can NetSuite handle cross-border and multi-entity operations? Yes. NetSuite's OneWorld capability is purpose-built for organisations operating across multiple countries, currencies and legal entities. NZ carriers and 3PLs with trans-Tasman operations, international freight forwarding or multiple subsidiary companies can manage the entire group on one platform—with automatic currency conversion, inter-company transactions and consolidated financial reporting. Each entity maintains local compliance and reporting whilst head office gains real-time visibility across the entire operation.
How long does migration typically take? Implementation timelines vary based on operational complexity, number of locations and data quality, but most carriers and 3PLs complete core platform go-live within 3-6 months. The phased approach outlined above allows businesses to realise benefits progressively—often seeing productivity improvements and better visibility within the first 2-3 months—whilst building toward full integration over a 6-9 month journey.
What about our existing TMS investment? NetSuite's integration capabilities mean you don't necessarily need to replace a TMS that's working well for your transport planning needs. Many operators choose to integrate their existing TMS with NetSuite, gaining the benefits of unified data and automated financial flows whilst preserving transport planning functionality they've optimised over years. Migration can be phased to minimise disruption.
The Competitive Imperative
Integrated logistics isn't just about operational efficiency—it's increasingly a competitive requirement. Customers expect real-time shipment visibility, accurate delivery promises and flexible fulfilment options. Margins are under pressure from fuel costs, labour rates and customer demands for value-added services. The carriers and 3PLs winning in this environment are those who've eliminated waste from disconnected systems and manual processes.
When your warehouse, transport and finance teams operate from a single source of truth, you make better decisions faster. When billing is automated and accurate, cash flow improves. When route profitability is visible in real time, you can optimise your network continuously rather than quarterly.
The technology foundation you build today directly determines how quickly you can grow tomorrow.
Ready to Build Your Integrated Logistics Roadmap?
Project Salsa specialises in helping New Zealand carriers and 3PLs migrate from legacy, disconnected systems to integrated logistics platforms on NetSuite. We understand the unique challenges of the NZ market—the depot networks, the trans-Tasman lanes, the multi-entity complexity many operators manage.
Our team combines deep NetSuite implementation expertise with practical knowledge of transport and logistics operations. We'll work with you to assess your current state, design a phased roadmap tailored to your depot network and service mix, and deliver a solution that drives measurable improvements in OTIF performance, operational efficiency and financial visibility.
Want a practical migration plan built around your routes, depots and carrier relationships? Contact Project Salsa to discuss your integrated logistics journey—or explore our Transport & Logistics page to learn more about our approach.
