The Data Advantage: How Smart 3PLs Are Winning Bigger Clients with Better Inventory Management

Ever had a customer email you three times before lunch asking, “Do you have my stock? Has it shipped yet?” 

For many warehouse teams, the cycle is all too familiar: endless email chains, phone calls, and late-night spreadsheet updates just to keep clients in the loop

Alex Mathis, Production Director at C&C Warehouse in South Carolina knew this scenario all too well. She would spend hours every week digging through spreadsheets and sending manual updates — until she switched to CartonCloud’s warehouse inventory management system. Now, her customers can get what they want in seconds — with live, 24/7 access to their 3PL warehouse inventory data and stockreports.

Across the globe, Santiago Zubillaga, Founder of Logística Patagonia in Argentina faced a different hurdle: winning a fast-growing client who had big demands — and even bigger expectations for visibility. His secret weapon wasn’t rock-bottom pricing; but showing off real-time dashboards and custom inventory reports built right in CartonCloud’s inventory management software. This big ticket client chose Santiago’s team over much larger 3PLs, simply because he could deliver the data and service they needed — before they even asked.

If you’re running a 3PL or warehouse and want to know how real-time inventory management software can take the pressure off your team, impress your clients, and actually help you win bigger contracts, you’re in the right place. Here’s how top operators are making customer data their number one advantage.

TL;DR: What You’ll Learn

• How 3PLs like C&C Warehouse and Logística Patagonia leverage CartonCloud’s customer dashboard for transparency and efficiency.
  
  
• Ways real-time inventory reporting wins trust (and bigger clients).
  
  
• Why data-driven service levels matter more than low pricing.
  
  
• Practical examples of using inventory management software to automate admin, reduce errors, and provide 24/7 client access.
  
  
• FAQs: Real questions logistics companies ask about inventory management systems.

Going Above-and-Beyond with 3PL Warehouse Inventory Management

How Logística Patagonia Delivers Service Levels That Outperform Larger 3PLs

When Logística Patagonia set out to grow their 3PL business, they knew competing on price alone wouldn’t cut it. Their edge? Delivering powerful, actionable customer data — faster and more transparently than anyone else in the market.

Step 1: Listening to Customer Pain Points

Many of their clients were fast-growing importers or local producers with strict requirements from major supermarket chains — especially in food and beverage, where tracking expiry dates, batch codes, and compliance data is essential. Most were used to “flying blind” with poor or no 3PL warehouse inventory data at all.

Santiago recalls: “[Our clients] came from nothing — no systems, no data. For them, the key was knowing exactly what was in stock, what had shipped, and having proof they could show their end-customers. With CartonCloud, we could offer all of that, right from day one.”

Step 2: Customizing Data to Client Needs

Using CartonCloud, Santiago’s team:

• Set up custom fields for expiry dates, lots, and compliance codes.
  
  
• Automated data capture at every moment, from receiving, picking, to dispatch.
  
  
• Created dashboards and monthly reports showing real-time inventory, FIFO/FEFO status, and full audit trails.

“We always show them: you can add the information you wish — custom fields, expiry, delivery locations.” said Santiago.

“We have more visibility of the information than [our customer] does. We are almost like their data source of information.” 

Step 3: Building Trust With Live Dashboards and Reporting

When pitching for new business, Santiago didn’t just promise better visibility — he proved it.

“I make big dashboards with information CartonCloud gives us and [our clients] were mind blown from day one. We do monthly meetings, showing their data live. They keep discovering useful information they never had before.”

Step 4: Turning Data into a Competitive Advantage

After Logística Patagonia began sharing real-time data with their customers, the impact was immediate. Instead of requesting manual reports, customers could simply log in to CartonCloud’s online portal and access everything live.

This shift positioned Logística Patagonia as the single source of truth for their clients’ inventory — even when those clients had their own internal systems.

As Santiago explains, their investment in transparent 3PL warehouse inventory data became a deciding factor for many customers: “There are some customers who said: ‘You are not the price-wise option, but because of service and technology, we keep on choosing you.’”

C&C Warehouse: Real-Time Data That Wins Clients

C&C Warehouse operates in a market where speed, precision, and transparency are everything — especially for brands and importers who can’t afford mistakes. For Greg Cate, Owner and President at C&C and Alex Mathis, leveraging data isn’t just about streamlining internal workflows; it’s about delivering a premium service their customers can count on.

Step 1: Bridging the Communication Gap With Real-Time Data

Before CartonCloud, Alex and Greg’s team relied on spreadsheets, shared folders, and a lot of manual back-and-forth to serve customers:

“Everything was so manual. Our previous WMS only let us pick orders and import stock. There was no invoicing support, no documentation. We had to do everything else in old-school file folders,” Alex shared.

Switching to CartonCloud allowed C&C to offer live, accurate data access — 24/7 — via the customer portal. This instantly removed one of the biggest pain points for their clients: waiting for updates or chasing down information.

Greg Cate explains the shift:

“Having your customers being able to access a portal and see what's happening is a huge reduction in communication on our end. They can go get the answer rather than asking Alex to go access the data, download the data, [and] send it in an email.”

Step 2: Delivering Data-Driven Value to Customers

For C&C’s clients — many of which are OEMs, importers, or retail brands with strict stock requirements — being able to see real-time inventory and transaction data isn’t just “nice to have.” It’s mission-critical.

The impact? C&C is now positioned as a trusted data partner — not just a warehouse.

C&C’s customers frequently check their stock reports and rely on timely updates upon receipt of goods, giving them confidence despite the complexities of international logistics.

"[Our customers are] looking at customer stock reports. We ship daily for a lot of our customers – [so we get them] updates upon receipt. For many of our customers, it takes time for goods to move out of the country and into the country, and there are a lot of variables with customs processes, even if you’re shipping by air." said Greg.

Step 3: Scaling Efficiently With Data Automation

CartonCloud’s warehouse inventory management system doesn’t just help with client service — it also enables C&C’s small team to scale up without extra admin burden:

“We’re a small team — less than 20 people — [and with CartonCloud], automation and dashboards mean we can handle more clients without extra admin. That efficiency is how we grow.” said Greg.

“CartonCloud created a uniform process that gave realistic status updates so that I [can] track where I’m at. Is the container here? Has it been received? Is it allocated? Having a uniform tool to follow the same process with each sale order or purchase order has kept things a lot more accurate and streamlined," said Alex.

FAQs: Common Questions About Warehouse Inventory Management Systems

Q: What is an inventory management system for a 3PL warehouse?

A: An Inventory management software like CartonCloud is a platform that gives you real-time control over inventory and reporting — helping you track, manage, and optimize every stock movement.

Q: How does inventory management software help win bigger clients?

A: Bigger clients want more than just storage and shipping — they want visibility too. By giving them transparent, real-time data through dashboards and reports, you’re showing them exactly what’s happening with their stock at any moment.

This kind of insight helps your clients make smarter decisions, plan ahead with confidence, and stay on top of their own promises to customers. And when you’re the one providing that level of service, you become more than a 3PL — you become a trusted partner they can grow with!

Q: What kind of inventory data do 3PL customers want?

A: Most customers are looking for live stock levels so they always know what’s on hand, along with details like expiry dates and batch/lot numbers for accuracy. They also value easy access to shipping and receiving history, downloadable reports for planning, and handy automated alerts when stock is received or dispatched. In other words — clear, real-time data that helps them stay in control without having to chase you for updates.

Q: How can clients access their inventory information?

A: Using CartonCloud’s customer dashboard, clients can simply log in to see live stock levels, order status, and reports right when they need them — rather than waiting for emailed spreadsheets or having to chase updates.

Q: Can small teams deliver this level of service?

A: Absolutely! When you have your warehouse inventory management system handling the heavy lifting and giving clients the visibility they need, even small teams can offer big-league service. That means you can scale your capabilities and wow your customers — without piling on the extra admin work.

Q: How fast can you get started with CartonCloud’s warehouse inventory management system?

A: Getting started with CartonCloud’s inventory management software is quick and easy! Most teams are up and running in just a few days, not months — and you’ll have full support from our friendly team every step of the way. Many customers are operating in as little as two weeks, and our team is always here to help you customize the software to fit your needs.

Main Takeaways for Logistics Operators

• Automated inventory management software empowers small 3PLs to deliver big-service results.
  
  
• Real-time client dashboards set you apart from the competition.
  
  
• Data transparency is a top client expectation, not just a “nice-to-have”.
  
  
• Service level agreements (SLAs) are easier to meet (and prove) with accurate, up-to-date data.
  
  
• Inventory management systems can support both client and internal team efficiency.

Want to know more?

Ready to see how easy it is to deliver next-level 3PL warehouse inventory reporting and win bigger clients? Book a free demo with CartonCloud today and get instant access to your own client dashboard.