Company overview
Glacier Transit & Storage is a cold storage and warehousing company operating multiple warehouse locations across Wisconsin. Managing hundreds of inbound and outbound appointments every day requires efficient coordination between warehouse teams, carriers, and dispatchers.
The challenge: Outgrowing a custom-built scheduling system
For more than a decade, Glacier relied on an internally developed dock scheduling application that was tightly connected to its warehouse and transportation systems.
While the system handled appointment scheduling, it lacked many of the capabilities needed as the business grew.
"It worked really nicely, but it had no reporting, very limited functionality, and everything was internal. Carriers couldn't see it or book appointments themselves."
The biggest challenge wasn't scheduling itself, it was the amount of manual communication required.
Warehouse coordinators spent much of their day exchanging emails with carriers to arrange, confirm, and reschedule appointments.
A single booking could generate multiple emails before being finalized.
When the developer responsible for maintaining the custom software retired, Glacierbegan looking for a modern solution that could support future growth.
Why Goramp?
Glacier evaluated three dock scheduling solutions before choosing Goramp.
The decision came down to several factors:
- Intuitive, easy-to-use interface
- Flexible configuration
- Carrier self-service
- Strong reporting capabilities
- Responsive customer support
Kyle also admits he initially had reservations about working with a European software provider.
"We loved the appearance and flow of the software. I was skeptical at first because you're in another country, but after speaking with the team, that concern disappeared completely."
A phased rollout across multiple sites
Rather than implementing Goramp everywhere at once, Glacier Storage started with one warehouse.
The first site allowed the team to learn the platform, fine-tune scheduling rules, and establish internal best practices.
Once those processes were proven, the remaining facilities were rolled out rapidly.
"We planned about three weeks for each location, but once everyone understood the system, we completed the last two sites in just two weeks."
The gradual rollout helped warehouse teams become comfortable with the platform while minimizing disruption to daily operations.
Kyle rates the implementation process 10 out of 10.
"You guys were very patient with us. Once people saw the benefits, the rollout became very simple."
Results
Approximately 4 hours saved every day
The biggest improvement came from eliminating manual appointment coordination.
Instead of exchanging multiple emails for every booking, carriers now book, modify, and manage appointments themselves.
"If I had to guess, we've probably saved around four hours a day."
Carrier self-service
Carriers can:
- see available appointment slots
- book appointments instantly
- reschedule without waiting for warehouse staff
- receive automatic confirmations
This gives carriers more control while significantly reducing administrative work.
"You don't have to wait for somebody to reply. You can see availability and make your own appointment."
Better visibility
Compared to the previous system, Goramp provides:
- web-based access from anywhere
- real-time appointment status
- reporting capabilities
- better operational visibility
- mobile access for warehouse staff
Warehouse employees can update truck statuses directly from the warehouse floor, giving everyone visibility into arrivals and departures.
Easier resource planning
Warehouse managers can:
- limit appointments by capacity
- block unavailable time slots
- prevent overbooking
- better align staffing with workload
Looking ahead
Glacier is now implementing a new transportation management system (PCS) and plans to integrate it with both its warehouse management system and Goramp.
The goal is to automate appointment creation directly from transportation planning, creating a connected workflow across all three systems.
