Ingram Micro Spain

Ingram Micro Spain, part of the global IT distribution leader, was facing increasing complexity in its logistics operations in Spain. Spain presents as the most difficult market for Ingram Micro operations. Its ad hoc nature makes it very hard to plan transport. The transportation planning process was reactive and stressful. The team constantly operated in fire-fighting mode, making last-minute decisions and urgent calls to secure capacity. When large orders came in, the team had to call multiple carriers at the last minute, often relying on a mix of carriers A, B, C, and D. This created inefficiencies and led to high levels of operational stress, particularly when preferred carriers were unavailable. Keeping up with the day-to-day required significant manual effort,  to the point where, without a solution, they would have needed to hire additional staff just to manage operations.

The partnership with CtrlChain began by managing operations using Ingram Micro’s existing network of carriers. Over time, the relationship evolved to include carriers from CtrlChain’s network as well. This hybrid setup allowed for greater flexibility and increased reliability, while the CtrlChain system became central to their daily logistics management. 

By integrating all carriers into one centralised system, Ingram Micro was able to shift from a fragmented setup to one with full operational visibility and control. CtrlChain’s team handled the carrier coordination, enabling Ingram’s internal team to focus on strategic priorities instead of chasing trailers. 

The impact was tangible. Operational workload was significantly reduced, equivalent to saving the time of approximately 1.5 full-time employees each month. This efficiency allowed Ingram Micro to avoid the need for additional hiring as their operations scaled.

“We probably save one and a half FTE because we use the system from CtrlChain and their team to manage expectations and the carrier network.”

The system’s planning capabilities helped Ingram Micro better align capacity with demand, resulting in fewer last-minute calls and improved service reliability.

This setup also aligned well with Ingram Micro’s broader strategy of reducing the number of carriers they manage globally. Instead of working directly with multiple partners, they could rely on CtrlChain as a single point of contact. CtrlChain, in turn, could work with its trusted network behind the scenes.

Beyond efficiency, cost savings were also realised. CtrlChain's ability to negotiate with carriers and plan ahead often resulted in better rates than what Ingram Micro could secure through one-off bookings.  

“Instead of us calling every time, CtrlChain has a better system; they can plan and negotiate capacity, and sometimes they are cheaper than when we book it ourselves.” 

Visibility was another key benefit. With all carriers operating through the CtrlChain system, Ingram Micro gained full transparency from the moment a trailer arrives for loading to the final delivery to the customer. This end-to-end insight enabled them to track performance through KPIs, not only assessing whether carriers were on time, but also identifying internal bottlenecks, such as delays in warehouse loading that could impact delivery times. 

This level of visibility supported a culture of accountability. When delays occurred, the team could analyse where the issue started and act accordingly. It also enabled data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement across the supply chain. 

Currently, 42% of Ingram Micro Spain’s shipments are managed through CtrlChain, with plans to increase this share gradually. While full adoption is a work in progress, the company is committed to expanding the partnership in a sustainable way.  

Trust is a key part of this journey, as teams adapt to a new way of working and rely on the system’s capabilities.

The cooperation between Ingram Micro Spain and CtrlChain has gone beyond operational support. The partnership has introduced a new mindset to the logistics team, one based on visibility, collaboration, and long-term planning.