Raising the Bar: How AustraCold Set a New Standard in Food Logistics with CartonCloud

‍“We’ve actually grown our business in volume over the last three years, but we haven’t had to employ any extra staff. We have made use of what the system offers to us, and in consultation with CartonCloud support teams, we’ve been able to enhance our system.” — Kevin Forte, General Manager Operations, AustraCold.

“CartonCloud offered us a cost-effective solution, in terms of thousands! 

“Allowing us to deliver the product in the shortest possible time, and most cost-effective way. We can use the platform to decide which of our sites to use, or to move product between sites without switching between warehouses in the system. We now find ourselves dealing with some of the biggest companies in Australia, in terms of what we can offer them as a service.”

When you walk into the AustraCold offices in Melbourne, the first thing you see is their secret to success, right there in the middle of the room. In bold text, their company values stand tall across the entire wall, a reminder of who they are and what they stand for; Safety, Environment, Customer, Respect, Excellence, and Teamwork. 

Since their 2018 start, AustraCold has rapidly cultivated a reputation as the trusted logistics partner for food manufacturers and distributors across Victoria. 

In an industry where trust and impeccable service mean everything, and where a single misstep can spoil both product and reputation, AustraCold knew that achieving true excellence in service meant they needed excellence at every step.

In looking for the right transport management system (TMS), they didn't just want software; they wanted a partner. 

At CartonCloud, we place our customer success at the heart of everything we do — from developing the most intuitive workflows and delivering new features built to simplify your daily operations, to our expert support teams, and free online academy (for your team and your customers). 

Discover how teaming up with CartonCloud allowed this nation-wide transport company to transform their daily operations, streamline every workflow, and consistently deliver industry best practice services to every customer, every single day.

TL;DR — Your Quick Takeaways

• Elevated Service Standards: Discover how AustraCold harness CartonCloud’s advanced features to set new benchmarks in service and operational efficiency.
• Scalable Growth, Controlled Costs: See how AustraCold have grown their business without adding staff, harnessing powerful TMS automation and workflows.
• Seamless Integration: Learn how to unlock effortless integrations with essential business systems like Xero or SAP, ensuring smooth data flow and eliminating manual headaches.
• Actionable Business Intelligence: Explore how customisable dashboards and tools provide AustraCold with real-time insights for smarter decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Focus on Core Operations: See how this Australian Transport company has streamlined their logistics workflows, to unlock growth. 

The Challenge: Master Best-in-Class Service Even During Rapid Growth

Managing perishable goods isn't just about moving boxes. It's fundamentally about protecting product integrity and earning deep client trust. That's why AustraCold's clients put their full confidence in them to handle sensitive food products with extreme care, ensuring every delivery is quick, reliable, and absolutely perfect. 

"We look after the customers' best interests and their product. We're in the food industry so their product is sensitive, it's perishable, so we need to make sure it gets delivered with integrity." — Birol Guler, Managing Director, AustraCold.

They knew they didn't just need a digital solution; they sought a strategic partner who truly understood the intricacies of industry best practice in food logistics—and could empower them to consistently achieve it.

The last few years have seen the company undergo rapid growth, now operating from 5 warehouse locations across Melbourne, with a transport network of 60 vehicles servicing Victoria state-wide and beyond. 

For the team at AustraCold, having the ability to manage their multiple warehouses and transporter network from one single platform is a massive win, allowing them to continue to focus on growth, while their operations are simplified through CartonCloud. 

Take a look inside their success story, and how they continue to deliver unwavering service, while growing. 

The Solution: CartonCloud—More Than Software, a Strategic Partnership

When AustraCold connected with the team here at CartonCloud, they found something more than just Transport Management Software.  

"CartonCloud is a place for measuring best practice in the warehouse environment. As the programming is getting enhanced, it means that CartonCloud have gone out to a number of different customers, got from them the best ideas, put it into practice that is for the use of all of their customers." — Kevin Forte, General Manager Operations, AustraCold.

Since adopting CartonCloud, AustraCold has scaled up operations without increasing admin overhead, and maintaining their world-class standards. 

Using CartonCloud, AustraCold have been able to:

• Grow volumes with the same team
• Communicate with customers in real time, updating them on deliveries and product locations
• Give every team member—from warehouse staff to drivers—powerful, easy-to-use tools
• Retain customers who have trusted AustraCold since day one.

One feature they love is CartonCloud’s tracking and real-time reporting, allowing the AustraCold team to proactively offer reliable communication and complete transparency to their customers—fostering deep trust, boosting operational efficiency, and cultivating a significant competitive edge in the food logistics market.

“Because CartonCloud offers that sign-on-glass feature and the GPS, we can actually use it to track where our trucks are at any one time. And then we can communicate to a customer to say whether we're running on time, which we do as part of our daily features anyway.

“If I had one word to describe it would be flexibility. You actually can customise what effectively is a standard product into being a customised product that suits your business.” — Kevin Forte, General Manager Operations, AustraCold.

Want to find out more about how CartonCloud is supporting Australian Transport companies to go further? 

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How to Optimise Your Operations with the Right Tools

CartonCloud's commitment to continuous improvement means the platform constantly evolves with real-world operational insights. It actively incorporates best practices gathered from diverse logistics businesses, translating them into practical features that benefit every user. This collaborative development ensures CartonCloud is not only technologically advanced but also exceptionally relevant and effective for your daily logistics challenges.

Seamless Local Integrations to Connect Your Entire Ecosystem

AustraCold seamlessly integrates their financial operations using CartonCloud’s native connections with leading accounting software such as MYOB, Xero, and QuickBooks. This ensures your financial data remains accurate and synchronised, eliminating manual reconciliation headaches. For broader operational visibility, CartonCloud’s open API easily connects with CRMs, and custom business tools. This centralises data, eradicates double-handling, and unlocks truly seamless, end-to-end workflows across your entire supply chain.

Let’s take a deeper look inside some of CartonCloud’s other customisable TMS software features. 

CartonCloud’s TMS Advanced Features for Food Logistics:

• Real-time Proof of Delivery (PODs): Capture digital signatures and photos instantly, providing immediate, verifiable delivery confirmation and enabling instant client reporting.
• GPS Tracking & Live Driver Updates: Gain complete visibility over your fleet with live GPS tracking and driver updates, allowing for proactive communication with customers.
• Advanced Route Optimisation & SSCC Labelling: Streamline delivery routes for maximum efficiency and ensure precise inventory tracking with integrated SSCC (Serial Shipping Container Code) labelling.
• Seamless Warehouse-to-Warehouse Movement: Manage complex stock transfers effortlessly within a single, unified system, maintaining accuracy at every step.
• Customisable Workflows: Tailor workflows to specific operational needs, ensuring compliance with industry best practices and supporting unique client requirements.
• Data Analytics & Business Intelligence: CartonCloud’s TMS dashboard puts your most important metrics front and centre, with customisable widgets for real-time insight. For a deeper dive, the built-in Business Intelligence dashboard lets the team drill down into KPIs—helping them make smarter decisions and spot new opportunities for efficiency and service.

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FAQs

How does CartonCloud help Australian Transport companies like AustraCold achieve and maintain industry best practice?

CartonCloud partners with logistics operators, gathering feedback and rolling out updates that reflect what works best across the industry. Their platform evolves with real operational input—not just tech trends.

Does CartonCloud handle vehicle compliance and maintenance?

CartonCloud focuses on transport, warehousing, and business workflows. For NHVR, fatigue, and maintenance logs, you can integrate with other specialised solutions.

How does CartonCloud’s flexible pricing plans support peak periods?

CartonCloud’s subscription model is designed for flexibility—scale up or down with your needs, and access all core features as your business changes.

Does CartonCloud really integrate with MYOB, Xero, and QuickBooks?

Yes. Native integrations make it easy to sync financial data and manage your books alongside your logistics workflows.

How quickly can CartonCloud’s TMS or WMS be implemented to go live? 

CartonCloud has an average onboarding time of just 6 hours, unlike other logistics platforms that take weeks. The system is built by logistics people, for logistics people. 

Thanks to CartonCloud’s expert implementation team and easy-to-use online training, you can train your team quickly, and benefit from expert advice in your system setup — to ensure your workflows and operations are optimised for growth from day one. 

What ROI can I expect from using CartonCloud’s WMS or TMS? 

The platform’s flexible, subscription-based pricing adapts directly to your business size and fluctuating seasonal volumes, ensuring you only pay for the capacity you genuinely need. CartonCloud users typically report an average 8-hour reduction in weekly administration time, leading to substantial ROI through enhanced accuracy, accelerated workflows, and a marked increase in customer satisfaction.

Key Features & Benefits

• Flexible, scalable subscription pricing
• Native Australian integrations (MYOB, Xero, QuickBooks) and open platform for other systems
• Real-time analytics and actionable dashboards
• Best-practice workflows for food logistics and beyond
• Continuous improvement driven by industry feedback

Ready to deliver industry-best service?

Book a FREE CartonCloud demo with our expert team today and see how our platform can grow with your business—while keeping your team focused on what matters most.

Want to set your business apart with best-in-class service? Join the companies raising the bar in logistics—partner with CartonCloud.