Cold storage pioneers focus on service 

The challenge

Arcadia Cold specializes in providing third-party handling, storage, distribution and value-added services to the food industry. They are on a mission to design and deploy modern facilities and deliver innovative solutions through the practical application of technology—establishing The New Age of cold chain. As a fast-growing startup, Arcadia was looking to establish themselves as a leader in the market by offering a combination of leading-edge technology and standout customer service.  

To make that possible, the business needed to:  

• Onboard new customers into the ecosystem as quickly and efficiently as possible 

• Establish an electronic ordering system that would catalyze new growth 

• Move away from time-consuming manual processes 

“We’re a brand-new company, and we’re building our own warehouses: new buildings, new technology, new software. We want to work with the leaders, so we chose the best warehouse management system and aim to be the best at what we do. And we want to be the leader in this market in terms of service for our customers.”

– Chris Lafaire, Chief Information Officer

The solution

To stay on top in the startup world, partnerships need to move fast. Arcadia and SPS Commerce began their collaboration over a quick couple of months, and the following year brought a new surge of growth to Arcadia’s warehouses. To begin, Arcadia implemented SPS for 3PLs to standardize their internal processes, automate operations and cut down on manual inputs.  

Arcadia’s goal to serve customers as an extension of their supply chain has been supported by on-hand experts from SPS. By reaching out to potential and current customers to ask about current challenges and initiatives, SPS has provided leaders at Arcadia the space to grow the business in exciting new ways while making the onboarding process smooth and frictionless. 

“Our competition has been in the market for many years, and they’re already set up. They have EDI—they have everything. SPS has not only given us credibility in the marketplace but also enables those customers [to be onboarded] faster. We start a conversation with a customer, and they’re live in 2 to 4 weeks.”

– Chris Lafaire, Chief Information Officer

The results

The value of EDI went beyond streamlining day-to-day functions.  To take on a new 3PL partner, modernized suppliers need to know that a new partnership would be an easy fit. With SPS for 3PLs, Arcadia has been able to show potential clients their commitment to forward-thinking supply chain solutions and secured new contracts with frozen goods leaders as a direct result.  

The company’s commitment to their customers has paid off with rapid expansion. In 2023, solutions from SPS Commerce helped Arcadia secure new business that has grown their revenue by 30%. The partnership between Arcadia and SPS Commerce has resulted in fewer manual errors and a signature hands-on approach, dropping onboarding times by a massive 60%. The partnership’s dedication to making this process as efficient as possible is making it easier to do business with the household names that Arcadia has its eyes on.  

Arcadia is dedicated to finding new ways to exceed customer expectations with agile solutions. As their partner, SPS Commerce will continue to offer solutions that keep Arcadia resilient in a fast-paced market.