Building a Strong Partnership with a Top Fortune 500 Company: An Inventory Management Success Story
Industry
The Fortune 500 lists major companies from various sectors, including tech, finance, and food and beverage. Over the last 20 years, leading companies in the food and beverage sector have dominated the market. In 2023, this sector alone generated around $697 billion in revenue.
These companies innovate, grow globally, and influence consumer habits. Their products, from drinks to snacks, are found in homes everywhere.
Challenge
Our partnership with a top Fortune 500 company began nearly a decade ago. This well-known food and beverage company, with over $60 billion in revenue and a presence in over 100 countries, faced IT inventory issues in North America.
Key problems included:
- Poor tracking of IT equipment
- Slow processing
- Lack of proper redeployment
- Logistics challenges
Requests for servers often resulted in incorrect models, faulty hardware, or missing parts. The IT team struggled to find the right items and set up equipment, leading to frustration.
Solution
In 2018, we stepped in to enhance their inventory management. CDR Global recommended that all networking equipment be:
- Tested and graded according to ITAD standards
- Sanitized using specialized software
- Stored and tracked in secure IT facilities
Networking equipment models are specific. For example, a 3650 EQ and an EU are different devices, each requiring unique configurations.
For the first part of the project, our team cataloged every single unit, tracking serial numbers and keeping detailed records. After this, CDR Global matched its inventory with theirs. This took significant effort as each piece of networking equipment was sent to our facility in Oklahoma City.
We cleaned and inspected each item, with some resold for added value.
CDR Global also added their inventory to its online portal, allowing them to see what’s available and request equipment easily. The team also ensured a two-day shipping turnaround, with expedited options for urgent needs.
Results
CDR Global’s partnership transformed their equipment management process. Our team processed hundreds of thousands of items to fix inventory discrepancies, greatly improving accuracy and efficiency.
The company appreciated having a dedicated contact, which streamlined communication and negotiations. In 2024, we handled more than 16,000 additional items, maintained a 24-hour turnaround time, and had no lost equipment issues.
Continuing the Journey
Our goal is to strengthen our partnership and become a full IT lifecycle management provider for this Fortune 500 company.
By building on our strong relationship, we aim to enhance our support and be recognized as a trusted partner in handling full IT lifecycle services