When a leading millwork manufacturer needed faster order visibility and cleaner data, CDS Logistics replaced decades-old file-based exchange with a real-time API integration. Here’s how it works and what it delivered.
The Challenge: EDI Was Reliable — But the Cracks Were Showing
For decades, EDI has been the default mechanism for exchanging logistics data between shippers, carriers, and 3PLs. It’s been both dependable and broadly supported, but as customers started demanding real-time visibility and tighter operational integration, its limitations became impossible to ignore.
Four Pain Points of Traditional EDI
| Validation Happens Late | Data quality issues surface only after files are received, triggering back-and-forth corrections between teams. |
| Manual Work is Constant | Rejected or malformed transactions consume hours on both sides of every customer relationship. |
| Batch-Oriented Cadence | Status updates are tied to file schedules, not what’s actually happening on the ground in real time. |
| Change is Slow | Adding new data elements requires coordinated specification changes and testing windows that can take weeks. |
The Solution: A Bidirectional API Built for the Full Order Lifecycle
CDS built a bidirectional API integration that handles three core data flows: order intake, lifecycle status events, and structured billing and invoicing. Each flow is purpose-built to address a specific pain point of traditional EDI.
Access our API Case Study
“CDS is highly regarded by our information technology team for their straightforward integration capabilities. Their clearly documented APIs and robust tracking and eventing framework offer seamless connectivity and complete transparency into system behavior. These features have truly enabled us to provide real-time delivery status updates to our customers with confidence, which has been a significant value add for our operations.”
— Lead Software Engineer, National Millwork Manufacturer
About CDS Logistics: Experts in Big and Bulky Last Mile Delivery
CDS Logistics is one of the largest providers of last mile delivery and fulfillment solutions in the United States. Headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, with 182 hubs nationwide, CDS has built three decades of expertise as an industry leader specializing in big and bulky products. CDS’s proprietary, in-house technology and hands-on operational expertise provide results that are consistent, reliable, and proven to drive outstanding customer experiences.
