EKO Integrated Services is a leading third-party logistics (3PL) provider based in Ireland, specializing in personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical supply distribution. With a vast warehouse network exceeding 20,000 storage locations, EKO serves government agencies, hospitals, and commercial enterprises nationwide. The company is dedicated to efficient logistics management and seamless supply chain operations, ensuring critical supplies reach their destinations on time. 

The Challenge

Managing inventory in a large-scale warehouse operation is no small feat, especially when relying on manual processes. Before implementing Fishbowl, EKO faced major inefficiencies that stemmed from outdated inventory tracking methods. Their reliance on Excel spreadsheets created significant operational challenges that affected their ability to fulfill orders accurately and efficiently.  

Key pain points included: 

  • Stock Discrepancies & Inaccuracies 
    The company frequently experienced errors in stock levels due to manual spreadsheet updates. This resulted in many stockouts, miscounts, and fulfillment delays, causing inefficiencies in meeting customer demands. 
  • Warehouse Space Utilization Issues 
    With over 20,000 storage locations, the team lacked an efficient system for identifying available storage space.  
  • Order Processing Delays 
    Orders were received via email and manually entered into spreadsheets, creating bottlenecks that slowed fulfillment times.  
  • Inefficient Stock Audits 
    Every stock audit required exporting reports to Excel and performing manual reconciliations, leading to delays and potential inaccuracies. 

The Solution

EKO turned to Fishbowl Advanced for a more complete inventory management system. By implementing Fishbowl, they automated key processes, increased efficiency, and improved accuracy across warehouse operations.  

The main solutions implemented included: 

  • Cloud-Hosted Inventory System 
    Transitioning from manual spreadsheets to Fishbowl’s cloud-hosted platform enabled real-time inventory visibility.  
  • Automated Warehouse Reports 
    EKO adopted Fishbowl’s empty location report, allowing warehouse managers to instantly identify available storage space. This streamlined warehouse organization and significantly reduced time spent on manual space checks. 
  • Shopify Integration 
    They integrated Fishbowl with Shopify to enable automatic order syncing. This eliminated the need for manual data entry, significantly reducing processing time and improving fulfillment speed. 
  • Picking List Assignment & Custom Reporting 
    Fishbowl enabled warehouse managers to assign picking lists to specific staff members, streamlining the order fulfillment process. The use of inventory variance reports simplified stock audits, reducing the time spent on reconciliation. 

The Result

The implementation of Fishbowl had an immediate and measurable impact on EKO’s warehouse operations.  

Some of those benefits were:  

  • Eliminated Manual Errors & Increased Accuracy 
    With a 100% transition from spreadsheets to Fishbowl, EKO eliminated discrepancies and ensured accurate stock tracking. Batch and expiry tracking further enhanced inventory accuracy. 
  • Faster Order Fulfillment & Improved Warehouse Productivity 
    Order processing time was drastically reduced by automating Shopify order syncing and eliminating manual data entry. Additionally, the ability to pre-plan inventory locations before shipments arrive significantly improved warehouse efficiency. 
  • Optimized Space Utilization 
    The empty location reporting functionality enabled better warehouse organization, ensuring storage space was utilized efficiently and eliminating the need for manual checks. 
  • Faster & More Accurate Stock Audits 
    With inventory variance reporting, discrepancies were identified and resolved quickly. Stock audits, which were previously manual and time-consuming, are now automated and streamlined. 

“Before, I had to manually export reports, compare them in Excel, and spend time figuring out differences. Now, I just run the inventory variance report, and I can see all discrepancies immediately.” Cristian Fernandes, Head of Warehouse Operations  

By implementing Fishbowl’s cloud-hosted inventory solution, EKO Integrated Services significantly improved accuracy, efficiency, and order fulfillment speed. With automated tracking, Shopify integration, and optimized reporting, they eliminated manual errors, reduced stock discrepancies, and enhanced warehouse productivity. 

Fishbowl has enabled EKO to scale its operations, meet new client demands, and position itself for future growth in the logistics industry. 

“Since we started with Fishbowl, everything changed. We have better control over everything, and the warehouse is more efficient.” Cristian Fernandes, Head of Warehouse Operations