case-study

BACKGROUND

As a specialized logistics and transportation service provider, AGS has been partnering with a computer asset recovery company since 1997, moving 7,700 shipments at 12.9 million pounds in 2018 alone. Their service has been right on target for over twenty-two years, with no end in sight as long as computers are replaced and old assets have to be moved.

RECOVERING VALUABLE ASSETS

AGS has a secure procedure in place to pick up, inventory, pack and transport used computer equipment from Fortune 500 companies throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Their dedicated Asset Recovery team coordinates the pickup of old equipment with an AGS office or agent, on-site customer contact and their partner’s team member. This team of experts determines the most secure and cost-effective method to move the equipment to a processing center by either LTL (Less than Truckload) or TL (Truckload). AGS developed and maintains a training website for offices and agents to stay current with the procedures on how to package and handle the recovered equipment.

A specialized service within this process is a procedure and system for scanning and electronic reconciliation of serial numbers for high profile financial institutions that require high security and exclusive direct GPS-tracked vehicles from the time of pickup to delivery to one of their nationwide processing centers.

CROSS-DOCK SHIPMENTS

Another important service that AGS provides in addition to the asset recovery process is to manage, along with their asset recovery partner, a large volume of “cross-dock” shipments. The partner has drivers and trucks based in facilities nationwide, including in some AGS and agent facilities, where supplies are stored to facilitate the pickups. The partner’s truck then drops the packaged and labeled pallets at one of AGS’ “cross-dock” locations nationwide where AGS will provide the linehaul and final delivery. This specialized service is growing and now accounts for approximately 30% of the overall asset recovery shipments handled by AGS in 2018.

HOW WE DO IT

Services provided are:

• Expedited Ground
• Truckload (TL)
• White Glove pickup, with 1-8 man teams depending upon the size of the shipment

An asset recovery order dispatched to AGS could consist of a single laptop from a residence or business, to multiple truckloads (TL) of equipment. Specific Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) outline how the equipment is to be inventoried, packed and labeled on site. AGS also helps with coordinating corporate recycling events where a driver team, packing supplies and a truck or trucks are provided to accept employee donations of equipment so they can be properly processed and recycled in one of the partner’s processing centers.

A partnership such as this one requires several key elements in order to last twenty-two years:  

1. Trust in the logistics/transportation provider
2. Reliable trucks, equipment, processes and procedures
3. A time-definite, white glove delivery option
4. Excellent electronic and personal communications
5. Flexibility to provide the necessary service for individual shipments
6. Dedicated people that are well-trained and reliable

AGS prides itself on all the above, for all customers, large or small.