Spotlight: The Power of Listening - Cedric Millar Integrated Solutions

We spoke to Brian Ware, President & Co-Founder of Cedric Millar about the company's vision and the key to their rapid growth

Listening, learning, and evolving goes a long way at Cedric Millar, a 4PL service provider dedicated to developing and executing customized supply chain solutions. Founded in 2019 with the philosophy of bringing a more personal, trusted approach to the supply chain industry, Cedric Millar prides itself on offering solutions designed for companies looking for innovative tools to achieve long-term goals. 

We spoke to Brian Ware, President & Co-Founder of Cedric Millar about the company's vision and the key to their rapid growth.

Brian Ware
President & Co-Founder
Cedric Millar

 

“The idea behind Cedric Millar is really to take a partnership approach that involves active listening to our client’s pain points within their supply chain, and then working with them to develop, and then execute - a solution to solve those pain points”, said Brian Ware, Cedric Millar’s President and Co-founder. “We aren’t trying to sell a preconceived solution. We want to work with clients to figure out how we can resolve their particular issues.”

As a logistics solutions provider, Cedric Millar works in many of the same ways as some of the larger global consulting firms, in that they analyze a company’s operations and make recommendations on how to streamline them to enhance efficiency and profitability. Where they differ from the traditional consultancy model, is in the fact that they are committed to quality – Cedric Millar strives for long-term relationships with those they work with so they can achieve long term success with their business.

“We don’t just provide [our clients] with a folder of ideas,” Ware continued. “Rather, we work with them to produce a report on initial findings. Then, through our continuous improvement framework, we look for opportunities to optimize their business as our relationship with them grows and deepens.”

Their strategy appears to be working.

A Canadian alternative to Canadian challenges

An additional key differentiator that has helped Cedric Millar grow over the last few years, is the fact that again, unlike many of the larger consulting firms operating in the logistics industry, the company is Canadian. This means their team understands the Canadian marketplace and brings a homegrown focus and expertise to the industry.

While Canadian logistics challenges aren’t necessarily unique, in Ware’s point of view, a Canadian outlook can still help shipping companies operating in Canada.

“The fact that my team can bring a Canadian focus and expertise across Canada and to the organizations, manufacturers and shippers that are here, is quite valuable, and is something we got into business to do.”

The company definitely has its sights set beyond our borders - having recently expanded office in Cincinnati in addition to their home office in Mississauga, and branch in Montréal. Vancouver is planned for 2024.

Technology that goes the distance

Thanks to Cedric Millar’s approach to doing business, the last five years have shown their clients across North America just how much of an impact they can have on ensuring that every shipment, every customer, and every contact carrier receives quality service. A big piece of the puzzle has been their foray into the technological side of logistics. Here too, the company is poised and ready for success.

“What we’re seeing is all sorts of organizations running around trying to sell TMS or routing and analytic tools, with massive licensing fees and very little support.”

In such circumstances, a company like Cedric Millar, armed with the the end-to-end service offering of a trusted 4PL provider, fits the bill by being able to handle technology implementation on behalf of their clients.

When it comes to growth, sometimes the answer is “no”

As a company that aims to listen to their clients and function as a partner in the truest sense of the word, the team at Cedric Millar is also careful not to spread themselves to thin and risk diminishing the strength and quality of their offering.

“For us, it starts with being willing to take responsible growth over rapid growth. That means sometimes saying no to opportunities, and being selective about the organizations we work with,” Ware said. “We know we want to work with organizations that are ‘like-hearted’, with similar values. Companies that are also looking to innovate, and build while staying within their culture—which means that sometimes we have to say no.”

Whether it’s listening to their clients, or to their own instinct, Cedric Millar is proof that communication and collaboration is extremely powerful in the supply chain industry. In the world of logistics, the road goes on forever, as does that universal truth.

 For more information about Cedric Millar, visit www.cedricmillar.com or contact them directly at info@cedricmillar.com.