--- title: Ability Matters Case Study | 7bridges description: 7bridges enables medical tech company Ability Matters to manage and optimise its logistics across multiple sites, couriers and freight forwarders. image: https://www.the7bridges.com/hubfs/Ability%20Matters%20Case%20study%20cover.png --- x CASE STUDY # AI & Automation in the delivery of medical devices How 7bridges enabled medtech provider Ability Matters to boost profits, cut costs by 40% and improve customer service with AI technology. The 7bridges platform enables medtech company [Ability Matters](https://www.abilitymatters.com/) to manage and automatically optimise its outbound and returns logistics across multiple sites, couriers and freight forwarders, and provide the best service levels to their customers at the lowest possible cost. In their first year, Ability Matters saved 40% on logistics costs, thanks to the 7bridges AI-powered logistics platform.  ![James Lyons, Operations Director, Ability Matters Group](https://www.the7bridges.com/hubfs/Case%20Studies/James%20Lyons%2c%20Operations%20Director%2c%20Ability%20Matters%20Group.webp "James Lyons, Operations Director, Ability Matters Group") **" **Two months after starting with 7bridges, our costs were down 20%, and now we’re on track for over 40% savings as we roll it out across the company.**"** James Lyons, Operations Director, Ability Matters Group ### Background Ability Matters is a Medical Devices & Technology provider, with a supply chain spanning the EU and beyond. Based in the UK, it has several warehouses across the country. Before adopting the 7bridges platform, the company used five carriers to ship parcels ranging from 1kg to 300kg, including container air freight shipments to and from US and Asia. Their operations also included a significant domestic returns component that were unmanaged. ![Digital Twin](https://www.the7bridges.com/hubfs/Icons/015%20-%20Digital%20Twin%20Light.svg "Digital Twin") ![alert icon](https://www.the7bridges.com/hubfs/Icons/alert%20icon.svg "alert icon") ### The Challenge Like many companies after a period of rapid expansion, Ability Matters had outgrown its logistics operations. Methods and systems had developed piecemeal, with booking based on an adhoc process involving post-it note instructions, print outs, word docs and excel sheets. Consequently, any process change was difficult to implement. **❌ Booking errors were common**  ❌ Staff training was complicated and time-consuming ❌ Efficiency was compromised as the effects were felt across 15+ fulfillment and return locations As James Lyons, Operations Director at Ability Matters explains, a fundamental change was needed. ‘We were looking for a way to introduce a simpler, consistent shipping process throughout – one that would allow us to gain control over outbound, inbound and returns shipments.’ Initially the company’s management considered a move towards a single-source arrangement, reasoning that processes would be simplified and rates could be improved through concentrating all shipping volume into one contract. ‘We knew that single-sourcing might hurt our service levels because no one provider performs equally well across all shipment types and locations, but we had to address costs and the complexity of our operation.’ But negotiating a better deal with a single-source provider would not be easy. Without complete data and good analysis capability it would be impossible to understand which lanes, terms and surcharges to focus on them during negotiation. It would also be very difficult to work out the effect on costs and service levels to customers. ### Solution By adopting the 7bridges platform at the end of 2018, Ability Matters acquired the means to meet its cost reduction and process control aims - without having to limit its operations to a single provider. The platform was rolled out to eight outbound warehouses within a month (with the return hubs being added during 2019). ![mint bar graph icon](https://www.the7bridges.com/hubfs/Icons/mint%20bar%20graph%20icon.svg)Accelerated and highly automated outbound and returns processes: which adapt in real-time to changes in the supply chain. Each time a fulfilment site receives an order, the 7bridges AI has already selected the best shipping provider and route for the job (based on multiple variables including carrier performance and price). ![gear head icon](https://www.the7bridges.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Icons/gear%20head%20icon.png?width=48&height=48&name=gear%20head%20icon.png)Greater control and responsiveness: everything is handled via the intuitive 7bridges UI, so it's easy for staff across the business to access the logistics data and insights they need (and rapidly respond to anticipated problems). ![network icon](https://www.the7bridges.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Icons/network%20icon.png?width=48&height=48&name=network%20icon.png)Enhanced visibility:** **visibility into logistics for finance and accounts payable staff is greatly improved thanks to automated GL coding and freight audit. ![line graph icon](https://www.the7bridges.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Icons/line%20graph%20icon.png?width=48&height=48&name=line%20graph%20icon.png)Operational resilience: the ability to respond at speed to changes in the business, or in the wider logistics landscape. ![hands heart icon](https://www.the7bridges.com/hubfs/Icons/hands%20heart%20icon.svg)Logistics procurement power: greater leverage with providers in negotiating new contracts and renewals, and the ability to introduce new services, such as same day delivery, within days or weeks **20%** cost reduction in first two months ![012 - Money Pig](https://www.the7bridges.com/hubfs/Icons/012%20-%20Money%20Pig.svg "012 - Money Pig") **40%** cost reduction in first year ![money icon](https://www.the7bridges.com/hubfs/Icons/money%20icon.svg "money icon") **1 UI**  for all logistics operations, analysis & reporting ![operations icon](https://www.the7bridges.com/hubfs/Icons/operations%20icon.svg "operations icon") **8 warehouses** onboarded in just one month ![warehouse icon](https://www.the7bridges.com/hubfs/Icons/warehouse%20icon.svg "warehouse icon") ![James Lyons, Operations Director, Ability Matters Group](https://www.the7bridges.com/hubfs/Case%20Studies/James%20Lyons%2c%20Operations%20Director%2c%20Ability%20Matters%20Group.webp "James Lyons, Operations Director, Ability Matters Group") **" **An exciting characteristic of the platform is that it intelligently uses the data and analyses it to continually improve the accuracy of its automated decision-making, so there’s constant optimisation. 7bridges delivers really exceptional capabilities, and it’s surprisingly easy to adopt and use.**"** James Lyons, Operations Director, Ability Matters Group ## Looking for the next-generation supply chain management tools? 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