Strategic Expansion, Born from Legacy
Bartrums, a family-owned logistics provider nearing its centenary, built its reputation as a transport-first operation. Historically focused on general haulage and pallet networks, the business faced a turning point: the market was shifting, and client expectations increasingly demanded integrated warehousing and 3PL services.
Spearheading this evolution was Tremayne Johnson, whose strategic remit centred on equipping teams with the infrastructure, systems, and tools they needed to operate efficiently and grow.
The company’s commitment to this transformation culminated in a bold investment: a newly built, racked bonded warehouse facility constructed on what had previously been waste ground. This purpose-built site was speculative but visionary before construction had even finished, Bartrums secured new business from clients like Aspall.
The stakes were high. With a fast-growing warehouse division, Bartrums needed more than physical capacity. They required a warehouse management system that could seamlessly support bonded goods, customer-specific requirements, and multi-tenant operations without slowing down.
This is the story of how Bartrums became a 3PL powerhouse with Clarus WMS as their guide.
Overcoming WMS Challenges Holding the Business Back
Just three years ago, Bartrums was managing warehousing for half a dozen clients using spreadsheets… a model that proved increasingly unsustainable.
“We were managing all our warehouse customers and stock via a spreadsheet… that brings its own unique challenges especially in admin.”
– Neil Howlett, Group Warehouse Manager
With just a handful of customers, spreadsheets were barely tolerable. But as Bartrums expanded to nearly 40 clients, the limitations became critical:
- Stock inaccuracy and wasted hours spent locating pallets
- Risk of admin errors from manual data entry
- Zero scalability for bonded goods, automated reporting, or rapid onboarding
The business had a vision but legacy tools couldn’t deliver it.
The warehouse team felt the pressure too. Without real-time visibility, tracking or stock reconciliation, morale was dipping. The administrative load increased, errors crept in, and the team lacked confidence in their own data.
“We had a bonded customer our anchor client. If we didn’t have a system that could assist us in managing that bond, the whole thing would collapse.”
– Neil Howlett, Group Warehouse Manager
To move forward, Bartrums needed a WMS built for bonded logistics, with the flexibility to scale and the power to simplify.
Guiding Bartrums Toward WMS Transformation
After a careful selection process, Bartrums shortlisted three vendors. What made Clarus WMS stand out was not only its technical capability but its cultural alignment.
“Two key pillars for us were the relationship and user-friendliness… Tim [Clarus Founder] gave us a lot of time and attention from day one. That mattered.”
– Neil Howlett, Group Warehouse Manager
Clarus also offered something few other providers could: the willingness to co-develop a bonded warehouse module, purpose-built for Bartrums’ needs.
From the very first discussions, Clarus positioned itself not as a vendor, but as a guide. The flexibility to self-manage was essential.
“We’re a fast-moving business. A customer can be here today, gone tomorrow. We wanted a system we could run ourselves instantly.”
– Neil Howlett, Group Warehouse Manager
Built for Operators, Not Just Admins
Usability was a consistent theme across decision-makers.
“It’s simple, straightforward you don’t have to fill in loads of fields. Receipts are quick. Orders are quick. You don’t need to fiddle about.”
– Charlie, Warehouse Administrator
Clarus enabled operators to focus on outcomes, not inputs… a critical shift in a growing 3PL.
Implementing the Solution: From Planning to Execution
Clarus and Bartrums co-designed a five-day onboarding plan led by Clarus consultant Mathew Buttar. Within two days, the admin team was confident enough to begin live operations.
“One of our key decisions was identifying a ‘super-user’,” Neil explained. “Charlie took that role and flew with it. He trains everyone both admin and shop floor. And he’s respected.”
With Charlie leading the internal rollout, staff uptake was smooth. New joiners were trained quickly, and the culture shifted from reactive to proactive.
On the bonded side, Bartrums and Clarus spent a full day mapping requirements. “We said, ‘This is what our client needs can you build it?’” said Neil. “They came back shortly after with a working module. It just worked.”
Charlie praised Clarus’ help desk as another key to operational confidence. “If there’s an issue, I ping them and they’re back in minutes. They’ll either fix it or show me a better way.”
Results Achieved: WMS Success in Action
The transformation wasn’t just visible it was measurable.
Bartrums now operates 9,200 pallet locations, serving 36 clients from day one in the new bonded facility all with zero service disruption.
For their anchor client, the pick accuracy hit 99.99999% a nearly flawless performance that reinforces trust.
Warehouse teams no longer waste time searching for stock. Every pallet is traceable, every dispatch accountable.
Daily stock reports are now automated and configurable, reducing admin time and ensuring clients have live visibility. Clients are even beginning to place orders directly via the customer portal, cutting errors and accelerating turnaround.
Clarus WMS didn’t just meet expectations it unlocked entirely new ways of working.
Client Reflections and Lessons Learned
Three years ago, Bartrums’ warehousing arm was bottlenecked by manual tools and reactive processes.
Today, they’ve emerged as a modern 3PL bonded, automated, scalable.
“Tools matter. The right systems are as essential as the right trucks. Clarus gave our team what they needed and that shows in the results… A good system should be intuitive. Clarus just makes sense.”
– Tremayne Johnson, Director
Bartrums’ team culture has shifted too. Staff trust the system. Onboarding is smoother. Decisions are faster. The business is no longer limited by what it can track or process it’s empowered by what it can do.
Your Path to WMS + 3PL Success
Bartrums’ journey from spreadsheet-bound to bonded-warehouse ready showcases what’s possible with the right partner.
From operational agility and bonded compliance to real-time accuracy and client self-service, Clarus WMS enabled Bartrums to transform how they operate and how they grow.
Whether you’re struggling with scaling, compliance, or outdated tools, Bartrums’ story proves transformation is within reach.
Discover how Clarus WMS can help your operation achieve similar results.