How a UK Logistics Company Achieved a 50% Cost Reduction with Payroll Outsourcing

Introduction

A London-based logistics company offering global relocation services was caught in a cycle of inefficient processes and delayed decision-making. Despite their rapid expansion, their back-office operations were riddled with manual bottlenecks, mounting paperwork, and outdated accounting practices. That’s when Corient stepped in — not just as a service provider, but as a strategic partner in transforming their finance function.

The Initial Problem: What Went Wrong?

Running a fast-paced logistics business meant every decision had cost implications — and the lack of timely, accurate financial data made this difficult. The client struggled with:

• Delayed management reporting often arrives weeks too late to be actionable.
• Duplicate invoices are being booked and occasionally paid twice.
• Cost centres are misaligned with actual job expenses.
• Long hours wasted searching through physical documents.
• Poor cost visibility on a per-job basis makes profitability tracking a nightmare.

They realised the manual handling of finance tasks was holding them back — they needed to modernise or risk operational stagnation.

Corient’s First Solution: The Fix

The Corient team began with a comprehensive evaluation of the company’s finance and accounting structure, identifying key friction points and areas for immediate optimisation.

They first cleared the accounting backlog and cleaned up the books, bringing them in line with actual cash flow and job performance.

Next, Corient introduced a monthly management reporting framework, enabling the leadership team to make quicker, data-driven decisions. Reports were delivered consistently within 10 working days, providing clarity and eliminating end-of-month surprises.

To address the physical documentation issues, Corient implemented a paperless office system. All financial records were digitised and stored in an Electronic Document Management System, offering the team easy access from anywhere — a significant step toward operational efficiency. Learn more about our accounting outsourcing services that power such transformations.

The New Problem: A Surprise Roadblock

Just when things seemed under control, a recurring issue reappeared — duplicate invoice entries. Despite cleaner records and a digital document system, duplicate payments were still slipping through due to overlapping responsibilities and human error.

This unexpected glitch called for a more innovative solution — one that would detect errors before money left the account.

Corient’s Second Solution: Fixing the New Problem

Here’s how Corient addressed this surprise challenge with a structured, tech-enabled approach:

1. A Custom Duplicate Detection Tool – They built a “suspected duplicate” analysis tool that scanned entries daily and flagged anomalies before payment approval.
2. Improved Job Cost Tracking – Corient restructured how expenses were coded, ensuring each cost was accurately mapped to the right cost centre and job.
3. Daily MI Reporting – They rolled out daily Management Information (MI) reports, offering instant insights into cash flow, outstanding invoices, and suspected duplicates.
4. Tackling Unapplied Cash – By identifying and allocating previously unlinked payments, Corient reduced unapplied cash by 92%, freeing up working capital and improving supplier relationships.

This approach didn’t just fix the problem — it created a future-proof solution that empowered the client to stay ahead.

For companies in similar scenarios, adopting technological services for business like these can dramatically reduce manual errors and improve profitability.

The Final Outcome: A Success Story

• Bookkeeping costs were cut by over 50%.
• Monthly management reports became a reliable part of operations.
• All documents were stored and accessible via a paperless system, reducing admin hours.
• Duplicate payments were almost eliminated.
• Supplier queries dropped significantly thanks to timely and transparent payments.
• The year-end process became smooth and predictable — with no surprises.

We now have complete control over our financial operations. Corient didn’t just clean up our books — they gave us the clarity to scale with confidence.

Key Takeaways: Why This Matters for Businesses

This case shows that operational bottlenecks — no matter how deep-rooted — can be solved with strategic outsourcing and innovative technology. Whether it’s reducing manual errors, speeding up reporting, or building a paperless ecosystem, the right approach transforms finance from a burden into a competitive advantage.

Efficiency isn’t just about speed — it’s about getting the correct data, at the right time, in the proper format.