Managed supply chain services
4flow is named a Leader in Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Fourth-Party Logistics.
4flow’s managed services include:
Supply chain orchestration: From strategic planning to execution, 4flow increases resilience, agility, and collaboration.
4PL services: 4flow optimizes your transportation network and manages your logistics for sustainable performance and cost reductions.
- Data solutions: Transform raw data into relevant and actionable insights for transparency and automation.
Think of improving your supply chain as a journey. You could walk, facing obstacles and risks, or you could rent a car – getting expert support to reach your destination faster and safer. That’s what 4flow’s supply chain managed services offer.
With over 20 years of experience, state-of-the-art technology, and specialized talent, 4flow provides comprehensive supply chain solutions. We cover all segments, bring faster results, maximize return on investment, and minimize the risks through end-to-end supply chain management.
Regardless of your industry, company size, or supply chain maturity level, 4flow provides a highly customized approach adapted to your unique requirements.
Supply chain orchestration Managed transportation and 4PL services Data solutions
4flow recognized as a Leader in the first Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Fourth-Party Logistics
Read the reportThe benefits of managed supply chain services
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Faster implementation and ROI:
quick deployment for immediate benefits
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Long-term cost reduction:
continuous supply chain optimization for ongoing cost savings
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End-to-end support:
a single neutral partner for planning, execution, and data management
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Flexibility:
solutions adapted to your industry and unique requirements
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Integrated IT solutions:
seamless collaboration and data-driven decision-making
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Maturity advancement:
structured progression towards higher supply chain maturity
Real-world transportation management solutions
- AGCO
- Magna
- BOS
Greater transparency and lower costs with integrated transportation management
Success story in machinery manufacturing
AGCO is one of the world’s largest manufacturers and distributors of tractors and agricultural equipment.
To streamline the existing logistics structure and design it more efficiently for the long term, AGCO worked with 4flow to successfully implement an innovation roadmap.
The solution
- Implementation of 4flow iTMS across Europe to improve supply chain performance and reduce costs
- New process and organization harmonized with the 4flow iTMS, with the first shipments executed within 6 months
- Inbound transparency increased with shipment tracking and integrated KPIs across all providers
The results
-
25%
cost reduction in global network
-
1,500
suppliers integrated in one standard
-
18
months to complete roll-out
Digital transformation of the inbound supply chain
Success story in automotive
Magna is a leading brand-independent automotive engineering and parts manufacturing business.
Magna sought to increase agility and optimize inbound processes by digitally integrating suppliers and LSPs into logistics processes.
The solution
- Implementation of the 4flow iTMS, an integrated end-to-end transportation management solution
- Increase agility to respond to unexpected changes in manufacturing demand
- Rollout in waves, with more and more suppliers and carriers integrated into the 4flow iTMS in each step
The results
- Immediate cost savings
- Increased agility
- Fewer shipments needed
- Lower carbon emissions
A custom-made solution to maximize supply chain potential
Success story in automotive
BOS develops, manufactures, and sells innovative systems and components for the automotive industry.
Growth targets and increasing internationalization presented BOS with the challenge of increasing transparency over global delivery flows while ensuring supply chain cost efficiency.
The solution
- Flexible transportation management to stay in tune with the company’s actual requirements
- Operational management and coordination of all transportation stakeholders via 4flow
- Digital modeling of entire supply chain network to identify and implement optimization potential
The results
-
80%
of supplier relations optimized
-
+20%
transportation cost reduction
-
100%
cost and delivery transparency
Greater transparency and lower costs with integrated transportation management
Success story in machinery manufacturing
AGCO is one of the world’s largest manufacturers and distributors of tractors and agricultural equipment.
To streamline the existing logistics structure and design it more efficiently for the long term, AGCO worked with 4flow to successfully implement an innovation roadmap.
The solution
- Implementation of 4flow iTMS across Europe to improve supply chain performance and reduce costs
- New process and organization harmonized with the 4flow iTMS, with the first shipments executed within 6 months
- Inbound transparency increased with shipment tracking and integrated KPIs across all providers
The results
-
25%
cost reduction in global network
-
1,500
suppliers integrated in one standard
-
18
months to complete roll-out
Digital transformation of the inbound supply chain
Success story in automotive
Magna is a leading brand-independent automotive engineering and parts manufacturing business.
Magna sought to increase agility and optimize inbound processes by digitally integrating suppliers and LSPs into logistics processes.
The solution
- Implementation of the 4flow iTMS, an integrated end-to-end transportation management solution
- Increase agility to respond to unexpected changes in manufacturing demand
- Rollout in waves, with more and more suppliers and carriers integrated into the 4flow iTMS in each step
The results
- Immediate cost savings
- Increased agility
- Fewer shipments needed
- Lower carbon emissions
A custom-made solution to maximize supply chain potential
Success story in automotive
BOS develops, manufactures, and sells innovative systems and components for the automotive industry.
Growth targets and increasing internationalization presented BOS with the challenge of increasing transparency over global delivery flows while ensuring supply chain cost efficiency.
The solution
- Flexible transportation management to stay in tune with the company’s actual requirements
- Operational management and coordination of all transportation stakeholders via 4flow
- Digital modeling of entire supply chain network to identify and implement optimization potential
The results
-
80%
of supplier relations optimized
-
+20%
transportation cost reduction
-
100%
cost and delivery transparency
Customer reviews at Gartner Peer Insights™
Enterprise Commodity Manager, Manufacturing
Deployments in Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom
More reviews
Senior Supply Chain Leader, Automotive Manufacturing
Deployments in Italy, Spain, Poland, United Kingdom, Germany
More reviews
Global Logistics Manager, Industrial Sector
Deployments across Europe, North America, and Asia
More reviewsFAQs
Supply chain managed services are a collaborative approach where a specialized partner takes responsibility for planning, executing and continuously improving supply chain processes. Rather than simply replicating existing operations, these services aim to deliver greater efficiency, innovation and measurable value through advanced expertise, technology and best practices.
Managed supply chain services are designed to deliver value across a wide range of industries, including automotive, FMCG, retail, manufacturing, life sciences and chemicals, and services can be adapted to different levels of supply chain maturity. While any organization can benefit from improved efficiency and resilience, companies with complex, multi-tier networks often see the greatest impact.
Many executives assume that outsourcing tasks means losing control. In reality, managed services create greater strategic control. By delegating repetitive and resource-heavy processes to experts, leadership gains the bandwidth to focus on high-impact decisions. 4flow’s orchestration model integrates planning and execution data into a single control tower, giving executives unprecedented visibility and predictive insights. Instead of managing exceptions reactively, you steer the entire network proactively with data-driven confidence.
Cost reduction is only the entry point. The real value of managed services lies in transforming the supply chain into a growth engine. Managed services combine advanced analytics, scenario modeling and continuous optimization to unlock hidden capacity, improve service levels and accelerate time-to-market. This means faster product launches, better customer experience and measurable revenue impact – outcomes that traditional cost-focused outsourcing models rarely deliver.
Technology is a powerful enabler, but without coordination and integration it often amplifies complexity. Many organizations invest heavily in tools but fail to harmonize processes and decision-making across tiers. 4flow combines technology with operational expertise and proven frameworks for synchronization, both vertically – from planning to execution – and horizontally across suppliers and customers. This orchestration ensures that technology becomes an enabler rather than a silo, delivering resilience and agility in volatile markets.
*Source: Gartner, “Magic Quadrant for Fourth-Party Logistics,” Matthew Beckett, David Gonzalez, December 1, 2025.
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This graphic was published by Gartner, Inc. as part of a larger research document and should be evaluated in the context of the entire document. The Gartner document is available upon request from 4flow SE.