How Microsoft Power BI and Bubble Wrap Solved a $20M Distributor’s Costly Returns Problem

What do bubble wrap and business intelligence have in common? For one $20M wholesale distributor, they were the keys to solving a costly product returns problem. When messy, disconnected data left the company blind to what was going wrong, TrinSoft stepped in with a fast, affordable FIX. Using Power BI, TrinSoft turned chaos into clarity, providing insights that led to an unexpected solution: bubble wrap.

Here’s how TrinSoft helped this distributor save $8,000 annually, without overhauling their entire ERP system.

The FAIL:
This wholesale distributor knew they had a problem with product returns, but they didn’t have the tools to pinpoint the root cause. Data was scattered across three disconnected systems, including one managed by a third-party logistics firm. While they had all the necessary information, it was buried in spreadsheets and nearly impossible to analyze.

The result? Lost time, frustrated employees, and mounting costs from unresolved returns.

The FIX:
TrinSoft quickly realized that an ERP overhaul wasn’t the right solution for this company—it would have been costly, time-consuming, and still wouldn’t consolidate data from the third-party system they didn’t own. Instead, the TrinSoft team recommended Power BI, a powerful business intelligence tool that works seamlessly with any ERP system.

Within weeks, TrinSoft delivered a customized Power BI dashboard that brought all the company’s data into a single, visual interface. For the first time, the distributor could see their financial data alongside returns information in real-time. The dashboard updated every 10 minutes, providing clarity and enabling faster decision-making.

The results were immediate: the dashboard revealed a major issue with office supplies being returned far more frequently than other products. Armed with this insight, the distributor worked with their logistics partner to improve packaging by adding bubble wrap, reducing returns dramatically.

Power BI One Fail One Fix

Why TrinSoft?
TrinSoft specializes in helping companies transform their data into actionable insights, no matter what ERP system they use. From Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central to countless other platforms, TrinSoft’s Power BI experts can integrate data from hundreds of sources into a single, intuitive dashboard. Their solutions are fast, flexible, and affordable, allowing businesses to focus on results without the need for disruptive system overhauls.

The Results:
By working with TrinSoft, the distributor achieved:

  • A single dashboard to view all relevant data, saving time and reducing errors.
  • Immediate insights into returns trends, enabling quick operational changes.
  • An $8,000 annual savings from improved packaging, far outweighing the cost of the Power BI project.

This success story shows the power of having access to the data your company needs to make decisions. In this case, a single Power BI project helped this company solve a problem quickly without committing to a full ERP upgrade. With TrinSoft’s expertise, even messy, scattered data can become a strategic asset.

Are you struggling with disconnected data or complex processes? TrinSoft can help, whether you’re using Dynamics 365 Business Central, or another ERP system. Discover how Power BI and TrinSoft’s expertise can transform your business. Reach out today to learn more.