Case Study: REMCO Forwarding Ltd. – Brampton Distribution Centre
Situation Overview
Remco is a Canadian leader in warehousing and transportation of “clean freight” for the retail industry. Founded over 75 years ago, it has grown from a two-truck Montreal operation into a nationwide business with 7 warehousing locations in Delta (BC), the Greater Toronto Area, and Montreal (QC), operating over 300 transportation units.
Before Birdseye, security at three secure warehouses/distribution centers was handled by onsite guards who managed gate access and recorded truck/trailer details on clipboards. There was no driver ID validation. Perimeter security relied on fences, limited patrols, and a few low-resolution cameras.
Trigger for Change
There was no single incident prompting change. Bill Henderson, General Manager of Transportation, drew on his experience at a previous multinational logistics company to champion the shift toward a tech-enabled model.
Remco lacked the scale to build an in-house system, so Bill sought a vendor to deliver security and operational improvements as a service. Goals included:
- Improving value from security spend
- Increasing real-time data access
- Eliminating costs from untraceable “claims”
The Search for Birdseye
Two vendors were considered—Birdseye and another—but Birdseye was selected due to:
- Being a Canadian-born supplier
- A consultative, needs-focused approach
- Willingness to provide local client references
A month-long due diligence process confirmed Birdseye could deliver promised benefits without disrupting operations.
While we reduced our security budget by switching to Birdseye, the real value was in improved operational intelligence to make informed decisions, and an inestimable saving in indirect costs.
Solution Overview
Phase one covered a single 5-acre GTA site:
- 31 yard cameras (visual & thermal) for perimeter/interior coverage
- Two-way voice communication for intervention
- Automated gates with Birdseye ID-Verifi
- 26 interior warehouse cameras
Oversight transitioned from guards to Birdseye agents over a month. Agents monitored for suspicious activity, safety issues, PPE compliance, and managed gates remotely—logging truck/trailer numbers and validating driver IDs in real time.
Outcomes
Direct benefits included 10–12% security budget savings.
Greater value came from:
Increased yard supervision reducing incidents and equipment damage
Real-time inventory data eliminating the need for manual yard checks
Tangible and intangible reductions in incident-related costs
Benefits:
12% Security Savings
Increased Yard Supervision
Real-Time Data Access
Reduced Incident Costs
Conclusion
Although initially hesitant to abandon familiar onsite security, Remco is now fully committed to remote monitoring.
The shift brought both direct savings and substantial indirect benefits, including fewer incidents and better operational decision-making data. The partnership between Remco and Birdseye continues to strengthen security and yard operations.