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Crossbow
Food Logistics & TMS Solutions

Designed for Foodservice Distributors

The foodservice industry’s first fully integrated inbound analytics and transportation management platform, delivering end-to-end visibility, control, and actionable insights to modernize transportation and freight management.

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One distributor solution for planning and execution

As the connector between manufacturers and operators, distributors help keep the supply chain moving.

Crossbow provides Purchasing and Transportation teams centralized visibility of the inbound logistics network to reduce costs and increase freight revenue. Additionally, ArrowStream’s Transportation Management System (TMS) seamlessly integrates with Crossbow so distributors can connect planning, execution, tracking, and financial workflows in one foodservice-specific platform.

Guided analytics paired with enhanced visibility helps teams manage their inbound supply chain network more effectively from PO planning through delivery and settlement. Unlike generalized transportation management systems that create data blind spots, rigid workflows, and siloed processes, ArrowStream TMS combines foodservice-specific inbound expertise with smarter freight control, flexible customization, and AI-driven real-time insights.

Managed Freight Revenue
$ 0 B
Individual Distributor Locations
10 +

Food logistic solutions for every distributor type

Broadline Distributors

Broadline Distributors

Increase freight savings and maintain margins regardless of product type or volume.

Specialty Distributors

Specialty Distributors

Optimize specialty orders for maximum profits.

Redistributors

Redistributors

Maximize truckloads for optimal profits despite providing less than truckload quantities.

How we strengthen food distributor operations

Optimize inbound freight

Advanced algorithms identify order patterns over time and recommend the right order size, frequency, and inventory impact, helping distributors increase logistics earned income.

Reduce costs

Recognize the major factors affecting distribution strategies, identify and immediately fix shipment issues, and keep a close eye on load compliance.

Increase freight under management

Quickly locate vendor-managed freight that can be handled internally for less money, while keeping Purchasing and Transportation aligned through integrated workflow.

Measure carrier performance

Understand the drivers impacting your plans, assess the ability to meet plan goals, and execute corrective actions to mitigate margin losses.

Smarter Transportation Management for Distributors

ArrowStream TMS integrates directly with Crossbow to provide complete end-to-end functionality from analytics to execution and reporting. Logistics teams gain visibility and control across the lifecycle of a PO, while simplifying the technology stack and creating a single source of truth for inbound transportation.

Analytics

Item- and PO-level actionable dashboards to increase cases under management, measure compliance to plans, and quantify savings.

Automated Load Planning

Preplanned route guides, carrier rate records, and contract storage for more consistent execution.

Load Execution

Automated carrier or fleet assignment, systemic tendering, carrier EDI, and a carrier portal.

Freight Tracking

Real-time track-and-trace, pickup and delivery scheduling, and document collection.

Payments & Accounting

Invoice audit, matched pay-invoicing, rebate handling, AR/AP integrations, automated PO-to-invoice matching, and seamless payment integrations.

Reporting

Interactive real-time KPIs, carrier scorecards, and financial reporting that align planning to execution.

Why choose ArrowStream as your partner

Sales, purchasing, inventory, and transportation data is consolidated for a centralized view that eliminates manual data work and helps distributors stay ahead of operational disruptions.

Crossbow + TMS from ArrowStream highlights route opportunities, cost drivers, and network volatility so you can lower freight spend and improve efficiency across every lane.

ArrowStream uncovers margin opportunities and shows the financial impact of your inbound program. With guided analytics, load planning, and performance tracking, distributors grow managed freight and achieve measurable ROI.

From planning and tendering to tracking, compliance, reporting, audit, and payment, teams gain a single source of truth for transportation execution.

ArrowStream’s platform is purpose-built for the nuances of foodservice inbound, helping users increase freight under management, ensure compliance, mitigate margin risks, and discover new savings opportunities.

Case Study from a customer

“Our network is too large and our people too busy to have buyers and load planners searching together for every missed opportunity. Crossbow now does that for us, and puts us in control of when to take action.”

Owen Stull
Director of Logistics
Ben E Keith

View Case Study

Mitigate price risks

Purchasing teams and supply chain leaders can enhance order optimization even further with current price trends and product forecasts.

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News and Press Releases

The latest news and press releases from the ArrowStream team

ArrowStream Transforms Foodservice Logistics with Launch of New Transportation Management System (TMS), Built to Maximize Inbound Profitability

ArrowStream announced the launch of its innovative Transportation Management System (TMS). This new solution seamlessly integrates with ArrowStream’s proven Crossbow inbound freight optimization platform, delivering end-to-end visibility, control, and actionable insights to modernize transportation and freight management for foodservice distributors. 

More News & Press Releases

Interested in Seeing ArrowStream in action?

Learn how you can have more control despite today’s challenges, and become part of North America’s largest foodservice network

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Frequently Asked Questions

What services does a food logistics platform offer distributors?

Food logistics platforms offer a range of services to optimize supply chain operations for foodservice distributors. While the category is broad and can include outbound delivery, inventory management, and order fulfillment, ArrowStream’s Crossbow represents a specialized platform focused specifically on inbound logistics optimization.

Crossbow’s inbound-focused services include:

  • Centralized Visibility & Real-Time Monitoring: Provides a unified view of the entire inbound distribution network, consolidating data from disparate systems (purchasing, inventory, transportation) for improved coordination between departments.
  • Guided Analytics & Decision Support: Delivers actionable intelligence to optimize purchasing decisions, freight consolidation, and carrier selection, helping identify cost-saving opportunities and mitigate supply chain volatility.
  • Freight Revenue Management: Enables distributors to increase the amount of freight under management, improve freight margins (with reported 30% margin growth), and recover margin opportunities that might otherwise be missed.
  • Carrier Performance Measurement: Facilitates better assessment and management of carrier performance through integrated data and monitoring.
    Cost Reduction & Operational Efficiency: Streamlines inbound processes to reduce operational costs, with customers reporting average annual savings of $156K per location and a 5.5% increase in managed freight volume.
  • Support for Multiple Distributor Types: Optimizes operations for broadline, specialty, and redistribution businesses by tailoring freight and order consolidation strategies.

 

By focusing specifically on inbound logistics, Crossbow addresses a critical but often under optimized area of the supply chain that directly impacts distributor profitability.

How can food logistics software improve distributor efficiency and profit?

Food logistics software like ArrowStream’s Crossbow can significantly improve distributor efficiency and profit by optimizing inbound freight, reducing transportation costs, and increasing freight under management. The platform provides advanced algorithms that recommend improvements to order size, frequency, and impact on inventory, thereby increasing logistics earned income. By identifying and fixing shipment issues and monitoring load compliance, costs are reduced. Furthermore, Crossbow helps distributors locate vendor-managed freight that can be handled internally for less money, thereby increasing freight under management. The software also facilitates alignment between purchasing and transportation teams, measures carrier performance, and helps mitigate price risks. Ultimately, these capabilities lead to greater profitability and a more efficient supply chain.

Does ArrowStream logistics software provide real-time inbound shipment visibility?

Yes, ArrowStream’s Crossbow platform provides real-time inbound shipment visibility. The software offers robust actionable intelligence tools for real-time monitoring of logistics plans. It consolidates sales, purchasing, inventory, and transportation data into a centralized view, which helps distributors stay ahead of operational disruptions. This comprehensive visibility allows logistics managers to swiftly adapt to industry changes.

Can logistics software integrate with ERP, WMS, and inventory systems?

Yes. ArrowStream’s Crossbow, focused on inbound logistics, can and does integrate with integrate with ERP/OMS, WMS, and inventory systems, acting as a central bridge that exchanges master data and transactional flows to give complete inbound network visibility.

Is predictive analytics used to prevent delays and cost inefficiencies?

Yes, predictive analytics can be used to prevent delays and cost inefficiencies. Users of ArrowStream’s Crossbow software gain access to predictive analytics that flag priorities such as trending cost issues, network changes, or new opportunities to reduce future costs. The platform utilizes a proactive and predictive model for freight management, allowing teams to focus on exceptions and apply continuous improvement practices. This approach helps in anticipating disruptions and proactively addressing potential cost issues before they impact results.