The company
Ever Martinez is the founder and Director of Operations of Kolob Express, a freight forwarding company specializing in temperature-sensitive and time-critical shipments for the life science, healthcare, and biopharmaceutical industries. Based in both Utah, USA, and Honduras, Martinez began his entrepreneurial journey in September 2018 out of a desire to offer more personalized and reliable services in the freight forwarding sector.
"Starting Kolob Express was a leap of faith, being new, it was challenging to build trust with clients. We knew that establishing a strong brand was essential, and delivering on our promises was the key."
Ever Martinez,
Founder and Director of Operations,
Kolob Express
The challenge
When Kolob Express started, Martinez faced the typical challenges of a new company, including building trust and acquiring customers. However, a major hurdle was finding an accounting solution that could cater to the unique needs of a freight forwarding company.
Initially, Kolob Express used other accounting solutions, but the lack of customizability, particularly in the chart of accounts and template modifications, proved to be a significant barrier. Additionally, they were less feasible due to their limited account customization capabilities.
Martinez found himself scrolling through numerous irrelevant accounts, which hindered efficiency and productivity. He began searching for a more flexible and affordable alternative.
"Other accounting solutions were just not flexible enough for us. We needed a solution that could grow and adapt as our business did. We needed software that could handle the complexities of our operations without bogging us down with unnecessary features. The ability to customize our accounting process was non-negotiable for us."
Ever Martinez,
Founder and Director of Operations,
Kolob Express
The solution
In his quest for a better solution, Martinez came across Zoho Books. Impressed by Zoho’s reputation for customization and affordability, he decided to give it a try. Martinez was particularly drawn to the extensive training resources and community support available, which allowed him to quickly familiarize himself with the platform.
After starting with Zoho Books and Zoho Mail, Martinez gradually expanded to other Zoho products, including Zoho Cliq. Despite a busy schedule managing daily operations, he appreciates the ability to customize Zoho Books to fit Kolob Express’s workflow.
"Zoho Books stood out for its customizability and the wealth of resources available to learn and adapt the software to our needs. I remember going through tutorials and webinars that made the transition smooth. Zoho Books’s customer support was also top-notch, guiding us whenever we faced any hiccups. The community forums are filled with tips from other users, which was beneficial. Being a part of a supportive community has made a world of difference."
Ever Martinez,
Founder and Director of Operations,
Kolob Express
Benefits and ROI
Zoho Books has become central to Kolob Express’s operations, handling everything from initial customer inquiries to final invoicing. Martinez found the platform’s customization features especially valuable. For instance, he used the Projects module to create custom job statuses like “In Progress,” which provided clear visibility and transparency throughout the shipping process.
With Zoho Books, Martinez can create and modify templates, add custom fields, and generate detailed reports that provide valuable insights into his business operations.
Additionally, Zoho Books’s integration with other Zoho products has provided seamless communication and coordination within the team. Martinez noted one of the benefits being the convenience of having Zoho Mail, Zoho Cliq, and Zoho Books working together to support his company’s operations.
"The use of Zoho Books not only streamlined the accounting process but also improved the efficiency of Kolob Express’s operations. The ability to create custom roles within Zoho Books allowed Martinez to assign specific access levels to his team, ensuring sensitive financial data remained secure while employees could access the information necessary for their roles. The mobile application of Zoho Books also proved useful, especially in remote working situations at Kolob Express."
Ever Martinez,
Founder and Director of Operations,
Kolob Express
Looking forward
Martinez plans to explore more of Zoho Books’s features and improve customer experience and satisfaction by activating the self-service customer portal. He also plans to streamline costs and project budgeting with the project management feature.
