Beyond generic: How the 90/10 model differentiates your Logistics Tech

If you work in logistics, you already know this: no two operations are the same. You’ve built your processes over years (sometimes decades), based on the realities of your freight mix, your customers, your team, and your systems.

So when a software vendor turns up promising a “complete end-to-end solution,” it’s fair to be sceptical.

At Origin, we’ve seen firsthand what happens when software is too generic, or worse, when it tries to solve every problem without understanding how your operation actually works. It either becomes shelfware, or your team ends up bending in ways they shouldn’t have to.

That’s why we work differently. We call it the 90/10 model, and it’s how we deliver logistics software that moves fast and fits.

What is the 90/10 model?

It’s simple:

• 90% of the software is already built. Transport management, container freight, customer portals, and logistics finance. All prebuilt, proven, and deployed across leading operators in Australia and New Zealand.
• The remaining 10% is where the magic happens. That’s the part we tailor to your operation: your workflows, branding, rules, service models, visibility requirements, and customer experience.
  
  

We don’t believe in starting from scratch unless there’s a good reason. But we also don’t believe in compromising what makes your business different.

What are your options, really?

When it comes to logistics software, we’ve seen four common approaches:

1. Buy off-the-shelf and adapt your process

Fast to implement, but you’re the one doing the adapting, not the software. Short-term gain, long-term pain. Over time, workarounds can pile up and your team may lose trust in the system. When using this model, it's likely you could be using the same system as your competitors. So when it comes time to tender for work, you're showing the same screens, milestones, portal etc.. as the last guys.

2. Build in-house

You get exactly what you want… until the developer leaves, tech debt piles up, the backlog of new features explodes, or the market shifts. You’re also now a software company, whether you meant to be or not. 

3. Start with 90%, make the last 10% count (That’s us)

You want the assurance of battle-tested and proven solutions, but with the flexibility to tailor them to your unique ways of working. You benefit from continuous product upgrades alongside your own client-specific roadmap where you can co-develop fast to bring new innovations to your business and customers.
That’s where you create real value. And where your competitors can’t copy you.

4. Go full custom with an external dev shop (also us)

When no available solution meets your needs, custom is a smart move - if you choose the right partner. A partner who brings deep logistics knowledge, proven delivery capability, and a long-term mindset. This approach works best when you know your differentiators and want tech to reflect them, without turning your logistics company into a software company.

How to assess what approach is right for you

Let’s be clear. Not everything needs to be customised or even replaced.

There are parts of your business where an off-the-shelf tool will do the job just fine or an existing operational system performs well. Telematics, Health and Safety, HR platforms, communications tools; these are well-covered by commodity solutions, and unless you’re doing something wildly unique in those areas, you’re better off not reinventing the wheel.

But in logistics, some parts of your operation are your differentiators.
That’s where your technology has to reflect what makes you different or it’ll quietly hold you back.

So how do you decide?

Start by asking:

What do we want to be known for?
Where do we consistently win business, or keep customers coming back?
Does our tech reflect and amplify that? Or does it get in the way?

Here are some examples:

If customer service is your edge...

• Are you bringing new innovations to support the customer experience?
• Do customers have visibility of their freight, when and how they want it?
• Can you integrate directly with their systems for real-time updates?
• Do they have access to a customer facing tools and apps that lets them self-serve, reducing wasted time on phone calls and emails?
  
  

If not, you may be putting pressure on your frontline team to fill the gap manually.

If speed and efficiency of delivery is your edge...

• Does your system automate manual tasks that typically cause delays?
• Can it adapt to the service levels and contractual commitments you’ve made?
• Are you able to confidently take on new contracts and scale operations without a major system overhaul?
• Does your system empower you to reduce costs for customers by driving operational efficiency?
  
  

If not, the system may be limiting your ability to grow or protect your margins.

Tech should reflect your edge, not dilute it

It’s on every logistics business to identify the parts of their operation that truly differentiate them, and make sure their technology reinforces those strengths, not restricts them to what a vendor thinks “best practice” looks like.

That’s what the 90/10 model enables.
You don’t waste time rebuilding the basics but you don’t settle for generic where it matters most.

So what does the 10% “edge” actually look like?

It’s not weeks of expensive dev work for every small request. It’s smart, targeted tailoring — like:

• Custom business rules and rate logic e.g. “we want automated rules to assign specific vehicle types for customer A”
• Workflow adjustments based on freight type or customer promise e.g. “we want our drivers to take photo proof that containers are properly sealed”
• Customised UX and UI for your customer facing portal or apps
• Integration to your legacy WMS, ERP or third-party systems
• White-labelling, multi-brand visibility, or role-specific dashboards
• Localisation or compliance reporting
  
  

We also build with the future in mind, so when your business grows or changes direction, we can adapt quickly without breaking what’s already working.

Final thought: you don’t need a revolution to evolve

Most of the execs we work with aren’t trying to “transform”, they’re trying to solve real problems, reduce manual effort, and give their customers a better experience.

With the 90/10 model, we help them do exactly that. No bloat. No starting from zero. Just solid logistics software, built fast, then tailored to fit.

If you’re weighing up your next move in technology, consider this:
You don’t need to choose between fast and flexible.
You can have both, and still stay true to what makes your business work.