This case study examines a strategic collaboration between McClain & Associates, a leading transportation broker, and the software development firm Entos LLC. It highlights a common industry hurdle: the technical “lock-in” caused by relying solely on a third-party Transportation Management System (TMS). By developing a custom Proxy API, Entos enabled McClain to decouple their client-facing services from their backend infrastructure , allowing for greater innovation, improved user experiences, and operational independence.

The Challenge: Navigating Integration Complexities and Vendor Lock-in

• Vendor Lock-in: Any potential change or upgrade to their TMS threatened to break existing client integrations, leading to costly and time-consuming rework for both McClain and their customers. This limited their agility and ability to choose the best underlying technologies for their core business.
• Limited Customization: McClain’s ability to offer tailored workflows, custom logic, or simplified API experiences for their clients was constrained by the capabilities and development roadmap of their TMS provider. They needed the freedom to innovate at their own pace.
• Complex Client Experience: Clients had to navigate the often-complex and varied interfaces of backend systems for essential tasks like order management and obtaining shipping quotes. This could lead to inefficiencies and a less-than-ideal user experience.

McClain recognized the need for a strategic solution: to build out their own integration network. This would give them control over their client-facing interactions, freeing them from the constraints of their internal system choices and allowing them to connect more effectively with their partners, paving the way for an enhanced client experience and greater operational flexibility.

The Action: Entos Develops a Custom Proxy API to Power McClain’s Network

McClain & Associates partnered with Entos LLC to design and develop a custom Proxy Application Programming Interface (API). The core objective was to create a stable, intermediary layer – the backbone of McClain’s new, independent network – sitting between their clients and their internal systems.

Entos embarked on a comprehensive development process, focusing on:

1. Strategic Design for an Independent Network

Architecting a robust and scalable Proxy API using RESTful principles and JSON for data exchange. The design prioritized future-proofing, ensuring that backend systems could be swapped or augmented with minimal impact on client connections within McClain’s owned network.

2. Core Functionality Development for Seamless Connections

• Order Management Endpoint: Enabling clients to create and update orders using their own familiar reference numbers (PO/SO numbers). The Proxy API would intelligently handle the translation and interaction with McClain’s TMS, making the connection seamless for clients. Sub-endpoints for order tracking and invoice retrieval were also included.
• Quick Quote Endpoint: Abstracting the complex, multi-step rating process of the underlying TMS into a single, streamlined API call for clients. This involved internal orchestration to determine service groups, identify client/location IDs, retrieve eligible carriers, and aggregate rates, all managed within McClain’s new API layer.

3. Secure and Scalable Infrastructure for Growth

Implementing the solution using AWS Lambda functions fronted by AWS API Gateway, ensuring cost-efficiency, automatic scalability, and robust security (including API key authentication and HTTPS enforcement).

The Solution: An Independent, Flexible, and Client-Centric Integration Network

The Proxy API developed by Entos provided McClain & Associates with a powerful and transformative solution, establishing their own resilient integration network:

• Decoupled Integrations: McClain’s clients now connect through a consistent and stable API owned by McClain, regardless of any changes McClain makes to its internal TMS or other backend systems. This significantly reduces the risk and cost associated with system upgrades and allows McClain to choose best-of-breed internal tools without disrupting their client network.
• Enhanced Customization & Control: McClain gained the ability to implement custom business logic and simplified workflows directly within their Proxy API network, tailoring the experience to their clients’ specific needs without being reliant on their TMS provider’s features. This puts McClain in the driver’s seat of their service offerings.
• Improved Client Experience: Clients benefit from simplified, consistent API endpoints for key operations. The Quick Quote endpoint, for example, transformed a cumbersome multi-step process into a single, efficient interaction, saving clients time and effort by leveraging McClain’s streamlined network.
• Scalable Architecture for Expansion: The serverless AWS architecture provides a flexible foundation that can seamlessly scale as McClain & Associates expands its operations and client base. This ensures their custom network can grow with their business, supporting increased transaction volumes and new service offerings without requiring major re-architecture.
• Reduced Operational Overhead: By abstracting backend complexities into their own controlled network layer, McClain can streamline its internal operations and focus on delivering value to its clients rather than managing intricate, disparate integration points.

By partnering with Entos, McClain & Associates successfully built out their own client integration network, moving from a position of system dependency to one of strategic control, flexibility, and enhanced service delivery. This custom Proxy API serves as a critical enabler for their continued growth, allowing them to adapt and thrive in the evolving logistics landscape by connecting with their ecosystem on their own terms.

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<p>The post McClain & Associates: Forging Their Own Path with a Custom Integration Network for Clients first appeared on McClain & Associates Logistics & Warehousing.</p>