Miller TR, Bolding MC, Conrad JLIV, Kinz S. 2024. “Evaluating the Impact of Wood Flow Management Software on Administrative Costs and Efficiency for Wood Suppliers in the Southeastern U.S.” Journal of Forest Business Research 3(1): 60-80. DOI: 10.62320/jfbr.v3i1.49
The UGA Study: Key Findings
In 2024, researchers at the University of Georgia’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources published a peer-reviewed study examining the impact of wood flow management software on administrative costs for southeastern U.S. wood suppliers. The study was published in the Journal of Forest Business Research — an academic, peer-reviewed publication.
The researchers interviewed 12 TRACT users and 10 non-software users (operations relying on spreadsheets, paper, and generic accounting tools), comparing time spent on administrative tasks, costs, and operational efficiency. Notably, 25% of TRACT users had adopted the platform after experiencing dissatisfaction with prior software — suggesting the benefits extend beyond just replacing manual processes. TRACT users averaged 7 logging crews, 25 trucks, and 353 loads per week. Non-users averaged 6 crews, 19 trucks, and 260 loads per week.
Key results:
- 43 hours per week saved on average across administrative and operational tasks
- $62,268 per year in labor cost savings at average administrative wage rates
- 67% of respondents said the benefits of forestry software far exceeded the costs
- Remaining respondents said benefits exceeded or met costs — zero respondents said costs exceeded benefits
- 33% saw improvement in less than one month, with the majority seeing results in less than three months
- 64% said accounting and settlements “significantly increased” their efficiency
- 42% reported the software allowed personnel reduction or reassignment
These savings came from specific, measurable workflow improvements — not vague “efficiency gains.”
Where the 43 Hours Come From
The study measured time savings across eight specific administrative tasks. The biggest savings:
- Scheduling jobs: $36,804/year in savings
- Organizing information: $11,075/year
- Relaying information to foresters: 3.4 vs 10.6 hours/week ($8,199/year saved)
- Tracking loads: $5,030/year
- Tracking quota: $3,796/year
Hours 1-15: Load Ticket Data Entry
The manual process: A wood supplier processing 400 loads per week manually enters each scale ticket into a spreadsheet. Each ticket takes 2-3 minutes to enter (weight, species, product, tract, hauler, destination, date). At 400 loads × 2.5 minutes = 16.7 hours per week on data entry alone.
With TRACT: AI-powered ticket scanning lets office staff photograph a paper ticket with a phone or scanner. TRACT’s computer vision reads the ticket data and auto-populates the load record. Staff review and confirm rather than type. Time per ticket drops from 2.5 minutes to 15-30 seconds.
Time saved: ~12-15 hours per week
Hours 16-25: Reconciliation
The manual process: Every week or two, someone compares the company’s load records against each mill’s settlement statement. For a supplier delivering to 5-8 mills, this means comparing hundreds of line items, hunting for missing loads, flagging weight discrepancies, and resolving rate differences. This typically takes 2-3 hours per mill.
With TRACT: Automated reconciliation matches loads against mill data in real time. The system flags discrepancies immediately — missing loads, weight variances, rate mismatches. Staff only review exceptions rather than checking every line.
Time saved: ~8-10 hours per week
Hours 26-33: Settlement Calculations
The manual process: Calculating what you owe landowners, loggers, and haulers requires applying contract-specific rates to delivered volumes, accounting for deductions, and generating payment statements. With 20+ active tracts and complex rate tables, this is painstaking spreadsheet work.
With TRACT: Settlements calculate automatically based on contract terms entered once. When loads are recorded, TRACT applies the correct rates, calculates stumpage, freight, and harvesting costs, and generates settlement statements. Staff review and approve rather than compute.
Time saved: ~6-8 hours per week
Hours 34-38: Reporting and Lookups
The manual process: When a landowner calls asking about their settlement, or a manager needs a tract P&L, someone digs through spreadsheets, filters data, and assembles the answer manually. These ad hoc requests interrupt other work and each one takes 15-45 minutes.
With TRACT: Real-time dashboards show tract performance, species mix, hauler activity, and financial summaries. Landowners check their own portal instead of calling. Reports generate in seconds.
Time saved: ~4-5 hours per week
Hours 39-43: Error Correction and Rework
The manual process: Spreadsheet errors — wrong rates, transposed numbers, broken formulas — require detective work to find and fix. The longer an error goes undetected, the more downstream corrections are needed (revised settlements, adjusted payments, amended reports).
With TRACT: Validation rules catch errors at entry. Contract-driven calculations eliminate formula mistakes. Audit trails let staff trace any number back to its source.
Time saved: ~4-5 hours per week
Adoption and Proficiency
The study also measured how quickly teams get up to speed:
- Loggers: 2.8 weeks to proficiency
- Foresters: 6.1 weeks to proficiency
- Admin staff: 7.5 weeks to proficiency
42% of users discovered TRACT through a sales representative, and 33% through the internet. 67% adopted the software for streamlined data management and enhanced data sharing. 25% switched because they were dissatisfied with their prior software.
Gate Card Accuracy
TRACT users had 20.4% fewer incorrect gate cards per 1,000 loads (4.3 vs 5.4). Each incorrect gate card incident takes an average of 6.7 hours to resolve — so fewer errors means significant time back.
The Hidden Cost Insight
One of the study’s most striking findings: non-software users actually spent MORE time on administrative tasks but perceived those tasks as LESS costly. Owners and spouses doing admin work often didn’t count their own time as a cost. The quantitative data told a different story — they were spending more hours and more money than they realized.
This is a common pattern in forestry operations. If you’ve always done things manually, you don’t see the cost because it’s baked into your routine.
EUDR and Traceability
The study explicitly noted TRACT’s ability to “track and trace all loads processed with a geo-stamp and timestamp from the load’s origination point to the delivery facility” and to “geo-fence loads and prevent them from being entered on the incorrect job site, reducing the potential for error and illegal logging.” The researchers directly connected these capabilities to the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), noting that such technologies are “crucial for the forest industry’s ability to provide certification data.”
Scaling Context
The 43 hours/week and $62,268/year figures are based on mid-size operations averaging about 6 crews. For larger operations running 50-100+ crews, the savings scale proportionally — a 100-crew operation could see 700+ hours per week and over $1 million per year in administrative savings.
Real-World Impact by Company Size
The 43-hour average from the UGA study reflects a mid-size wood supplier — the most common profile among forestry operations that benefit from integrated ERP solutions.
Beyond Time Savings: Other Measured Benefits
The UGA study also identified qualitative benefits that companies valued:
Faster Cash Flow
When settlements calculate automatically and invoices generate in real time, companies get paid faster. Several respondents reported reducing their payment cycle by 1-2 weeks.
Better Decision-Making
Real-time data on tract profitability, hauler performance, and species mix lets managers make informed decisions instead of guessing based on stale spreadsheet data.
Reduced Disputes
Automated reconciliation catches discrepancies before they become disputes. When a mill’s numbers don’t match yours, you know the same day — not three weeks later when memories have faded and paperwork is lost.
Scalability
Companies reported being able to take on more tracts and mill relationships without adding administrative staff. The software handles the increased volume that would have required hiring in a manual system.
What Makes TRACT Different
TRACT is a vertically integrated forestry ERP — meaning it handles the full workflow from contract to settlement in a single platform. Key differentiators:
- Pure software company — Every employee except sales is an engineer building the product. No consultants, no hardware, no distractions.
- Cloud-based — Access from anywhere, real-time data, automatic updates
- AI-powered ticket scanning — The fastest way to digitize paper scale tickets
- Integrations — Connects with QuickBooks, NetSuite, and Samsara for fleet management
- Vendor portal — Reduces inbound calls by letting landowners self-serve
- Proven at scale — Trusted by leading forestry operations from regional dealers to institutional timberland investors like INGKA Investments (IKEA), BTG Pactual, and Superior Pine
How to Calculate Your Own Savings
Estimate your potential time savings with this formula:
1. Count your weekly loads (all tracts, all mills)
2. Multiply by 2.5 minutes (average manual entry time per load)
3. Add reconciliation time (hours per week spent matching against mill statements)
4. Add settlement time (hours per week calculating payments)
5. Add 20% for error correction and rework
The total is your current manual burden. TRACT typically reduces it by 70-85%.
Example: 350 loads/week × 2.5 min = 14.6 hrs + 8 hrs reconciliation + 6 hrs settlements + 20% rework = 34.3 hours/week. At $28/hr = $49,900/year.
Summary
The University of Georgia’s peer-reviewed study provides concrete evidence: TRACT saves wood suppliers 43 hours per week and $62,268 per year. Those savings were measured against operations using other software or manual processes. The time and cost reductions come from automating load ticket entry, reconciliation, settlements, reporting, and error correction — exactly what TRACT was purpose-built to do.
Want to calculate your savings? Schedule a demo with TRACT and we’ll walk through your specific operation — how many loads, how many mills, how many tracts — and show you exactly where the 43 hours come from in your business.