How 4MATIV Reduced Data Verification Time by 80% and Secured Two Major Contracts with Tendril!
Transforming School Transportation Sales with Tendril
A Story of Transformation in School Transportation Sales
When Carl Allen, CEO of 4MATIV, reflects on his company's journey over the past year, the transformation feels almost surreal. What began as a purely referral-based business struggling with fragmented sales processes has evolved into a systematic, data-driven operation that recently secured two major contracts and revolutionized how they approach client relationships.
Partnering with Tendril changed that trajectory. Within a single campaign, 4MATIV ramped verified contact data from roughly half their lists to 80%, compressed work that usually took weeks into 10 focused hours, and opened a steadier flow of qualified meetings, culminating in two major wins: a transportation consulting engagement with a network school in Indiana and a full management services contract with an Arizona charter school.
We’re proud to present this case study which shows how a systematic, strategic approach to B2B outreach and data enrichment management delivered significant time and cost savings—and set 4MATIV up for continued growth.
4MATIV operates in a specialized but critical niche within the education sector. As a comprehensive school transportation company, they provide consulting services, SaaS transportation software, and complete management services for schools and districts across the United States. Their role is unique in that they function as an extension of school transportation departments, stepping in to address complex logistical challenges that many educational institutions struggle to handle internally.
The company's mission resonates deeply with the daily realities facing school administrators nationwide. Transportation represents one of the most complex operational challenges schools face, involving safety regulations, route optimization, family communication, and budget constraints. For many districts, especially smaller ones, managing these complexities internally simply isn't feasible. That's where 4MATIV steps in, bringing specialized expertise and proven systems to ensure students get to school safely and efficiently.
However, by early 2024, despite their clear value proposition and strong reputation, 4MATIV found themselves facing growth constraints that threatened to limit their impact in the market they were passionate about serving.
The Foundation: Understanding 4MATIV's Mission
The Challenge: When Growth Hits a Wall
The challenges 4MATIV faced weren't uncommon for a growing specialized services company, but they were becoming increasingly urgent. For years, sales at 4MATIV leaned on reputation and referrals. A single person carried the load: prospect research, outreach, meeting coordination.
Beyond the resource constraints, 4MATIV lacked the systematic processes that enable scalable growth. Prospect identification was ad hoc, engagement tracking was minimal, and there was no organized approach to managing the sales pipeline. This wasn't necessarily a problem when dealing with a handful of warm referrals, but it became a significant barrier when trying to expand their market reach.
Perhaps most critically, 4MATIV was discovering a specific challenge that resonated deeply with their target market. Schools across the country were struggling with inaccurate family data: outdated addresses, disconnected phone numbers, and missing contact information that made effective transportation planning nearly impossible.
This problem became particularly painful before the beginning of each school year, when districts scrambled to update their records and plan routes for the coming academic year.
The Partnership: Finding the Right Fit
The partnership between 4MATIV and Tendril began with a comprehensive assessment of needs and opportunities. Rather than implementing a one-size-fits-all solution, Tendril worked closely with Allen to understand the specific challenges 4MATIV faced and the unique value proposition they offered to school districts.
The solution that emerged was multifaceted, incorporating both Connect Premium and Tendril Enrich to create a comprehensive approach to sales and data management.
.png)
-
Customized Data Solutions: Tendril facilitated the upload of existing school data, verified its accuracy, and supplemented it with additional contact details.
-
Innovative Use of Tools: Tendril’s agent-assisted dialing platform was utilized uniquely to address data challenges specific to school transportation needs.
-
Strategic Timing: Outreach efforts were aligned with annual sales cycles, ensuring data cleaning and engagement occurred before the school year began
The implementation phase revealed the true value of having experienced partners who understood both sales processes and the education sector. Tendril's team worked closely with 4MATIV to upload and analyze existing school data, identifying gaps and opportunities for improvement.
This was a comprehensive audit that revealed insights about 4MATIV's market and client base.
The Results: From Fragmented to Systematic
The first signs of lift showed up as calendar density. Instead of a handful of meetings each quarter, 4MATIV started seeing multiple meetings every week. Those conversations translated into tangible wins, and. beyond booked business, a healthy “next-in-line” pipeline formed, with warm districts with clear needs and verified contacts.
The first major contract win came from an Indiana school that was part of a nationwide network. This wasn't just a software sale or a simple consulting engagement; it was a comprehensive consulting contract where 4MATIV analyzed the district's entire transportation operation and provided detailed recommendations for improving efficiency and reducing costs. The engagement showcased 4MATIV's expertise while demonstrating the value of their systematic approach to identifying and engaging with qualified prospects.
The second major contract represented an even more significant milestone: a full management service agreement with an Arizona charter school. This type of engagement represents the highest level of trust a school district can place in a transportation partner, essentially outsourcing their entire transportation operation to 4MATIV's management. These comprehensive management contracts are not only more profitable but also create longer-term relationships that provide stable, predictable revenue streams.
Operationally, the data story is just as important.
Data verification climbed to 80% in roughly 10 hours on Tendril Connect—work that used to take weeks and often stalled near the 50% mark before school started.
For school administrators struggling with tight budgets and limited staff time, these efficiency gains were transformational. Districts could start the school year with confidence, knowing their family contact information was accurate and their transportation planning was based on reliable data. The ripple effects included more efficient route planning, better family communication, and reduced administrative overhead throughout the year.
Cultural Transformation: From Reactive to Proactive
The partnership with Tendril catalyzed changes that went far beyond sales metrics and process improvements. For the first time in the company's history, 4MATIV established key performance indicators (KPIs) that enabled measurable tracking of sales activities and outcomes. This shift from intuitive to data-driven decision making provided insights that Allen had never had access to before.
The transformation was cultural as much as operational. 4MATIV evolved from a reactive, referral-dependent approach to a proactive, systematically-driven strategy. This shift enabled them to identify market opportunities before competitors, engage with prospects during their decision-making processes, and position themselves as thought leaders in addressing industry challenges.
The integration between the two companies became so seamless that Tendril's team functioned as a natural extension of 4MATIV's operations. Communication flowed smoothly, with Allen rating the collaborative relationship a perfect 10 out of 10. This level of integration meant that prospects experienced a consistent, professional interaction whether they were speaking with Tendril's SDRs or 4MATIV's internal team.
The learnings?
-
Recognized the importance of systematic and strategic sales processes.
-
Gained insights into effective outreach, data verification, and problem-solving.
-
Tendril’s role as a trusted partner in driving sales and operational efficiency.
Looking Forward: Building on Success
The success of the initial partnership has opened up new possibilities for 4MATIV's continued growth and development. The company plans to deepen their adoption of Tendril's comprehensive suite of solutions, further integrating data tools to refine and expand their outreach capabilities.
Conclusion: A New Chapter in Growth
Today, 4MATIV operates with confidence and clarity that would have seemed impossible just a year ago. The partnership with Tendril has transformed more than just sales processes; it has fundamentally changed how the company approaches growth, client relationships, and market opportunities.
The journey from a purely referral-based business to a systematic, data-driven operation represents more a fundamental shift in capabilities that positions 4MATIV for sustained growth in the years ahead. With robust processes, reliable partnerships, and proven strategies, they are better positioned than ever to support schools and districts across the United States with innovative transportation solutions.
For school districts struggling with transportation challenges and data management issues, 4MATIV's transformation means access to more professional, systematic solutions delivered by a company that has invested in the tools and processes necessary to serve them effectively. The partnership with Tendril has made 4MATIV a stronger, more capable partner for the education community.
The story continues to unfold, but the foundation for sustained growth and increased impact is now firmly in place. What began as a search for sales support has evolved into a comprehensive transformation that touches every aspect of how 4MATIV operates and grows.
Ready to Transform Your Sales and Data Processes?
Contact Tendril today to see how we can help you achieve similar results. Schedule a free consultation at https://www.tendril.us/request-demo or call +1 866 740 4470 to learn how Tendril's data-driven outreach solutions can revamp your sales operation.
