What would you do if the technology you relied on every day suddenly became too expensive to sustain? For Intermountain Express, a family-owned logistics company, that question wasn’t hypothetical: their data platform was costing nearly $35,000 a year, and the price tag kept climbing. Every dollar mattered. They needed an affordable solution, but it had to keep their operations running seamlessly.
A partnership with Microsoft Azure and JourneyTeam promised not only affordability, but scalability and control. The goal wasn’t just to replace their legacy Domo system. They needed to maintain a modern data foundation that could handle real-time logistics, empower decision makers, and grow with the business.
Today, the results speak for themselves: a 75% reduction in annual costs, data refreshes, and a platform that’s ready for whatever comes next. But behind those numbers is a story of trust, transformation, and a small company thinking big. Here’s how the company is making their data solution work for them.
A Data Platform That’s Breaking the Bank
For Intermountain Express, data is essential – not just a convenience. Every delivery, route, and customer promise relies on knowing exactly where each order is and when it will arrive. When a customer asks, “Where’s my package?” the answer must be immediate. That commitment to real-time information is the foundation of their reputation.
At first, Domo was the answer. The product pulled together scattered systems and gave the team visibility. But as the company grew, so did the Domo price tag. What started as a useful tool turned into a $35,000-a-year burden, and the costs were climbing. Worse, the rules kept changing. Features were locked behind consumption-based pricing, which slowed refresh rates and made adding new processes cost prohibitive.
“The product (Domo) outgrew our business,” said Lexton Droubay, Finance Manager at Intermountain Express. “We were promised something modular and scalable, but it really wasn’t what our needs were. Their focus shifted to big accounts, and we were left paying more for less.”
The pressure was real. Without fast, reliable data, dispatchers couldn’t reroute drivers, warehouse managers couldn’t track freight, and leadership couldn’t make quick decisions. They needed a lifeline: an affordable and scalable data management system to keep their business moving forward.
Searching for a Powerful Partnership
Intermountain’s search began with a simple Google query, but the stakes were anything but simple. The team explored alternatives like Tableau, Qlik, and Looker, hoping to find a platform that could deliver real-time insights without draining their budget. Each option promised analytics, but none felt like the right fit for a small business that needed all three, speed, scalability, and affordability.
That’s when JourneyTeam appeared in their search results with Microsoft Azure. It was exactly what they needed to hear. After several conversations, JourneyTeam stood out not just for affordability, but for their ability to design a Microsoft-based solution that could grow with the business.
“We’d heard the pitch before: ‘we can do it cheaper,’ but JourneyTeam backed it up with transparency and expertise,” Droubay said. “They didn’t just sell us a product; they showed us how to build something that would last.”
Moving from Burden to Breakthrough
JourneyTeam proposed a migration to Microsoft Azure, leveraging Microsoft tools that could handle the company’s demanding logistics environment without breaking the bank. Central to the new architecture was a cloud-based data warehouse using Azure SQL Database.
The warehouse serves as the foundation for storing and organizing data from Intermountain’s logistics system, Dispatch Science. Azure Functions and Logic Apps orchestrate the flow of data into the warehouse every 15 minutes, ensuring near real-time updates. Lastly, Power BI sits atop the data warehouse, providing company leaders and teams with dynamic reporting and visualization capabilities.
This wasn’t a quick fix; it was a complete modernization designed for speed, scalability, and simplicity. Droubay said: “JourneyTeam didn’t just give us a new tool—they built a platform that works the way we work. With Azure and Power BI, we can see where every package is, track performance, and make decisions in real time. It’s changed how we run our business.”
Impact That’s Transformational
When Intermountain Express made the leap from Domo to Microsoft Azure, the difference was immediate. The most obvious win was financial. What had been a $35,000 annual expense dropped to roughly $5,000–$6,000 a year. “We’re paying about 15% of what we were before,” said Droubay. “And we have more control than ever.”
For a small business operating on tight margins, that kind of savings isn’t just helpful, it’s transformative. The JourneyTeam consultant who led the project, called the savings “massive for a small business. And they didn’t lose functionality. In fact, they gained scalability and flexibility.”
The solution’s benefits didn’t stop at cost, they also changed the rhythm of daily operations. Data now refreshes every 15 minutes, giving dispatchers and drivers near real-time visibility into routes and deliveries. That means fewer delays, faster problem-solving, and better customer service.
“When a customer calls asking where their shipment is, we can answer confidently,” Droubay explained. “That’s huge for us.” The ability to act quickly isn’t just a convenience, it’s the backbone of their promise to deliver overnight across seven states. And combined with Power BI’s intuitive reporting, leadership now has clear insights into performance and profitability, helping them make smarter decisions every day.
What’s Next for Logistics Leaders Who Think Big?
Perhaps the most exciting outcome is what the solution makes possible for the future. With Azure, Intermountain Express isn’t locked into a rigid system. They can integrate new tools, like financial software or ERP platforms, without starting over.
We’re not boxed in with Azure. If we want to add something, we can. That flexibility is priceless.
-Lexton Droubay, Intermountain Express Finance Manager
With a scalable data platform in place, the team is already exploring new possibilities within the Microsoft ecosystem. PowerApps, for example, can help them create custom tools that integrate seamlessly with their existing data, opening doors to even greater efficiency.
Financial system integration is also on the horizon. Currently, Intermountain currently uses QuickBooks, but is considering cloud products they can integrate with the Azure data warehouse, Droubay explained. “With the Azure platform, we’ll be able to tie everything together, and that’s going to make reporting and decision making even stronger.”
For a company that thrives on speed and reliability, having a future-ready data strategy isn’t just an advantage—it’s a necessity. And Intermountain Express is ready for what’s next. As Droubay summed it up: “We’re confident now. We know the platform can grow with us, and we know JourneyTeam will be there when we need support. That’s a good feeling.”
Ready to Transform Your Data Strategy?
Are you facing rising technology costs with products like Domo? Or are you struggling to get the real-time insights your business requires? The wrong system for your organization’s needs don’t have to hold you back. JourneyTeam specializes in helping organizations like yours find the right fit and migrate to a modern, scalable solution.
Imagine what your business could achieve with:
- Dramatic cost savings
- Real-time data visibility
- Scalable, future-ready platforms
- Expert support every step of the way
We can help fuel your business with real-time intelligence and a foundation designed for tomorrow’s opportunities. Reach Out Today.