From pandemic pressure to boardroom praise: How Dedola delivered for ICU Health during COVID-19
ICU Eyewear and ICU Health specialize in consumer and medical products including sunglasses, reading glasses, and personal protective equipment (PPE) such as face shields, gowns, and surgical masks. With decades of importing experience and operations spanning Asia to the U.S., they rely on scalable, responsive freight logistics—especially during global supply chain volatility.
The Challenge: A logistics crisis during a global emergency
In the spring of 2020, global air freight capacity collapsed under the pressure of surging demand for PPE and widespread supply chain disruption. ICU Health faced a critical moment: securing space on aircraft wasn’t just a matter of cost—it was a matter of delivering essential PPE to frontline customers.
“The ability to deliver under those conditions meant everything to our clients—and our business.”
One such customer, a major U.S. food processor, needed timely delivery of PPE to maintain safe operations. ICU had the product ready. What they needed was a logistics partner who could pull off the impossible.
The Solution: Dedola went beyond freight—They delivered performance
Though ICU has trusted Dedola for over 20 years, the COVID crisis pushed the partnership to a new level. Dedola leveraged its deep carrier relationships, strategic freight planning, and relentless coordination to deliver what others couldn’t.
Services provided:
- End-to-end freight forwarding and customs brokerage
- Large-scale air freight procurement (Shanghai → Chicago)
- Real-time visibility across ICU’s internal platforms
- Coordination from factory production through final delivery
Tech & integration:
- Shipment data fed directly into ICU’s internal tracking system
- ICU and its clients had real-time access to freight status
- Automation supported rapid response and planning
Team dedication:
- Marc, Stephen, and the Dedola team worked around the clock
- Dedola secured entire cargo planes when others failed to book even partial capacity
- Communications and problem-solving never stopped, even outside of business hours
The Results: What ICU Eyewear / ICU Health gained
Mission-Critical Freight Success
- Secured multiple full aircraft during global air freight shortages
- Fulfilled PPE contracts under strict timelines
- Zero interruption to a major client’s supply chain
Board-Level Recognition
- ICU’s success became a highlight at customer board meetings
- Dedola’s execution strengthened ICU’s customer relationships at the highest level
Operational Visibility & Confidence
- Real-time freight data allowed ICU to coordinate across teams and communicate with clients seamlessly
- Internal planning and external trust increased
“Our performance ended up being a discussion topic at our client’s board meetings. It was a Herculean effort—and it wouldn’t have happened without Dedola.”
