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Author: Martin Port

BigChange cost-effective trailer tracking optimises Elddis fleet

Elddis Lorrys
Posted on by Martin Port

Specialist logistics provider Elddis is transforming the efficiency of its transport operations with a trailer tracking solution from BigChange. Fitted to 300 trailers, the company are using the system to streamline servicing, measure fleet utilisation and manage trailer availability in-real time for blue-chip FMCG clients who have specific trailer availability measures within their overall service level agreements.

“Prior to the introduction of the trailer tracking solution from BigChange, we were reliant on manual daily checks and a spreadsheet that listed the location and journey history of each trailer. Locating individual trailers was a real challenge and the manual processes resulted in up to 4 hours of additional administration each day.” commented Richard Toner, Commercial Director at Consett based Elddis. “The trailer tracking solution from BigChange has completely automated this process and gives us true visibility across the operation.”

Elddis now receive real-time alerts when the number of trailers at a customer site drops below an agreed threshold, enabling them to rapidly make additional deliveries. One of their confectionary clients requires 7 trailers to be on site at any one time so the system is essential in responding rapidly to customer needs. Elddis also uses the solution to manage the servicing requirements of the trailer fleet, with a daily location report enabling the effective scheduling of routine activities and live tracking assisting with the rectification of defects and adherence to the company’s re-torque policy.

With sophisticated KPI reporting, Elddis is now receiving reliable data on trailer utilisation across the fleet, enabling robust and accurate capacity planning and streamlining of the trailer pool.

According to Commercial Director Richard Toner, Elddis evaluated a number of solutions but chose BigChange based on its superior user interface and hardware. “From the start we had total confidence in BigChange’s ability to deliver and our team favoured the easy and intuitive look and feel of the system. Our customers recognise and appreciate the added value that BigChange is helping us to deliver. In terms of return on investment, we expect the solution will be self-funding through better utilisation and reduction of the overall trailer pool.”

BigChange founder and CEO Martin Port added “The Elddis business is over 40 years old, with family heritage dating back over 100 and is the choice provider to some of the world’s most respected FMCG businesses. We look forward to continuing our partnership and providing Elddis with further benefits.”

Contacts:
BigChange Apps: Alex Epstein, [email protected], tel +44 (0)113 457 1000
Reader enquiries: email: [email protected], phone +44 (0)113 457 1000, www.bigchange.com

CEO’s Blog – BigChange reports 225% increase in sales for the six months to June 2016

Bigchange reports record sales growth
Posted on by Martin Port

BigChange achieves Record Sales Growth with a 225% increase in half year sales to £1.9m. Expected full year sales of £5m for 2016.

With over 400 customers and 9,000 subscribers BigChange is becoming an established force in mobile workforce management.

BigChange works with Google Maps and Google Apps and was recently featured by Google in a blog read more click here

BigChange recently won the BigChip Award 2016 for best B2B eBusiness project read more click here
www.bigchange.com

Martin Port Signature
Martin Port
Founder & CEO

BigChange JobWatch takes ALTIDA Crane Hire to New Heights

Altidal
Posted on by Martin Port

Mobile crane hire company ALTIDA is improving the efficiency of its transport operations with a Mobile Workforce Management solution from BigChange. Used to schedule, route and monitor the company’s fleet of mobile cranes and lifting gear, the single platform back office, mobile app and tracking solution is already reducing administration, improving customer service and supporting financial control. With the significant management benefits provided by JobWatch, the system is set to underpin major expansion of the business being planned later this year.

“Prior to the introduction of JobWatch we relied on paper – paper planning, paper maps, paper time sheets, paper service reports, paper invoices,” commented Shane Stephen Hill, Group Operations Manager at Chesterfield based ALTIDA. “With JobWatch this is now all automated. A schedule is created, routes produced and communicated to drivers via their PDA’s. We can monitor vehicles and driver behaviour, accurately record onsite activity and answer customer queries promptly. This is reducing back office administration, improving the efficiency of our mobile operation and supporting business growth.”

ALTIDA uses JobWatch to schedule and route its fleet of mobile cranes, lifting gear and supporting service team. By automating the scheduling and communication of hire contracts and service requests, ALTIDA has reduced back office administration and improved route planning, allowing drivers to amend and share sometimes otherwise unmapped or hard to find locations with other drivers. This is already realising improvements in efficiency and reducing unnecessary mileage.

With real time monitoring of vehicles and driver behaviour, ALTIDA is also able to respond quickly to queries or requests from either drivers or customers, and accurately record onsite activity for more precise invoicing. The automation of timesheets and invoicing is also improving cash flow through the business, as the accounts department no longer has to wait for driver operators to return to base to get timesheet information.

“Although we are already achieving a return on our investment, we are just scratching the surface of the enormous functionality offered by JobWatch,” continued Shane. “With the ongoing support of BigChange, especially the 24/7 RoadCrew team, we know we have the management processes and infrastructure to support growth and an expansion in services offered.”

BigChange founder and CEO Martin Port added, “ALTIDA is an ambitious company with exciting plans for the future and we are delighted to support them as they continue to grow and diversify.”

CEO’s Blog – BigChange Customer Bobst Celebrates 125 Years of World Class Service

Bigchange customer bobst celebrates 125 years
Posted on by Martin Port

A FANTASTIC MILESTONE, BigChange customer BOBST is embarking on this anniversary with its sights focused firmly on the future.

From autumn 2015 to autumn 2016 it will hold a year of events running under the motto “125 YEARS: FOR THE NEXT GENERATION”. BOBST has chosen this slogan first of all to thank its customers who have placed their trust in the brand for 125 years. It is also to pay tribute to its staff, whose enthusiastic work has given the brand’s products and services their renowned excellence.

Innovation is written into the company’s DNA, it is at the core of its strategy and has resulted in close to 1’350 patents. Today, BOBST offers equipment which provides a targeted response to its customer’s individual requirements.

Its digital print systems open up new, highly profitable, outlets and give manufacturers as well as brand owners innovative solutions, especially in personalized production and short runs of packaging and labels.

“The phrase that exemplifies BOBST is ‘People – Knowledge and Values’ because it is the people of our Group and the vast technical knowledge they have which translates into success.”

Jean-Pascal Bobst, CEO of the Group and great-grandson of the company founder.

BOBST places customer satisfaction at the centre of its operations and has been one of the first manufacturers to offer a complete range of services.

The Group intends to keep on investing in its personnel and launching new products to meet the needs of the market and consolidate its long-term growth sustainably. The BOBST vision, based on strong human values, has always been the driver of its success and will remain at the core of the next generation’s business project.

Happy Birthday Bobst


Martin Port
Founder & CEO

Nixon Hire Boosts Mobile Workforce Productivity by 20 Percent with BigChange JobWatch

Nixon Hire Van &. staff
Posted on by Martin Port

Plant and equipment specialist, Nixon Hire, has transformed its customer service and boosted the productivity of its mobile workforce using JobWatch from BigChange Apps.

Following the implementation of the Mobile Workforce Management solution, Nixon has seen a 20 percent increase in productivity across its mobile workforce. The leading provider of plant, tools, accommodation units, portable toilets and site equipment has also boosted customer service, with a significant increase in On Time Arrivals and a rise in the number of jobs completed at first attempt.

JobWatch from BigChange Apps offers a paperless way to plan, manage, schedule and track Nixon’s mobile workforce. This powerful web-based platform combines back office software, mobile apps, fleet management and real-time vehicle tracking in one simple to use system.

“With the support of JobWatch, every one of our fitters has boosted their productivity by around 20 percent. This allows us to further absorb company growth and efficiently deploy the current resources we have before we look at recruiting additional resources,” commented Graham Wood, Group Logistics Manager at Nixon Hire. “We get to where we need to be, when we need to be there, and we do what we say we are going to. This is also improving our customer service levels – evidenced by an increase in On Time Arrivals by more than 10 percent and a rise in First Attempt Job Completions by more than 5 percent.”

Since the introduction of JobWatch, paper forms and schedules have been replaced with automated electronic workflows that ensure the back office is completely in sync with the mobile workforce. Nixon Hire’s engineers and delivery drivers receive work orders instantly via the JobWatch smartphone app, ensuring they have to hand all the necessary information to complete the delivery, service call or collection. This is also reducing the requirement to return to the depot to collect work order paperwork or order parts.

The JobWatch solution, which links to Nixon Hire’s existing MCS-rm hire management system, has also allowed Nixon Hire to centralise the booking of service and maintenance requests. This gives customers a single point of contact. Work orders can be allocated intelligently – taking into account engineer skills, proximity and existing jobs, for example, minimising customer wait times and ensuring first time fix.

BigChange founder and CEO Martin Port added, “JobWatch is adding tremendous value and return on investment for Nixon Hire, and the results really speak for themselves. The system has given the company a truly flexible and scalable solution that is a real source of competitive advantage.”

In addition to the boosts in productivity and customer service, JobWatch is supporting Nixon Hire’s duty of care for its mobile workforce with enforced daily vehicle checks, driver behaviour monitoring and motivational encouragement.

CEO’s Blog – BigChange joins 1-Fleet Alliance operating in 19 countries throughout Europe with a joint subscriber base of 400,000 connected vehicles

Fleet Alliance built on trust
Posted on by Martin Port

1-Fleet Alliance continues its strong momentum in 2016, launching its new Alliance website and integrating 5 new companies one of which is BigChange. The Alliance now consists of 16 members, and a combined total of more than 400 thousand connected vehicles.

The new website – www.1-fleet.com – is part of the Alliance’s campaign to introduce our philosophy and strategy for the telemetry industry.
The Alliance feel that their distinct advantage is having a pan European reach combined with local know how in each market and this offers a unique value proposition to their local and international customers. The combination of each member’s expertise in their home market, with the European scale of the Alliance, enables the delivery of the most innovative solutions with the highest quality standards for European fleets.

The 1-Fleet Alliance has enlarged its European footprint, adding 5 new members from Germany, UK, Belgium, Netherlands and Hungary. The current 16 member companies now boasts direct presence in 19 European Union countries, which represent 93% of the 14 trillion euros EU economy. All together the 1-Fleet Al1liance has a sales network with more than 150 salespeople and an installation network of more than 1500 professional installation engineers across Europe.
The new Alliance members are:

  • Arealcontrol from Germany – arealcontrol.de
  • BigChange from the UK – bigchangeapps.com
  • Emixis from Belgium – emixis.com
  • iData from Hungary – itrack.hu
  • Inmatix from Netherlands – inmatix.com

1-Fleet Alliance gives a warm welcome to these new members who underpin the 1 Fleet Alliance values: trust, integrity and excellence. These members’ will add significant value to the Alliance’s primary goal of developing the telematics industry ecosystem, through a coopetition strategy.
_____________________
About 1-Fleet Alliance:
1-Fleet Alliance is a European association that represents key industry players in the Telematics Fleet Management Solutions industry. The alliance’s primary aim is to create a collaborative environment where the knowledge sharing will conduce to innovation promotion, economies of scale generation and the development of the TFMS industry ecosystem. www.1-fleet.com
About Arealcontrol:

Founded in January 2004, AREALCONTROL GmbH provides Telematics Systems, complete cloud and hybrid solutions for enterprise mobility, fleet and work force management. AREALCONTROL’s goals are fully integrated solutions and applications based on telematics for transport, logistics, sales and service companies.
www.arealcontrol.de

About BigChange:
BigChange by name, BigChange by nature! BigChange is an established force in mobile workforce management and telematics, offering a system that transforms the way companies manage their mobile operations. By challenging convention and through breakthrough innovation, BigChange is pioneering new intuitive and simple to use technology that delivers industry leading levels of return on investment.
www.bigchangeapps.com

About Emixis:
Emixis develops and commercializes innovative hardware and software solutions to help companies manage vehicles, moving assets and field service forces. Our solutions, available in the form of SaaS, are sold in Europe and Africa via a network of resellers and systems integrators.
www.emixis.com/en

About iData:
iData is a hungarian Fleet Management Systems company that was founded in 2005. The founders are all engineers and keen on technology. iData managed to disrupt the market with it’s very early innovation in fuel management and rapid customization technologies. en. itrack.hu

About INmatix:
INmatix Technology Group is a fast growing European Telematics Service Provider (TSP). We operate a flexible high-end telematics infrastructure for communication with remote objects like vehicles, trucks, trailers and machinery.
www.emixis.com


Martin Port
Founder & CEO

CEO’s Blog – BigChange customers appreciate the power of Google Maps

BigChange customers appreciate
Posted on by Martin Port

BigChange JobWatch is the All-In-One Mobile Workforce Management Solution. One Single platform brings together your back office, mobile workers & customers in perfect harmony.

The BigChange JobWatch system lets organisations eliminate paper letting them efficiently plan, manage, schedule and track their mobile workforce.

BigChange has worked closely with Google Maps over the last three years, they found the team highly Professional, Knowledgeable and Skilled. BigChange is committed to Google Maps for the long term and have renewed their contract which will see the base grow in the United Kingdom alone to over 50,000 subscribers by 2020.

Johann Levy Chief Technology Officer of BigChange and one of the world’s leading developers in Geographical based systems commented “After previously working with Microsoft MapPoint I can honestly say that the Google Maps platform has been transformational and the support has surpassed my expectation. We deal with humans at Google Maps not a website so we can interact with the team in respect of the new features, functionality and influence the product road map.”

The BigChange JobWatch System utilises Google Maps technology in many different ways from

  • Visualising customer data, locating vehicles, resources, stock, equipment, POI, territories and displaying the data on 4 different map options Road, Aerial, Ordinance Survey and Street views enabling better decisions to be made
  • CRM uses Address Auto-Completion for Business and POI Search to look up the Company Name, Address and or Post Code
  • The scheduling of jobs happens dynamically using Predictive Travel Time calculating the travel to and from destinations
  • Locate the nearest vehicle or resource to a location helps determine who can complete a collection or a reactive service call
  • Routing offers you options to choose the best route to take and traffic is highlighted on major roads with colour-coding to reflect the current volume of traffic in real time
  • Customers receive real time Estimated Times of Arrival using Real – Time Traffic
    Martin Port Chief Executive Officer of BigChange commented “Google Maps has really helped our company deliver a collaborative unique solution that is enabling Small, Medium and Large organisations benefit driving improved customer service, productivity gains and reduced accidents due excellent driver behaviour. Google Maps really impacts positively in so many ways and along with fantastic Enterprise Support 24 hours a day what more could you want from your Mapping partner”.

BigChange plans to integrate Google Apps into the JobWatch system this will give all companies a complete End to End Apps that will enable voice communication, email and document management working in synchronisation with BigChange JobWatch.

www.bigchangeapps.com


Martin Port
Founder & CEO

CEO’s Blog – You’re hired, Apprentice star tells tech firm

Apprentice star tells BigChange
Posted on by Martin Port

The winner of hit television show The Apprentice is teaming up with a Yorkshire-based technology firm to help give his business a boost.

Joseph Valente, who was crowned winner of The Apprentice in 2015, has chosen Leeds-based BigChange’s Mobile Workforce Management platform JobWatch to accelerate the growth of Impra-Gas, the plumbing business he owns along with Lord Sugar.

The paperless app-based JobWatch system will allow Mr Valente’s management team to manage the entire operation from quotation all the way through to invoice, with integrated planning, management, job scheduling and real-time vehicle and resource tracking. Martin Port, founder and CEO of BigChange, said: “BigChange exists to help ambitious businesses like Impra-Gas scale quickly, giving them everything they need to run a dynamic, profitable and customer focused operation.

“We’re really excited to have Joseph on board as a customer.” Last year, serial entrepreneur Martin Port invested in new office space to accommodate the growth of BigChange. The firm took a five-year lease at Temple Point Business Park in Colton, east Leeds. Alex Epstein, who has also featured in the BBC series, re-joined Mr Port at his latest venture BigChange.

Job Watch is aimed at automating business processes to help save time. BigChange teamed up with SmartWitness in-vehicle CCTV cameras to add video functionality to its system.

Mr Port has a track record in the telematics sector. He sold his previous venture, Masternaut UK, for an estimated £20m in 2009.

Read more: http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/business/you-re-hired-apprentice-star-tells-tech-firm-1-7733455#ixzz40NE4TFA


Martin Port
Founder & CEO

CEO’s Blog – BBC Apprentice Winner 2015 Joseph Valente adopts BigChange technology to accelerate growth

BBC apprentice winner
Posted on by Martin Port

Winner of The Apprentice 2015 Joseph Valente has chosen to roll out BigChange’s JobWatch mobile workforce management software as part of his plans to revolutionise the plumbing market with his business partner Lord Sugar.

Joseph and his new business partner Lord Sugar looked at a number of software companies and after a rigorous tender process chose BigChange Apps’ JobWatch system.

Joseph is focused on growing his business and wanted a system that could literally manage all aspects of work and scale perfectly with Impra-gas. The JobWatch system allows customers to book work which is dynamically scheduled to the correct engineer on a mobile app with the correct workflow including health and safety, compliance and step by step job instructions.

Customers enjoy a great user experience with live updates confirming Estimated Time of Arrival and electronic job cards including certificates relating to plumbing and heating work. Impra-gas are dedicated to providing fantastic customer service.

Joseph said “this is the beginning of our journey to become a household name in this highly competitive market, with BigChange’s support and help we are able to tap into the latest technology that is normally only affordable to large corporations.”

Martin Port said “this is why we started BigChange to give companies like Impra Gas the tools to compete at the highest level and win and wow their customers with a great user experience. We’ll be looking after Joseph like all our customers with constant development and support”

www.bigchangeapps.com

Martin Port Signature
Martin Port
Founder & CEO