Paul Clark Service (PCS) Fleet Engineers Drive BigChange

Posted on 20 June 2018 by Martin Port

Paul Clark Services Ltd (PCS), the No 1 provider of specialist engineering support services, is deploying a 5 in 1 system from BigChange to transform the management of its field service operations.

Combining computerised job scheduling with real time tracking and a series of mobile apps, PCS plan to use the cloud-based JobWatch system to replace existing software and paper-based systems.

PCS has a team in excess of 120 engineers servicing mainly the bus and coach industry and the company is a ZF UK Service Partner and supports Cummins UK, providing diagnostics, servicing and repair and replacement services. The Wiltshire-based company also provide bespoke engineering support to bus and coach manufacturers such as Wrightbus and Alexander Dennis.

PCS currently has 30 engineers equipped with tablets as part of a phased implementation that is expected to see a complete switch in the near future. JobWatch offers a wide range of apps to eliminate paper work sheets, time sheets and vehicle inspection reports. The mobile apps are all linked in real time to the BigChange back office management software that offers a management complete solution for tasks such as asset management, job scheduling and customer service.

PCS commented:

“BigChange will help play its part in supporting the business”.

“We provide around 5500 to 6000 hours of engineering support each week with customers all over the UK. Managing all Paul Clark Services mobile engineers to ensure the right person gets to the right place on time takes an enormous amount of time and we knew we had outgrown our existing systems.”

Most of PCS engineers are dedicated sub-contractors which made the BigChange solution very appealing to PCS. As a cloud-based system, PCS engineers can immediately access the JobWatch apps anywhere anytime using their own devices. Live tracking also means that the PCS office has full visibility of their movements including arrival and departure from site times.

PCS commented:

“With the apps we have real time and accurate information coming back and we can send jobs automatically to an engineer rather than having to call them”.

“We can see that the BigChange solution will dramatically change the way we work by replacing the present manual systems. By eliminating paperwork and switching to app based scheduling and reporting, we will see significant business administrative improvements. That means we’ll be able to expand freely and focus more time on delivering the best service.”

PCS engineers are using their devices for daily checks on their vans, eliminating paper reports. They can also capture time-stamped photographs that are linked to the inspection reports and can be used to record any incidents.

LOOS FOR DOs Delivers Exceptional Service with BigChange 5 in 1 Mobile Management Solution

Posted on 4 June 2018 by Martin Port

LOOS FOR DOs, the multi-award winning supplier of toilets and showers for outdoor events, has seen its business grow exponentially since introducing a new 5 in 1 mobile management system from BigChange.

The cloud-based system links a series of mobile apps to back office management software applications including asset management, live tracking, job scheduling and routing.

Formed in 2002, LOOS FOR DOs provide portable event toilets and shower trailers to major events such as the Farnborough Air Show, the London Marathon, Victorious Festival and even Royal Weddings. Last year the company hired over 19,000 portable toilets and supplied 124,656 loo rolls; enough loo roll to stretch from their head office near Alton, Hampshire to Mecca in Saudi Arabia!

Nicky Warner, Director, LOOS FOR Dos commented:

“At the start we were managing everything with a white board and Post-it notes.”

“We looked extensively for a system that could handle the complexities of our business. The BigChange solution proved to be not only the most comprehensive but the most modern with an easy-to-use drag and drop design.”

With 30 full time staff and additional contract drivers for the events season, LOOS FOR DOs has over 1200 moveable assets which are managed using the BigChange system. The company does not shy away from taking on the most logistically challenging jobs such as festivals for 85,000 people spread across large sites to marathons, where LOOS FOR DOs deliver over 300 toilets to multiple locations along the route as the sun rises.

Warner explained:

“We have become the specialists in events which have particularly complicated logistical requirements”

“Without BigChange we simply could not handle the complexities with the resources we have. JobWatch allows us to manage the whole operation in real time and adapt quickly when things change. And events are by nature chaotic so having a flexible real-time system really makes our lives a lot easier when things do not go as planned.”

“The JobWatch mobile apps can be easily configured to handle every conceivable task and type of equipment and with seamless, real time connection with job scheduling and route planning, it really is a dynamic all-in-one management solution.”

Considerable pre-planning is needed for events and the BigChange scheduling software is used to plan asset allocation, delivery, servicing and collection. Once the job starts LOOS FOR DOs drivers, installation and service teams manage their tasks using JobWatch on their tablets or smartphones. The tablets clip into cradles in the vehicle to provide GPS navigation to the destination – using map coordinates rather than post codes for precise locations.

Warner commented:

“For customer service, the system is proving to have huge benefits. It’s not just that we can ensure a more reliable and adaptable service with minimal invoice disputes, but there are nice touches that boost customer appreciation and the retention of their business”.

“For example, we send the customer a message when their equipment is on route and when it is likely to arrive. And since the customer service team can track a vehicles’ progress, customers are called if there is a delay. We now get very few calls from customers asking where their delivery is.”

JobWatch is used for Job sheets, recording asset delivery and collection and in the situation where there are ‘no shows’ and site access is not possible, the arrival time recording and GPS location provide undisputable evidence that can be supplemented with a photograph showing, for example, a locked gate. Drivers also use a JobWatch app to do their daily vehicle checks and defects are instantly reported to the maintenance team for workshop scheduling. The system also monitors driver performance with monthly metrics reports highlighting incidents of speeding and harsh breaking.

Warner Added:

“The system handles just about everything that used to be paper based so we have been able to replace not just worksheets but also inspection forms, compliance and health and safety documentation”. We can send documents electronically to the driver to capture a signature on glass. It speeds and simplifies this necessary paperwork allowing us to improve compliance and health and safety at the same time.”

Summing up, Warner concluded:

“Since introducing the BigChange system we have been able to experience double-digit growth as we are no longer restricted by our systems. Not only that but we built a reputation as the company that can deliver a reliable service even when the logistics are particularly complex. We simply could not manage this work without the system and it has become very much embedded in our business.”

BigChange for Scotland’s Premier Transport Company Pollock Scotrans

Posted on 17 May 2018 by Martin Port

Pollock Scotrans has introduced the latest cloud and mobile technology from BigChange to improve its transport and logistics operations.

The 160-strong fleet operation is being managed with the BigChange 5-in-1 cloud-based platform that live connects in-cab mobile tablets to back office management software and real-time vehicle tracking.

Drivers use BigChange tablets for recording their timesheets and expenses, as well as for vehicle check reports and capturing timed-stamped photographs. Clipped into dashboard mounts, the tablets provide messaging, navigation and traffic reports on the move. Vehicles are also live tracked for monitoring journeys to ensure efficient routes are used and vehicles are on time, backed up with reports on fuel consumption and driver performance.

Fraser Pollock, Managing Director of Pollock Scotrans commented:

“Pollock Scotrans has embraced BigChange in all areas of the business from Driver, Vehicle and Job Management, we have seen tangible benefits and can honestly say the system is helping us streamline our 80 year old business”.

Pollock continued:

“Our ultimate aim is to go completely paperless and BigChange will be playing a big part in that transformation. The move to electronic reporting with a one-system-does-all solution will allow us to deploy a seamless end-to-end digital process that will have far reaching benefits to the business. With real time operational visibility there are big management and customer service benefits and BigChange is already boosting efficiency and productivity.”

Driver performance is important for improving safety and reducing fuel consumption and BigChange has proved very useful according to Mark Jackson, Operations Director at Pollock Scotrans, who also sees the driver check app providing big benefits.

Mark comments:

“The driver check app has eliminated paperwork and ensured drivers complete inspections properly. Real-time reporting of defects including photographs means we can immediately alert the workshop about crucial defects allowing immediate scheduling for repairs”.

Pollock Scotrans’ customers are benefiting directly from BigChange and already live tracking information is being sent directly to clients to monitor transport of their goods.

Pollock commented:

“Integration with our customer systems will provide a significant saving in time both in creating jobs and in providing post job information, whilst also improving customer service with speed and quality of information if a query arises”.

BigChange Apps Mobilise Garic’s Operations to Boost Efficiency and Service

Posted on 2 May 2018 by Martin Port

Garic, the specialist welfare and site set up products provider to construction and other sites, has revolutionised its service operations with a mobile solution from BigChange Apps.

Garic has improved and streamlined their hire and service operations replacing 400 paper worksheets with an all-in-one tablet app that also provides job scheduling, asset management, live tracking and reporting.

A large part of Garic’s work involves servicing plant and welfare facilities – for example emptying waste, replenishing water and fuel. Garic recently launched a new remote equipment monitoring system called i-SITE that monitors fluids to alert service operations. Service drivers, who respond to automated service requests and scheduled jobs, are equipped with rugged Samsung tablets and are amongst the primary users of the 90 BigChange-connected devices currently in use.

With service operations previously managed at three regional depots, the company has been able to centralise the management of service operations with the BigChange mobile solution integrated with the inspHire hire management system. With their headquarters near Bury, Garic has depots in Bedford, Dudley and Bathgate, with plans for a fifth site in Thurrock this year.

Lee Williams, Programme Manager at Garic commented:

“BigChange has been central to a drive to paper-free working through an initiative called the Digital Hire Cycle”

Lee Continued:

“It’s remarkable to think that we are replacing 400 paper worksheets with a simple tablet to manage over 100 job types. And not only is BigChange saving many hours a day by eliminating form filling and data entry, but with the improved accuracy of data we are significantly reducing invoice-related disputes.”

“However, it doesn’t stop there. With real-time electronic information now available we get valuable management information from customer sites. For a hire business, quick turnaround is crucial and with BigChange we have much better visibility of our assets. For example, we now know the condition of plant before it arrives back at the depot so we can immediately schedule for re-hire or the workshop.”

BigChange offers a cloud-based solution that requires no onsite software and is fully supported, eliminating the need for specialist IT support. Easy to use and configure, BigChange is unique as it is a truly multi-functional solution that handles tasks that are traditionally spread across a number of different systems. At Garic, BigChange is used for everything from worksheets, routing and job scheduling, to vehicle safety checks and driver performance assessment.

Lee added:

“BigChange has been very accommodating to our needs and they have delivered a very simple solution to what is a very complex environment.”

BigChange transforms productivity at Surrey based SES Home Services

Posted on 17 April 2018 by Martin Port

SES Home Services, who supply plumbing, heating, drainage and electrical services, has transformed its business with a 5 in 1 system to manage its field service operation.

As part of the same group as the local water company, SES Water, SES Home Services currently provides services to around 20,000 properties, covering Surrey and the surrounding counties.

The high-tech system from BigChange combines CRM, job scheduling and management reporting, with live tracking and mobile apps running on Samsung rugged tablets replacing paper job sheets and a raft of reports. Called JobWatch, SES Home Services believe the cloud-based system will provide the ideal platform for expansion of their business, potentially nationwide.

Peter Holmwood, Head of Operations at SES Home Services commented:

“BigChange has been a real revelation. We had previously tried to implement a system to replace our paper job sheets but it was too inflexible and costly. JobWatch is a completely different proposition and does everything we originally wanted plus a lot more. It’s not only more extensive, more adaptable and easier to use, but it is also much more affordable.”

Peter continued:

“The evidence is in the numbers. Previously we had one support person for three engineers. Now we have one support person for ten engineers. And the ratio of office personnel to engineers used to be one to one but it’s half that now. In fact we are probably doing 50 percent more work for the same amount of resource.”

SES Home Services provides home owners with insurance based annual maintenance contracts, as well as commercial landlords and social housing providers. With 35 mainly Gas Safe accredited engineers, SES provide routine servicing and emergency call out with a 2 to 4 hour response, 24/7 and 365 days a year.

Agents log incoming calls into the BigChange CRM with automated scheduling and resource allocation based on variables such as nearest location and engineer skill set. Jobs are then despatched to the engineers’ tablets that provide navigation, worksheets and apps for a variety of tasks such as daily vehicle inspections, landlord safety certificates and boiler commissioning checklists. With real-time vehicle tracking and work status reporting, customer services and management have around the clock visibility of the complete mobile operations.

Peter added:

“BigChange has not only eliminated paperwork and improved the accuracy of our records, we are now doing a lot of valuable data harvesting and analysis.”

He continued:

“This means we can look in detail at our performance and make continuous improvements, being able to accurately measure outputs before adapting. For example, the average time taken to complete jobs by type and by engineer and the failure rate of a particular part.

The engineers are really engaged with the system and provide valuable insight into how it can be applied to their working environment, better serving them and our customers. JobWatch has helped everyone across the business raise their standards and created a culture where people take responsibility for more than what it says on a job sheet”.

Peter explained:

“With JobWatch we have seen significant improvement in efficiency and productivity. It proved invaluable during the Arctic conditions that recently hit the country. We had six times the normal number of call outs and we could only cope because of JobWatch and its tracking system reducing the impact of travel time between sites.”

With the introduction of JobWatch as an always on, always available anywhere solution, the company realised that the business could be expanded freely, without the limitations of traditional IT systems.

“We are very excited about the prospects for the business now we have JobWatch. It’s like a blank canvas that provides absolutely no restrictions when we look at how we can develop the business. It offers the scope to freely expand geographically or by service,”

says Peter.

“And we are already looking at the web booking portal for landlords and the customer smartphone booking apps to offer all sorts of potential for the future.”

BigChange has revolutionised BOBST customer service

Posted on 11 April 2018 by Martin Port

Bobst, the global packaging equipment and services company, has introduced the latest mobile workforce management technology from BigChange to improve its customer service offer.

The app-based system has eliminated traditional paper timesheets and Bobst Technicians and product specialists now manage all work activities and travelling time on their smartphones. The workforce app links in real-time to the BigChange cloud-based back-office management software that handles everything from work scheduling and routing, to fleet tracking and machinery safety alerts.

Thirty Bobst personnel operating across UK, Ireland and Scandinavia, are using BigChange-equipped smartphones. The introduction of electronic timesheets has boosted customer service for Bobst, as well as saving considerable time and ensuring quicker, more accurate invoicing. Previously they completed paper carbon-copy-type timesheets that were posted to the office by the field service personnel and manually transcribed by a team of three people, prior to invoicing.

Alan Letford, Head of Customer Services at Bobst UK and Ireland Ltd commented:

“The introduction of the BigChange system to replace paper-based processes has had a significant and far-reaching impact across the business and especially in customer service,”

Alan continued:

“We now have up to the minute, accurate data reporting, with Time sheets signed-off by customers on the app. That means we can send an immediate confirmation to the customer and raise an invoice straight away.”

“Timesheets and job-cards are automated saving a huge amount of time. Previously it could take up to three weeks to get an invoice processed; now it is pretty much instantaneous. There is less ambiguity now and invoice disputes have been reduced as everything is much clearer from a customer perspective.”

Bobst Technicians all drive company cars and BigChange incorporates vehicle tracking giving customer service teams a real time view of the whereabouts of all the company fleet. Soon customers will receive automated notifications on the expected arrival time of their Technician. The tracking also allows business versus personal mileage to be recorded at the touch of a button and monitors driving behaviour from a duty of care perspective when on the road.

With Technicians maintaining equipment at customer sites, health and safety is an important aspect of the customer care provided by Bobst UK and Ireland Ltd. Alan Letford is also Head of Health and Safety at Bobst and has taken a lead in introducing safety procedures. Recently accredited as an Alcumus ‘Safe Contractor ‘member, Bobst has developed health and safety functionality within BigChange. This allows Field Service Technicians to send confirmation using the correct PPE, Risk assessments and any identified safety issues – such as a serious Health and Safety machine defect – direct from their smartphones. The system requests sign-off with a customer signature on-screen and then triggers an automated advisory letter.

Alan Added:

“It would be fair to say BigChange has revolutionised our customer service and given us a really useful tool to support our health and safety accreditation. It’s fantastic that BigChange is so easy to use and simply available on a standard smartphone or tablet.”

“We are currently the only Bobst Customer Care centre to introduce electronic timesheets and the team at BigChange have been very responsive in enhancing their software to meet our needs”.

BigChange drives productivity growth at McDougall Group by 17 percent

Posted on 21 March 2018 by Martin Port

Multi-Trade property service company The McDougall Group has boosted the productivity of its mobile workforce with the introduction of a BigChange service management system.

Providing all trades reactive repair services to social housing and new build sector, McDougall has equipped its tradesmen and engineers with smartphones and tablets running JobWatch, part of the all-in-one solution from BigChange.

McDougall services predominantly social housing landlords across central Scotland with a fleet of 30 vans and 4×4’s operating from offices in Grangemouth and Glasgow. The entire mobile operation is managed using BigChange, with the cloud-based system handling all work planning, CRM, scheduling and reporting via Samsung tablets and phones. Integrated vehicle tracking and navigation provides live information for customer service with recorded data for billing, timesheets and driver duty of care.

David Robbie, Managing Director of The McDougall Group commented:

“The introduction of BigChange has had a fundamental impact on the way we operate.”

David continued:

“By automating job scheduling and routing, and cutting paperwork we have increased the number of jobs we can do with the same resources. Productivity has been boosted by 17 percent and mileage has been cut. It’s a move to real time working which has allowed us to extend the working day. Our tradesmen no longer need to come in to get their jobs and are now on site an hour earlier and Gas Landlord and Electrical Certificates are delivered to clients electronically as soon as the job is complete. Tenants receive an appointment for every repair and text updates at every stage of the process. Customer Satisfaction is completed electronically for every job completed.”

McDougall provide a very wide range of services backed by a team of multi-skilled tradesman and workshop facilities. Jobs can involve anything from kitchen unit repairs to fixed leaking taps and boiler servicing, installation and repair and this adds a lot of complexity to subsequent billing. Records therefore need to be good. With a move away from paper-based systems, BigChange provides more accurate and up to date data which is vital for providing proof of service and dispute-free invoicing.

David commented:

“BigChange provides valuable management information for tighter control over operations.”

“Introducing new technology to manage work is a one-off opportunity to re-engineer the business. It basically puts the onus on our tradesmen to adhere to good working practices and proper procedures and that ultimately means a more professional, more efficient and better-organised business and taking a mandatory photograph of completed works introduces an element of self-auditing ensuring the standard of work left is always high.”

David added:

“We chose BigChange because we were looking for a fully integrated system between vehicle management and job scheduling, with the ability to invoice and ultimately track orders all the way through from start to finish. With previous systems there was always paper involved somewhere so we were looking for one system that was completely paperless, giving us real control and providing a proactive experience for the end customer.”

BigChange provides a paperless way to plan, manage, schedule and track any mobile workforce with a seamless solution for managing the entire operation from quote all the way through to invoice. BigChange is a 5-in-one Mobile Workforce Management platform that combines a customer booking app, cloud based back-office CRM and job scheduling, a rich mobile app for the driver or engineer combined with real-time vehicle tracking. Easy and intuitive to use, customise and implement.

BigChange helps Vehicle Wash Industry Leader Brendeck to go completely Paperless

Posted on 8 March 2018 by Martin Port

Brendeck, the manufacturer of commercial vehicle wash systems, has transformed its field service operations with mobile apps from BigChange.

Engineers installing and servicing hundreds of installations at some the UK’s biggest distribution depots, have been equipped with rugged tablets connected to BigChange’s cloud-based job management platform. The all-in-one system that includes CRM, job scheduling and integrated vehicle tracking and routing has replaced paper job sheets with real-time electronic reporting, boosting customer service.

Brendeck provides a one stop shop for commercial vehicle washing and supplies pressure washers and truck washers, together with servicing and chemical supplies. Brendeck washers are used by some of the UK’s largest transport operators with 14 field engineers undertaking Preventive Planned Maintenance work and ad hoc repairs.

Prior to the roll out of BigChange, Brendeck relied on handwritten paper job sheets from their engineers. However, to collate and process these paper reports was proving time consuming and there were delays in communicating back to the customer with, for example, quotes for spare parts or further servicing work.

Alan Taylor, Managing Director of Brendeck commented:

“Since introducing BigChange, we have completely transformed our field service operations.”

Mr Taylor continued:

“Because we are getting job sheets back immediately after engineer visits we in turn report back to the customer almost immediately, perhaps with a quote or equipment care recommendation.”

Back at Brendeck’s headquarters which are located centrally in Alfreton, Derbyshire, customer services have instant, always-on visibility of the engineers on the road.

Linda Clarke, Brendeck’s Finance and Operations Director commented:

“When we get calls asking ‘where is the engineer?’ we can respond straight away. Sometimes our engineer is already onsite but with large depots they are hidden from view but thanks to BigChange’s live tracking and status updates we have total visibility and customers are always impressed.”

Brendeck has expanded its services to include the supply of chemicals for its wash equipment and has pioneered a system for remotely monitoring chemical tank levels. Plans are being made to extend BigChange to the chemical distribution service, with vehicle tracking and drivers equipped with BigChange tablets for reporting dispensing volumes and sales onsite.

Alan Taylor added:

“There is no doubt BigChange has been good for business. It gives us a real advantage by improving the utilisation and productivity of our service operation and certainly enables us to fit in more jobs in the day.”

He continued:

“The biggest benefits are in service as we can be a lot more responsive. It is, for example, much easier to call an engineer back to a site on the same day to rectify a problem. Before we had live BigChange reporting and tracking, the return visit would have been two days later.”

Waste & Recycling machinery leader Blue Group rolls out BigChange Mobile Workforce Management technology

Posted on 29 November 2017 by Martin Port

Waste and Recycling machinery leader Blue Group rolls out BigChange Mobile Workforce Management technology, fully integrated with SAP Business One.

Blue Group, leading specialist provider of materials processing equipment for the quarrying and waste recycling industry has implemented BigChange’s 4-in-1 Mobile Workforce Management Platform across its Service division. The all-in-one system is fully integrated with Blue’s SAP Business One ERP system and provides intelligent job scheduling, an Android mobile app for service technicians and real-time tracking of all vehicles across the fleet. The solution was implemented by BigChange in partnership with Blue’s SAP Business One integrator, Frontline Consultancy.

Blue Group chose BigChange as part of a digital transformation project to enhance customer service and automate the warranty claims process. The BigChange system has revolutionised the booking and scheduling of planned and reactive maintenance, connecting customer service teams with mobile technicians in real-time. Intelligent scheduling has replaced the use of Outlook and jobs raised in SAP are instantly synced with the BigChange platform. It allows advisers to quickly offer customers urgent maintenance slots at a time and date to suit them, considering real-time technician and equipment availability, proximity to the customer and live traffic data. The intelligent scheduling engine ensures maximum flexibility for the customer whilst minimising travel time and distance, driving fuel savings and a reduction in emissions.

Real-time visibility of the operation ensures customer service advisors are empowered to answer customer questions in an instant and automated estimated time of arrival (ETA) alerts by email and text message ensure customers are always fully informed.

Peter Lidbetter, Group IT Manager at Blue Group said:

“BigChange have worked extremely well with everyone involved in this project. Across the business they have always been willing to go the extra mile and give us the support needed to take the project forward. As a company they are at the cutting edge of service management, producing a fantastic product that is easy to use for everyone involved from our service engineers to the back office staff.”

Stuart Hardiman, Commercial Service Manager at Blue Group commented:

“The BigChange technology has put us in another league and has made the customer experience completely seamless. It has empowered the entire service team and gives us true real-time visibility into the KPIs that are fundamental to successful service delivery.”

Blue Group supply, install and maintain crushers, screeners, shredders, material handlers and recycling plants for leading industrial users across the UK and Ireland from 8 strategically placed sites. They provide an industry leading maintenance offering to maximise uptime and to keep machines running efficiently. The group turned over in excess of £100 million in 2017.

The BigChange technology is saving hundreds of thousands of pieces of paperwork annually, and has replaced an electronic pen and paper based legacy system with digital workflows running on rugged waterproof Samsung Android Tablets. Each day, Blue technicians complete an electronic walkaround check, logging and photographing any defects that are managed to resolution via integrated fleet management functionality. On starting their timesheet, technicians have instant access to their jobs for the day with detailed information about each customer, site and machinery. Job data is automatically loaded into the integrated sat-nav with turn-by-turn guidance and live traffic updates. On arrival, the app takes care of risk assessments and method statements and guides the technician though equipment specific service workflows, capturing a detailed audit trail. Photos are captured during the service process for added proof of service.

On completion, customers automatically receive electronic job-cards via email, proactively confirming completion. This instant sync with the back-office means no ‘paperwork’ needs to be returned for processing and allows Blue group to instantly raise warranty claims, avoiding any delays and boosting cashflow. The system is also delivering duty of care benefits for lone workers, providing confirmation that all engineers have returned home after their jobs.

BigChange founder and CEO Martin Port said:

“With their adoption of the latest BigChange technology, fully integrated with SAP Business One, Blue Group are delivering a world class-leading customer experience that will maintain their competitive winning edge in the market.”

Caine Fearn, Managing Director of Frontline Consultancy commented:

“Frontline have been working in partnership with BigChange to deliver a truly business changing solution for Blue Group. With a fully integrated SAP Business One back office and their remarkable field service application, Frontline and BigChange have delivered a complete, scalable business solution for anyone serious about field automation, job & stock control and customer service.”

BigChange rids rental leader Elliott of millions of sheets of Paper

Posted on 21 November 2017 by Martin Port

Elliott, the UK market leader in the portable accommodation hire sector has implemented BigChange’s all-in-one Mobile Workforce Management platform across its Loohire portable toilet division, as part of a full rollout across the business including tankers, service and the delivery and collection fleet.

BigChange technology will save Elliott millions of pieces of paper annually and has significantly improved back-office administration. Technicians receive their work orders instantly on the BigChange app with paper job-cards and proof of delivery worksheets replaced by job-specific electronic workflows that guide technicians at every step including risk assessments. Technicians no longer need to return paperwork to the back-office, saving a huge volume of previously manual back-office processing.

Adam Dimmock, Director of Loohire at Elliott commented:

“Implementation of BigChange Technology is part of our 2020 strategy; to continue to grow our market leading position in terms of scale and transform ourselves to become the market leaders in safety, service and relationship management. The BigChange system is ensuring we can exceed our customers’ expectations with innovative features such as a pre-arrival alert that customers receive ahead of arrival, allowing them to clear the way for our tankers on busy construction sites. The technology is driving us towards a 15% reduction in transport costs and we’re realising significant fuel savings thanks to dynamic routing and improved driver behaviour.”

The hire-specific turnkey solution from BigChange has introduced a paperless revolution, equipping mobile technicians with Samsung and Motorola Android tablets that manage receipt of job instruction, electronic proof of collection and delivery, site servicing, timesheets, electronic start-of-day vehicle walkaround checks and Health and Safety procedures. The system is also a rich vehicle tracking system providing real-time location updates, driver behaviour scoring and tachograph interface.

The system is fully-integrated with the Elliott Rental Management system meaning that planned tanker services, toilet maintenance, deliveries and collections are automatically pushed through to BigChange. On logging on to the app at the start of each day, drivers and technicians are guided to start their timesheet, conduct a walkaround check that meets DVSA requirements (recording, photographing and alerting any vehicle defects) and have instant access to their jobs for the day.

In the back-office, the system is enabling planners to respond faster to customer needs, intelligently allocating work orders based on real-time technician availability, skills and live location. This is significantly increasing productivity and enabling Elliott to maintain its position as the UK’s largest provider of portable toilets and efficiently provide same-day service from its hire branches nationwide to clients across the Construction and Events industry. Its portable loos are used by top-tier construction companies such as Carillion, Keepmoat, Costain and Wilmott Dixon and for flagship events including Glastonbury, Cancer Research UK events and the Olympics.

The workflow also effectively manages damages and chargeable items; photos captured at the point of delivery or collection are automatically relayed to the back office, allowing them to instantly raise an invoice for chargeable work. Photos are time, date and location watermarked, providing robust proof of condition.

The BigChange system is providing a detailed work and maintenance history for all rental assets, giving management visibility of productivity and utilisation across their operation as well as a real-world view of how long jobs are taking. The company are using the insight and data to create dashboards that will be shared with customers, giving them a transparent view of the service levels they are receiving.

Martin Port, founder and CEO at BigChange said: “We are proud to be playing a key part in the Elliott technology strategy. Our scalability, flexibility and ability to successfully integrate with Rental systems mean BigChange is the future of managing the mobile workforce in the Hire industry.”