Crown Paints runs a fleet of 100 delivery vehicles and previously used mobile phones to ensure it could be in regular contact with its drivers, and that its drivers, in turn, could easily get in contact with the stores and with key customers.
The company selected the Optimatics mobile workforce management solution to update its communication system and ensure drivers were not making or receiving calls whilst driving. The solution also includes real-time vehicle tracking, in-vehicle Dialpads and a reporting and analytics engine.
Optimatics Dialpads have now replaced Crown Paints drivers’ mobile phones. The drivers can still receive calls from the stores and make calls to pre-programmed numbers stored in the Dialpad, but are no longer able to make personal calls or texts.
Ian Kay, Crown Decorating Centres’ operational support manager, commented: ‘Since deploying Optimatics we’ve noticed a positive behavioural change now that the drivers are aware that the business is able to monitor their actions. They have become “self-policing” and issues such as speeding, idling in lay-bys and out-of-hours use of vehicles seem to have gone away.’
Roger Marks, managing director of Aeromark, continued: ‘In the current economy, businesses are looking for ways to lower wastage without having to commit to high capital expenditure. The right mobile workforce management and vehicle tracking systems can offer great value for relatively low investment, and start saving the customer money as soon as they are installed. The key is to find a solution that delivers accurate, reliable data and detailed, configurable reports in order to gain total visibility of your resources.'