When Leicester based Asfordby Doors was looking for a GPS tracking system they report that they were frustrated by the high costs and ongoing charges that were features of systems they looked at.
Asfordby Doors is a commercial and domestic door and shutter specialist, whose installation engineers have to travel the country to handle new installations and repairs. Paul Murphy, a partner in the family business, reports how he has used the Overview Group’s VeriLocation GPS Tracking product: "Although ours is a small business, it is growing steadily and we are well aware of the need to have a tighter control over our overheads. With four vehicles out on the road every day and installation engineers under increasing pressure it was unfair and unwise of us to rely on them alone to plan their days. A GPS tracking system appealed to us because we felt it would give us more control over our business; the problem was that the cost of the systems we initially looked at was prohibitive. For a company our size the figures just didn’t add up; then we happened upon the VeriLocation GPS tracking solution and were immediately interested because of the one off flat fee with no hidden charges and the ease of access over the web. From our first meeting with the VeriLocation people I’ve been really impressed with the way the company does business. They are so enthusiastic about the product and what’s more, they do what they say they are going to do, which in this day and age seems to be a rare quality. We’ve had the system about eight months now and it has not only given us more control with complete peace of mind, but also generated cost savings within the business."
There was initial resistance from the installation engineers to the idea of a GPS tracking system; however, they have come to appreciate the benefits the system provides for the business, it is claimed. Murphy again, "Believe it or not, it has improved the relationship between the management and our remote field engineers. The system verifies that we are doing the right thing by the engineers and they now have a far better understanding of the consequences of wasting time or taking unnecessary detours whilst on company time. Ten years ago the traffic problems were no where near as bad as they are now and it was pretty easy for us to judge how long it would take to get to and return from site. These days it is much harder, but by using the GPS tracker we can be far more confident that if we quote a fixed price for a job that it can be done in that time."
Asfordby Doors has redesigned its timesheets to include tracker information; each job has a box for start and finish times which the management fill in when they check each vehicle’s weekly movements every Wednesday morning. The engineers no longer have to log vehicle mileage; the GPS system verifies the route they took and an accurate mileage is obtained. This has meant that engineers now complete their timesheets properly and accurately in the knowledge that there is hard evidence of their precise movements throughout the day.
What they say
Murphy says: “It’s amazing the benefits we’ve gained from the system. Before we installed the VeriLocation GPS tracking system our engineers were not really aware of the consequences of them not planning their day properly or of wasting time on site. Sometimes they would say they were just leaving a job and yet an hour later they would still be there, and that was time we could not charge on to the customer, so we were losing out big time. Before, if we had to dock an engineers pay, there was always a bad feeling whereas now it is completely different. The tracking system has simplified and quantified the process of time sheet management, so it is very transparent and fair. The GPS tracking system gives us more control, as we know exactly where the engineers are at any one time and it has encouraged the engineers to communicate with us during the course of a job rather than letting things drift.
"With jobs all over the UK our guys have to do ‘stop overs’ and again the VeriLocation system has proved invaluable. The tracker tells us exactly what they are doing wherever they are in the country and when receipts are analysed in conjunction with tracker information, it is amazingly powerful. No one can pull the wool over your eyes.
"I can’t talk too highly about the system or the company. From the installation of the units, which was quick and efficient, to the on going service, the Overview team have been terrific. And they don’t rest on their laurels; there were one or two improvements that we wanted to see to the system, but when I made the suggestions I didn’t honestly think that they’d listen to a small company like ours. But not only did they listen; they also carried out the amendments almost immediately. It was mightily impressive.
Murphy adds: "The system has been a big success. We can now guarantee that the booked hours are correct and verifiable; it has saved on wages, vehicle wear and tear, allowed more accurate costing for repair jobs and developed more loyalty amongst our remote workers. Both they and we now know exactly where we stand, making life much easier for all concerned."
Andrew Overton, managing director of the Overview Group says: "We set out to develop a system that would be effective and viable for large and small businesses alike. This success story is proof we’ve done just that."
He adds: "This is just the tip of the iceberg. We have a host of ideas on how companies can use this technology to benefit their businesses. Over the years we have developed a number of ‘building blocks’ that we use to create bespoke systems for clients and this project with Asfordby Doors underlines how quickly, cost effectively and successfully we can implement them."
For information on the VeriLocation GPS Tracker or other Overview Group products ring Peter Thompson on 0871 223 0442 or email [email protected]
