Shawston, a market-renowned distributor of fire sprinkler products, is supporting its environmental and social objectives with the roll-out of Podfather logistics software.
next-day delivery
The only multi-depot supplier to the Mechanical Services, Fire Sprinklers, and Dry and Wet Riser markets, Shawston offers next-day delivery, across the UK.
By delivering 1 million items a year, Shawston has already achieved significant increases in operational efficiency, boosted its customer service levels, improved the management of its delivery operation and resources using the Podfather system, and is working towards 100 percent paper-free deliveries.
Podfather system
Shawston is predicting savings of around 3,000 man-hours a year, which will be used to unlock other efficiencies
Shawston initially trialed the Podfather system, which includes planning and optimization tools, tracking and notifications, and ePOD processes, at its High Wycombe branch before rolling out to the remaining customer-focused depots and service hubs.
By replacing manual planning and load allocation processes, Shawston is predicting savings of around 3,000 man-hours a year, which will be used to unlock other efficiencies within the business.
visibility and flexibility
Podfather has also given managers better visibility of the delivery operation and the flexibility to review schedules and adjust to provide parity between drivers, vehicles, and branches.
Additional benefits include reduced mileage, potentially as much as 30,000 miles per annum, and the intelligence to review the type of vehicles that are required to transport 6,500 tonnes of goods a year.
alternative options
Before the implementation and roll-out of the Podfather system, Shawston had trialed several other solutions. An inability to integrate with its Sage accounting system coupled with high implementation costs and non-negotiable contracts led the Manchester headquartered business to look for an alternative option.
people-centric approach
"We are an employee-owned SME that has a truly people-centric approach," commented Gareth Thomason, Operations Director at Shawston International.
He adds, "This goes way beyond our staff, extending to customers, suppliers, and the communities in which we operate. We want to work with like-minded organizations and develop relationships and partnerships, and with Podfather we felt this was possible."
Automated and improved communications
Capturing and sharing ePOD evidence also improves customer service levels and reduces queries
Automated and improved communications between customers, drivers, and branches further support Shawston’s ESG (environmental, social, and governance) ambitions.
Customers automatically receive delivery confirmation and an ETA meaning they can focus on getting the job done rather than worrying about when their order will turn up.
This has dramatically reduced the number of calls received and made by branch staff. Capturing and sharing ePOD evidence, including date, time, and location stamped photographs and signatures, also improves customer service levels and reduces queries.
real-time updates
"Before Podfather we meticulously checked our performance," stated Gareth Thomason, adding "Every week I would review every reported error and explore and implement ways to prevent it happening again."
He continues, "With Podfather this information is instantly accessible, I can see, in real-time, what’s happening, where it’s happening, and what I can do to keep the delivery operation on track. This is a significant contributing factor, which means we can maintain a 98 percent Customer Satisfaction rate compared to an industry average of just 85 percent."
100 percent paper-free deliveries
Using Podfather Shawston is working towards a goal of 100 percent paper-free deliveries
Using Podfather Shawston is working towards a goal of 100 percent paper-free deliveries. With around 3,500 deliveries a month, each resulting in at least two sheets of paper, this equates to a saving of a tree a month on dispatch notes alone.
Like Podfather, Shawston is supporting Trees for Life, a Scottish charity that is working to rewild the Scottish Highlands.
By giving back some of the environmental and cost savings achieved through the use of Podfather, Shawston hopes to support the planting of hundreds of trees.
employee-owned business
Shawston was founded in the 1970s in Hyde, Manchester. Originally a pipe fabrication business, it entered the fire market in the late 1990s when fire protection was starting to become a big growth market in the UK.
In 2001, Shawston was the subject of an MBI (management buy-in); at the time it had an annual turnover of just £750k per year and employed 10 people out of a single depot, but has since blossomed into the 170-people business it is with an annual turnover of £40m.
In 2015, Shawston officially became an employee-owned business and over 95 percent of employees own shares in their business.