Web helps Barloworld streamline
October 1st 2011

Barloworld Handling reports that it has reduced engineer response times and road miles, thanks in part, to the internet

Barloworld Handling monitors customer satisfaction through an independent survey and results show an improving picture with Barloworld providing one of the highest satisfaction levels in the industry. The company puts much of its success down to the technologies applied throughout its business processes and the people using them.

These include vehicle tracking using GPS to manage Barloworld's 450 service vehicles throughout the UK with live tracking over the web. Service despatchers can see the exact location of service vans across the country and assign the best engineer according to location, availability, parts stock and skills required.

Routes and schedules are optimised helping to reduce mileage and response time.

Another example is how Barloworld has combined vehicle tracking with realtime van stock reporting so that engineers despatched to a job are well equipped to facilitate a repair. Barloworld's service vans are stocked with the most commonly needed parts required by local industry so the vast majority of repairs can be completed on first visit. If a repair requires any additional part, technicians will place an order through PDA to Barloworld's National Parts Centre in Birmingham. The parts centre offers 97% off-the-shelf parts availability for all types and brands of lift truck. Any order received before 5.30pm is despatched overnight directly to the technician's service van or customer's own premises. Although Barloworld is the UK distribution partner for Hyster approximately 50% of the makes it maintains are competitive brands.

Barloworld's fleet management system also uses the internet.

The system incorporates a telemetry device fitted to fork trucks and other equipment which transmits performance data to Barloworld. Live performance reports are available 24/7 for customers to download through a dedicated web portal. The system integrates with Barloworld's SAP service management system which records running hours, service completions, costs and performance data alongside the service history and site specific information for every piece of equipment in a fleet.

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