Cross Haulage Speeds Up Invoice Payments by 75% with Podfather
Overview
Cross Haulage is part of the Cross Group Aberfeldy, a family business established in 2018 as a civils and construction company located in the heart of Scotland. Cross Group has expanded and diversified to include four divisions, 40 staff, and a growing client offering.
Cross Haulage maintains a modern fleet operating across Scotland to deliver and collect a wide range of materials, including bulk, aggregate, equipment, and plant. Their fleet includes a 32-tonne HIAB Beavertail, four 8-wheeler 32-tonne steel-body tippers, two volumetric concrete mixers, an 18-tonne tipper, and an articulated lorry with various trailers and an escort vehicle.
75 %
Decrease in time to invoice
40 %
Cut in customer queries
Challenge
Prior to implementing Podfather, Cross Haulage faced an administrative burden due to their reliance on manual, paper-based processes and phone calls. This traditional approach created bottlenecks, delayed invoicing, and increased the potential for errors across their operation.
- They relied entirely on paper tickets and phone calls to manage jobs and track deliveries.
- Large contract jobs could generate up to 50 physical transfer notices for just one invoice, all of which had to be returned, scanned, and collated.
- Drivers sometimes took photos of documents to send through, but this method was still time-consuming, laborious, and open to errors.
Solution
Cross Haulage rolled out Podfather across its haulage division to automate and streamline operations. Drivers now undertake guided vehicle checks at the start of every shift using the Podfather app, ensuring vehicles are road-worthy and well-maintained. The app also provides drivers with digital schedules, routes, and job-specific instructions at the touch of a button.
The company heavily utilises the electronic proof of delivery (ePOD) functionality. Drivers use the app to capture digital evidence of completed jobs, which includes date, time, and location-stamped photographs, alongside customer signatures. This digital information is instantly available in real time to be shared with customers, back-office support teams, and regulatory bodies.
Results
Implementing Podfather has reduced the paper produced and consumed at every touchpoint, drastically cutting the associated administrative resource. The automated flow of ePOD information means that customers sign off on deliveries instantly, resulting in up to 40% fewer invoice queries and invoices being paid up to 75% faster, significantly improving cash flow.
Furthermore, the improvements in operational efficiency and customer service have provided a competitive edge; the company recently won a significant contract specifically because they offer automated PODs. Due to this success, Cross Haulage is planning to expand the use of Podfather into their Civils, Developments, and Plant Sales divisions to track plant and materials.
Prior to Podfather we relied on paper tickets and phone calls. For large contract jobs this could mean up to 50 transfer notices for just one invoice. These either had to be physically returned to the office, scanned and collated, or the drivers took photos and sent them through. Either way, it was time-consuming, laborious, and open to errors.
Louise Patterson
Office Manager, Cross Group Aberfeldy
