Running a highly seasonal operation, Forest Garden needed a solution capable of streamlining workflows and capturing accurate proof of delivery information both during high volume peaks, and the lower season. Forest Garden has seen significant benefits with Podfather helping to improve operational efficiency, streamline processes, and enhance the customer experience across its home delivery operation.
“Having used Podfather at my previous company I had first-hand experience of how instrumental its use can be when attempting to streamline a distribution operation and improve workflows.” Comments Phillip Herbert, Head of Logistics at Forest Garden. “I’m delighted that we are successfully using Podfather here at Forest Garden Group and experiencing the operational efficiency and customer service benefits that are synonymous with this route planning and ePOD solution.”
Forest Garden use the Podfather system daily to manage route execution, track drivers and collect electronic proof of delivery across its nationwide home delivery operation. In addition, Forest Garden use the Podfather solution to automate its customer notifications process ensuring ETAs are sent directly to customers via email. In addition, the real-time visibility and accountability that the system brings has enabled Forest Garden to review and optimise its operation further, using accurate real-time data that the Podfather driver app is collecting all day, every day to make informed business decisions.
“The Podfather driver app is intuitive and easy to use, which is really important for us as it allows us to minimise training time and have confidence that the job is completed following a uniformed process,” adds Phillip. “With Podfather, each driver has the option to use their own phone, which can be an entry-level smartphone. They download the App, we transmit job information and away they go. It’s a really easy-to-use solution, designed to tackle what has historically taken time resource and cost, managing paperwork flows and queuing systems.”
Forest Garden successfully rolled out Podfather during the initial lock down in May 2020, extremely challenging times. “The ability to capture electronic proof of delivery photographs was a big influencer in our decision to go ahead,” comments Phillip. “With order volumes for wooden garden products, structures and furniture running at peak levels across the past 12 months, having the Podfather ePOD system rolled out has allowed us to flex to unprecedented levels whilst still ensuring safety, and government guideline compliance, for both our customers and our staff.”
“We’re delighted to have Forest Garden join Podfather’s growing customer base,” adds Colin McCreadie, Podfather’s Managing Director. “These continue to be challenging times for us all but it’s encouraging to know that we are doing our bit to help operators, such as Forest Garden, to run a COVID-19 compliant operation, and we look forward to working with the team further as the current post-pandemic situation evolves.”
