With a company motto of ‘expertly selected, proudly delivered’ Smith & Brock needed to ensure it had the right system in place to meet the company’s delivery service expectations. A Podfather customer since 2017, Smith & Brock saw the value that the system’s accurate job management, and automated customer notifications, could play in the launch of its home delivery service.
“With Podfather we have a simple solution to the complex problem of managing the allocation and execution of deliveries across our fleet,” comments Nick Fowler, Co-Founder of Smith & Brock Ltd. “When we decided to make the move into home delivery it was great to know we already had the right technology in place to ensure the efficient allocation of loads onto our vehicles, and the introduction of ETA notifications for our customers is a great addition to our Podfather solution.”
With Podfather’s cloud-based system in place, the Smith & Brock team can manage the movement of its fleet of 25 vehicles, delivering to a wide range of postcodes across the London area. All drivers have the Podfather app, which can be installed on even the most basic of smartphones. The app allows drivers to collect all necessary vehicle check information before leaving the depot. Once out on the road, the app allows the Smith & Brock team to track vehicle movements, upload job notifications to drivers, and collect electronic proof of delivery in real-time.
“The real-time visibility that Podfather gives us has some big customer service benefits,” adds Fowler. “Not only can we now automatically notify customers of their ETA once our drivers have completed and logged their vehicle checks and are ready to leave the depot, but we can also provide real-time status updates on the day, while our vehicles are out on the road. This ensures customers are kept informed and are ready to accept their delivery in a safe and timely manner.”
“The current situation we find ourselves in is incredibly challenging for so many of our customers,” comments Colin McCreadie, Managing Director of Podfather. “Smith and Brock is an amazing example of how by adapting, the business has been able to avoid closure, save staff and help thousands of homes with the delivery of essential supplies. We are very proud to be supporting them, during this difficult time.”
