Masternaut Three X Integration Improves Heatons’ Efficiency

Heaton Stationery, the Wirral-based office supplies company has gained substantial improvements in van efficiency and fuel savings following the introduction of a new satellite-linked computer management system.
The new system developed jointly by vehicle tracking and mobile solutions specialist Masternaut Three X and enterprise software company BlueSky ensures that the company sends out more efficient van loads, which reduces operational costs further.
The real-time system incorporates advanced satellite tracking for Heaton’s entire fleet of delivery vehicles and sales representatives. The PDA-based X-Delivery Pro service management software from Masternaut Three X, integrates seamlessly with BlueSky’s Horizon enterprise system, feeding information back to the office in real time and updating customer records instantly. Horizon has been specially developed for the office-supplies industry.
The system is also improving the company’s carbon footprint by reducing physical paper records as well as reducing vehicle emissions by monitoring vehicle and driver performance with the Masternaut GreenerFleet tool. With the PDAs running Masternaut Three X’s X-Delivery Pro, Heatons has also gained real-time signature capture for proof-of-delivery as well live communication of deliveries to drivers.
Tim Clixby, Heatons’ ICT Manager said, “We gain a substantial range of improvements across the business with this new system. The improved visibility of information that Masternaut Three X provides – including being able to see exactly where our vehicles are at any one time – the real-time advantage of PDA-based data collection and communication, and the seamless integration with Horizon gives us much greater control over the business. It has completely changed the way we work and our customers are benefiting from higher levels of customer service.
Heatons provide a UK wide service and the system gives a live view of its fleet and records deliveries as they happen. This speeds up administration enabling the company to improve cash flow, as well as customer and supplier communications.
Clixby concluded, “We are able to send delivery and collection notes directly to the driver – and they send delivery information back via the PDAs – in real time, our system is updated instantly, allowing us to send invoices earlier and speed up our collections process. We can also send proof-of-delivery information to customers to verify their own records. In addition, the system automates communication with our suppliers. We can raise the purchase order, send it immediately to our suppliers and send the collection instruction directly to the appropriate driver’s PDA. The delivery manager module within Horizon enables us to change deliveries between vans extremely and easily, greatly reducing administration time in our warehouse.”
Simon McBride

Author: Simon McBride, March 13, 2009
Filed under: Fleet management,Fleet management software,Fleet news,Masternaut Three X