Other case studies

North West Gas Alliance case study

Automated stores ordering

Challenge: reduce the cost of the materials bill in the business; improve the efficiency of the process for ordering materials from stores by the field based teams involved in the maintenance and replacement of utility pipes.

Solution: digital pen and paper to record, electronically transmit and distribute handwritten stores order requisition quickly, easily and cost effectively.

Benefits: Since the introduction the cost of materials ordered from the stores has been reduced by 10%. The stores process is
more efficient and the materials are delivered on site more quickly.

Download the full case study

Using digital pen and paper to improve the efficiency of the stores ordering and requisition process

The primary objectives for the business were to: reduce the cost of the materials bill in the business; improve the efficiency of the process for ordering materials from stores by the field based teams involved in the maintenance and replacement of utility pipes.

The existing process was reliant on the field teams faxing orders through to the stores personnel, or having a delivery driver pass on the paper-based order. This process was inefficient, fax based orders were often difficult to read, and orders would sometimes get lost in transit, resulting in delays to the jobs.

In addition, there was little control over who could place orders. There was no dependable authorisation process to ensure that the field teams were receiving the equipment they required whilst, at the same time, ensuring minimal waste and loss.

Smart Document Solutions was commissioned to deploy a new stores ordering process which would help to solve these problems.

Read the full case study to find out how the digital pen and paper based solution helped the North West Gas Alliance reduce their costs and improve their effectiveness.