As Covid-19 bears down on the transport industry, North West Logistics’ recent move to Mandata’s cloud-based TMS means that not only can customers be provided with real-time information but also, North West Logistics’ personnel can remotely access systems from home.

In previous times, says the company, all operational data was on a server which presented access problems and raised concerns regarding long term reliability.

“We’d been using a server for 5 years.” Says Managing Director, Stephen Dunn “The server needed replacing and we were worried about the disaster recovery aspect and interruption to the business, should the system fail. Plus, we needed to use discs to back-up everything and for those reasons we looked for a more versatile and reliable solution.”

According to Stephen, once the decision was made to move to a cloud version of their TMS the move was a lot simpler than anticipated.

“The move went very well” he explains, “with little disruption to our business. It was extremely well planned and we’re very pleased with the way Mandata’s IT and software team handled the project.

“Now we can give our customers the freedom to access and interact with real-time information when they log into the Mandata system. Our directors and staff can access our systems remotely. None of this was possible before.”

Mandata’s TMS is widely specified in the logistics industry and recognised for its ease of use and ability to provide real-time visibility for operators and their customers alike. From electronic invoicing and automatic reporting modules to job processing and smart mobile ePOD technology, the system serves as an integral part of many transport operations.

“It’s already given us big benefits across the business,” adds Stephen “including electronic PODs, instant progress on jobs for our customers and of course, remote working. We could never have anticipated the extraordinary circumstances which we’re now facing and we’re so pleased that we moved to the cloud when we did!”

“All in all, it’s the way the industry is moving. Being able to give customers information today, not tomorrow. Having the flexibility to access financial as well as operational information as and when you need, without having to be physically in the office.”

“The cloud has given us an extra dimension to our business.” Concludes Stephen Dunn. “It’s a seamless way of working that we didn’t have before, in terms of remote access and mobile working.” 

From its central depot in Accrington, North West Logistics provides a diverse service including freight forwarding, warehousing, groupage and pallet handling. The company operates a mixed fleet of over 60 vehicles, is a Pall Ex member and using Mandata’s software, offers a range of advanced tools for booking, reviewing and tracking shipments. 

Mandata

About the Author: John Loughran