The Client

A regional commercial vehicle maintenance provider serving fleet operators across the South West of England and South Wales.

The Challenge

The company operates dedicated vehicle maintenance facilities supported by a separate administrative centre responsible for invoicing and financial management. Maintenance costs and job details were recorded in a Microsoft Access database used within the workshop environment. To generate invoices, this information was printed and physically transferred to the administration centre where staff manually re-entered the data into the accounts system.

This manual process was time-consuming, introduced the risk of transcription errors, and created delays between maintenance work being completed and invoices being issued. Differences in the way operational data was structured in the workshop database and the format required by the accounts system meant that the data could not be directly imported.

The Solution

A secure connection was established between the workshop systems and the administration centre to enable automated data exchange. Bespoke integration software was developed to extract maintenance and job data from the operational database and transform it into the format required by the company’s accounts system.

Working closely with the company, logical transformation rules were created to align operational maintenance data with financial invoicing structures. The system automatically processes completed job records and generates invoices directly within the accounts platform, removing the need for manual data entry.

The Results

The integration system eliminated the need to manually re-key operational data into the accounts system, saving thousands of hours of administrative work each year. The automated process ensures that invoicing data is transferred accurately and consistently, removing errors previously caused by manual entry. The improved workflow also enables invoices to be generated more quickly following the completion of maintenance work, improving operational efficiency and cash flow.

The Client

A UK-based manufacturer of rubber dipped products supplying the marine and medical sectors.

The Challenge

The company operates a team of inspectors responsible for manually checking each product as it leaves the production line. Inspection results were recorded in notebooks and later used to calculate production volumes, track defect rates and determine worker bonuses.

Passed items were then manually entered into the company’s accounts system to update stock levels. This process required inspectors to record information twice, creating delays, administrative effort and the potential for transcription errors. Management also lacked immediate visibility of production output and quality performance.

The Solution

A bespoke inspection system was developed using .NET MAUI and deployed on Android tablets used by the inspection team. Inspectors record inspection outcomes directly into the application during the inspection process.

Inspection data is stored locally on the tablets and synchronised to a Microsoft Azure SQL cloud database via a .NET Core API. This ensures inspection results are securely captured even if connectivity is temporarily unavailable.

A background console application running on the company’s internal Windows server retrieves approved production data from the cloud database and imports it directly into the company’s accounts system, automatically updating stock records.

The Results

The digital inspection system removed the need for manual record keeping and duplicate data entry into the accounts system. Production and quality information is now captured in real time, providing management with accurate visibility of production volumes, defect rates and stock availability. The system supports the work of eight inspectors and has streamlined the inspection workflow while improving data accuracy and operational efficiency.

The Client

A multinational producer of drywall products and systems for partitions and ceilings.

The Challenge

The company has an extensive product catalogue with thousands of options and variations. The products are suitable for different applications and different markets. Installers and specifiers need to calculate the quantities of associated products required to provide estimates. The company wanted an application to be available for desktops, tablets and mobiles to make it easy for their customers to intuitively explore and understand their products without having to consult detailed specification booklets. Product details were expected to change periodically, and the application would need to be kept up-to-date.

The Solution

A product calculator was identified as the most effective method to communicate the company’s product range providing both a useful tool and an easy, productive way to discover products. An intuitive product filtering system grouped the products first by use, for example, sound proofing and then by application, for example, wall lining. Room dimensions can be entered into the application ensuring that customers are provided with both a complete solution including additional products and a shopping list which can be taken to a stockist. To make locating a stockist easy, a locate your nearest stockist feature was included. A JavaScript, html format was selected to ensure that only one version of the application needs to be updated minimising maintenance. This was then integrated into both a website and a hybrid mobile application for the Google and Apple application stores, effectively using a single code base for multiple applications.

The Results

The calculator has proven popular with customers receiving thousands of views. Detailed analytics provide an in-depth insight into customer requirements informing product development. Product updates to the calculator have been made easy using the single code base.

The Client

A UK-based manufacturer of rubber dipped products supplying the marine and medical sectors.

The Challenge

The company operates an automated latex dipping production line where formers (moulds) are dipped into latex, dried and stripped to create finished products. The production line lacked the ability to track individual items as they moved through the manufacturing process. Production data was collected during the inspection stage and manually entered into a database.

This manual process made it difficult to monitor production performance in real time and introduced delays in reporting. It also increased the risk of data entry errors. As the company moves toward more integrated production monitoring systems, they required an interim solution to improve visibility of production activity and help define requirements for future systems.

The Solution

RFID tags were introduced to identify and track formers as they moved along the production line. RFID scanners were installed at key points within the manufacturing process to automatically capture movement and process data.

A bespoke data capture system was developed to collect scan data from the RFID readers and store it both locally in a SQL Server database and within Microsoft Azure IoT services. Operator touch screens were added at the production line to allow interaction with the system and provide immediate feedback on scan activity.

A software service processes the captured data and imports production information into the company’s existing production database for reporting and analysis.

The Results

The RFID system provides reliable automated data capture directly from the production line environment. The compact scanning devices were easily integrated into the existing machinery without disrupting production.

Touch screen interfaces give operators immediate visibility of scan activity, helping identify and resolve issues quickly. Real-time production data is now available for reporting and analysis, enabling improved production monitoring, better planning decisions and the elimination of manual data entry errors.