A V Dawson Ltd
1 March 2006
Category: Manufacturing & Engineering
Location: Rest of UK and International
Size: Large
Application: Communications
A V Dawson needed to find a communications solution for its complicated business, operating supply chain services via sea, road and rail. A large amount of documentation is required in day-to-day operations and, at the same time, the ability to monitor each stage involved in processing large and valuable cargo shipments is vital to the business. The company required a means of sharing data on the status of cargo shipments, temperature and humidity of the warehouses. Given the increasing amount of data and training required for employees, combined with the amount of business data to be shared, Vaun Norman, ICT Manager concluded that the development of an intranet, based on broadband internet and virtual private network (VPN) systems was AV Dawson's best option. By using high speed web services provided by Onyx, the company has adopted a warehouse CCTV, heating and dehumidification system which can be remotely accessed and adjusted. Each haulage vehicle is fitted with a transmitter that allows the company to pinpoint the truck to within 20 metres of the exact location. This data is instantly available on the web via broadband. Employees are able to view the 60-acre site from their office PC. This greatly speeds up the service the firm is able to provide its clients. Customers can be informed immediately once jobs have been completed. Information about the ship's log and completed jobs can be provided to the client quickly. In the old days this process used to take 3-4 hours after the vessel had docked," Norman says. AV Dawson has also used the monitoring software to develop remote control of its steel warehouse dehumidification system. Managers are able to remotely manage the temperature by altering fans and heaters direct from their own computer. This greatly improves productivity and frees up time to be spent on other aspects of the business. Employee handbooks, regulatory documentation, holiday forms and information about training opportunities are all included on the intranet, ensuring that staff are fully informed about their rights and benefits. It also acts as a central repository for all documentation required for clients. All staff, whether on or off-site, can now access AV Dawson's central database for all the information required for running the business, be it documentation, information on fleet movements or temperature controls in the warehouse. The most significant impact has been enabling employees to run the business remotely as the company has harnessed virtual private network (VPN) technology to great effect. Developments such as the remote controlled temperature system and central company databases have allowed AV Dawson to develop positive and long-term relationships with clients, as well as making significant cost savings. All the information required for the effective running of the business is immediately available on the intranet, as required. Ensuring that the individuals who will be using the technology are fully trained is an important aspect of AV Dawson's approach. All new systems are implemented with a full staff training programme but the option to develop extra knowledge is offered at all times through regular employee questionnaires. Integration has proved to be the biggest difficulty for AV Dawson. Ensuring that all the company systems have been fully integrated has presented the biggest challenge. "Although the integration of different operating systems with software, the web and email can be the most rewarding part, it can also be the most frustrating," Norman admits. Many companies complain of an element of technophobia among their workforce which hinders technological development. However, for AV Dawson this has not proved to be the case. The open and flexible approach to training has ensured that staff can maintain a high standard of knowledge that reduces the risk of problems. The next big thing for AV Dawson is further enhancements to the company intranet. Plans for web-based real-time reports on stock levels and increased staff access to regulatory, health and safety and training information are due to be implemented soon. "Technology has allowed us to compete on a level playing field with large companies meaning we can provide a service far in excess of what people would expect from our position in the market," Norman concludes.
