LONDON, UK / AGILITYPR.NEWS / November 13, 2019 / Belfast Port Commercials has switched its workshop management software to Freeway Fleet Systems to underpin expansion of its commercial fleet maintenance services. As an authorised Schmitz Cargobull service partner, Belfast Port Commercials service and repair trailers for transport operators across Northern Ireland and those arriving into Belfast via the ferry from GB.

When fully implemented, Belfast Port Commercials’ customers will be able to access live digital inspection sheets, job cards and invoices, as well as key fleet information, such as tyre tread depths, and damage reports, including photographic evidence of damages and defects. Freeway’s ability to provide a tablet-based app to capture all labour activity is key to this and allows workshop productivity and efficiency to be easily analysed.

Belfast Port Commercials needed a more comprehensive system that could provide additional functionality and enterprise-wide visibility. Instead of investing in extensive development with its current supplier, the company worked with Freeway’s Irish implementation partner Genie Insights to deliver all the functionality required.

Imperatively for Belfast Port Commercials, the system had to be capable of managing the company’s launch of holding Schmitz Cargobull parts stock, as well as requiring asset management capability, routine maintenance scheduling, stores management functionality and integration with its accounting software. 

Using Freeway, Belfast Port Commercials can now manage a multitude of customer pricing contracts, whether fixed parts pricing and labour rates or pricing tailored on a discount structure. It also allows them to manage promotional and seasonal pricing. A major factor in the company’s decision to invest in Freeway was because the system allows for detailed analysis of parts consumption, which is crucial in identifying repeat defects and in determining buying behaviour.

Sheila Crawford, Business Process Manager for Belfast Port Commercials is impressed with the instant business insights available from an accounting perspective, including labour productivity and efficiency, stock management, purchasing and invoicing, adding:

“I’ve used many IT systems over the years and Freeway is by far the most intuitive. It’s really impressive that a system can be so complex and comprehensive yet so user-friendly”.

Willie McClean, Depot Manager at Belfast Port Commercials commented:

“Knowing the plans for expansion and what was coming down the line, we recognised that we’d need better tools for the job. Freeway has given us much better visibility over what’s going on across the business. As far as Freeway and Genie Insights’ support goes, I couldn’t fault either. Nothing goes unanswered and nothing is too much trouble. We are looking forward to offering our customers added value when we roll out the dealership module”.