Palmtops increase efficiency
September 1st 2007

Barloworld Handling, supplier of materials handling equipment and the exclusive UK distributor for Hyster, maintaining over 30,000 lift trucks in the UK. It's recent strategy has been to re-organise and invest in the latest technology to help efficiency and to deliver higher service standards to its growing customer base. Barloworld claims to be the first forklift service company to invest in a SAP-based service management system which integrates with the mobile palm top systems now employed by all its engineers. The GPRS enabled palm-tops provide technicians with real-time access to key information such as service diaries, fleet history, parts schematics/availability and on-line ordering. The technology maximises first time fix capability.

Barloworld has also recently invested heavily in web-based vehicle tracking systems for its 550 service vehicles to help boost efficiency. With live web tracking, despatchers can immediately assign the nearest engineer according to the skills required and improve planning so that routes and schedules are optimised.

All Barloworld's vans are stocked with the most common parts demanded by local industry.

With satisfaction levels reaching over 96% in a recent survey, Barloworld believes that its service operation is now the new benchmark in lift truck service support.

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