Thanks to the Internet and instant communications, we are both better served and more demanding than ever before. We are also more impatient and less tolerant of delays and disappointments… Indeed, every survey shows that, just as after-care performance has improved, so customer satisfaction levels have actually fallen.

Not so for PowerCell. One of only a few battery and charger providers to sustain continuous growth, we have succeeded by being utterly predictable… doing exactly what we say… and knowing exactly what we’re doing.  

In part that’s down to the skills and experience of our engineers, but, in much greater measure, it’s thanks to our systems, software and traceability.

As long ago as 1996 we pioneered the use of electronic software to log and track every battery, charger and cell we ever installed. But that was only the start. Honing our systems over the years, we’ve added a wealth of site-specific information covering everything from the colour of the hi-vis jackets required by our engineers on any particular premises, to the precise details of its health and safety policy.  

Powered by that knowledge – and much more – we can be trusted to work safely on any site… and arrive knowing exactly which battery is on what truck, which charger is in use, which cell has been replaced (and when) and which components will be required.

It’s what makes us such a good provider if you are a truck owner or operator… and such a valuable partner if you are a fork truck manufacturer or dealer. Small wonder we have won the Fork Lift Truck Association’s coveted Supplier of the Year award!

How it works in practice

Having pioneered this level of data capture, PowerCell is still at the forefront when it comes to delivering the kind of information and reporting that enables management to make truly informed decisions… and helps us to maximise the life and productivity of every battery – and consequently the truck itself.

“Our system enables us to collate valuable information on either the battery, the charger, or both,” comments Ingrid Anderson from PowerCell. “This information allows our engineers to be better informed before they arrive on site. They will know, for example, the size of the battery and – if necessary – be able to take a cell with them to facilitate a repair then and there (as opposed to a later revisit) thus keeping costs to a minimum and allowing a speedy repair, which reflects well on our customers.”

“With regards to the HSE, our engineers are informed as to site specific requirements before they step onto a site, ensuring they are always safe and adhere to any rulings enforced by the customer.”

Building trust

Employing traceability brings its own benefits. Earlier this year it helped PowerCell meet the exacting standards required to achieve ISO (OHSAS) 18001 accreditation, the internationally recognised benchmark for occupational health and safety management best practice. For our customers, that means peace of mind every time one of our engineers turns up on site… for the lifetime of the battery.    

In short, traceability enables us to:

Achieve unrivalled first time fix rates

Schedule maintenance more accurately

Reduce forklift truck downtime

Extend battery life 

Cut costs

Work competently and safely

Meet any customer’s health and safety requirements

Ensure every battery and charger is working at optimum efficiency

As we go to press, PowerCell is forging a major new alliance with Manbat Industrial (an arm of Manbat Ltd) as the UK’s two leading independent industrial battery providers join forces under the Manbat banner. 

 

It’s an exciting union that triples our engineering staff overnight, and I believe our combined strength will allow us to share our specialist sector knowledge and bring the benefits of techniques like traceability to an even larger industrial client base. 

If you would like a demonstration of how PowerCell’s traceability technique works in practice and how it could help your business, please call 01376 550825, email [email protected], or visit www.powercell.co.uk.