Bath Bus Company, a subsidiary of RATP Dev (the overseas division of RATP Group), provides sightseeing services in Bath under the Tootbus brand. Additionally, it operates routes between Bath and Bristol Airport under the Air Decker brand.
To manage its operations more effectively, the operator faced several challenges that required a robust solution.
Business challenge
Bath Bus Company faced several operational challenges that needed addressing:
- Centralisation: A central platform was required to streamline daily driver allocation and payroll management.
- Efficiency and accuracy: Issues with monitoring drivers’ working hours, producing accurate wage payments, and reducing administrative processes.
- Compliance: Ensuring adherence to working time directives and having full operational control over drivers’ hours.
Solution: Depot Allocation System implementation
Our cloud-native depot allocation solution (DAS), was implemented to address these challenges. The system offers real-time driver and vehicle resource allocation and management, produces timesheet and payroll information, and automates the sign-on process.
Benefits realised
Since embracing the system, Bath Bus Company has achieved significant improvements in efficiency and operational control, and improved access to quality information.
The specific benefits highlighted by Derek White, Managing Director of Bath Bus Company, include:
- Enhanced efficiency: Streamlined and improved the efficiency of managing our driver rotas, working time, holidays and sickness.
- Regulatory compliance: Helped ensure we remain 100% compliant with drivers’ hours regulations as the platform will not allow us to do anything illegal or outside of these regulations.
- Payroll accuracy: Improved the accuracy of the payroll process allowing close monitoring of paid hours.
- Time savings: Reduction in payroll processing time of over 90%. It now takes one team member 1.5 hours to complete the hours reconciliation process, compared to 2.5 days with the old system.
- Operational monitoring: Improved monitoring and alerts during the daily run-out.
- Accident management: Improved management of accidents, allowing us to easily and accurately record accidents and providing reports/trends for monitoring purposes.
- Remote access: Provided instant electronic access to driver details, even whilst not at the depot.
Modernisation and growth
Velociti Solution’s DAS has been a pivotal component of Bath Bus Company’s modernisation efforts, leading to improved operational standards and performance. The implementation of DAS, along with other systems, has enabled the operator to achieve ISO 9001, 14001, and 45001 accreditations, positioning the company for future growth and success.
Testimonial
“Velociti Solutions Depot Allocation System has significantly streamlined our operations, ensuring we remain 100% compliant with regulations and drastically reducing our administrative workload. The time savings in payroll alone have been transformative.” – Derek White, Managing Director, Bath Bus Company
In summary, DAS has not only resolved the operational challenges faced by Bath Bus Company but also set a strong foundation for sustained growth and efficiency.
