r2c helps workshops keep fleets on the road

By Categories: Commercial NewsPublished On: Monday 20 January 2025

Ash Connell of r2c

Software provider r2c has explained how its systems can be used to help smooth workflow and reduce vehicle downtime, against a backdrop of an ongoing shortage of workshop technicians.

“The recent annual report from the traffic commissioners highlighted the continuing issue of HGV maintenance, with many operators struggling to find qualified mechanics and fitters, which in turn puts huge pressure on businesses staying compliant,” said Ash Connell, commercial director at r2c.

“This has been a serious issue for our industry for several years now and it highlights the need for workshops to become as efficient as they can be in order to avoid the chaos that ensues when vehicles cannot be repaired at a specified time or to the required standards.”

Ash continued: “We’ve been analysing data from our network of clients to assess the impact of using workshop management software and the impact it has on workflow.

“What we’ve found is that the software can help to smooth workflow over the working week, potentially resulting in fewer pinch points and less chance of vehicles being off the road for longer than necessary, while ensuring compliance too.

“Our pre-emptive approach to workshop management, utilising online stock management and workshop loading as well as digital invoicing, electronic service, job sheets and records, has seen r2c maintain a uniform level of completed, authorised, jobs through our customers’ workshops.”

The data for completed jobs per day annually shows that Thursday is the busiest day of the week, says Ash, while looking at the figures on a monthly basis, there is a high degree of regularity – January saw the most jobs completed, at 169,057 (a spike to take into account workshop closures over the Christmas period) while August was the lowest, at 138,337.

“Our software is designed to allow workshops to run at their most efficient, and help technicians and operators stay in control of the compliance process,” Ash explained.

“It’s important fleet operators are not being constantly inconvenienced if work cannot be completed on one of their vehicles and they remain non-compliant, or worse in the rush key work and admin is missed.

“We know how costly it is for companies to have their vehicles off the road and not earning money, or to be found to not have the correct paperwork.

“What is equally impressive is the economic backdrop to this work – during this time the service and repair industry was (and continues to be) plagued by parts shortages and a lack of technicians. To have maintained such regularity in what was a highly unusual market is testament to the efficacy of our systems.”

r2c Online provides connected software platforms for vehicle compliance and maintenance management. Established in 2003, today the company has more than 100,000 users among over 63,000 fleets, with 1,600 workshops around the UK.

Additional products include a walkaround check app, digital jobsheets, and service, maintenance and repair authorisation and invoicing.

www.r2conline.com