ATV Contract Services

Key benefits

• Full visibility of operations
  With visibility of the status of their assets and operatives, ATV can adapt to present challenges and plan ahead like never before. Workers know where they need to be, what is expected of them, and what kit they need – so no more double booking.
• Real-time data sharing
  ATV have unified their data within Re-flow. They can share necessary information with their teams easily and in real-time. Data is always accurate and admin have a clear idea of job progress.
• Efficient job pack and form management
  The transition from paper-based processes to a digital platform has drastically cut down the time and effort required to create, file, and manage site diaries and other essential documents.

Summary

Since adopting Re-flow Field Management, ATV Contract Services have gained full visibility of all their operations, streamlined their processes, and become more efficient at planning works months in advance. 

The move from paper-based to digital workflows has reduced administrative burdens and improved data collection. This makes it easier for ATV to maintain high landscaping standards across various sectors, including highways, rail, and housing, and has resulted in significant operational improvements, positioning ATV Contract Services for continued growth and success.

Organisation details

ATV Contract Services are a leading UK landscape contractor with a rich history and diverse expertise in managing landscapes, habitats, and ecology. Established in 2002, the company offer a range of commercial-landscaping and ecology-led services to exacting standards:

• Landscape and habitat management
  Services include vegetation management, arboriculture, fencing, and ecology.
• Infrastructure and environmental projects 
  Notable projects include involvement in the East West Rail scheme, HS2, Highways England construction frameworks, and onshore cable routes such as Rampion, Richborough, Hornsea, and Dudgeon.
• Sustainable and safety-focused operations 
  ATV operate a fleet of specialist plant and machinery, including remote-controlled, low ground pressure equipment and a variety of tractors with bespoke implements.
• Health and safety accreditation 
  ATV hold plenty of accreditations, including Constructionline Gold, CHAS, and ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.

Challenges

As ATV Contract Services grew, they faced several operational challenges:

• Delayed and inaccurate data collection 
  Managing paper-based site diaries and documents was time consuming and sometimes led to delays and inaccuracies. This inefficiency hindered the company’s ability to respond promptly to on-site issues.
• Problems with paperwork 
  Paper used to come in from site dirty, late, or not at all. Forms were often incomplete due to being filled in at the end of the day (operatives may have forgotten the works they had carried out earlier).
• Limited visibility into operations 
  The lack of real-time data made it challenging to track the status of equipment and resources, or the list of completed and ongoing jobs. This led to potential downtime and inefficiencies.
• High administrative workload
  The reliance on Excel spreadsheets and manual data-entry meant that administrative staff spent excessive time managing information, which left little time for forward planning.

Aims

ATV Contract Services aimed to:

• Digitise data collection 
  Replace their outdated paper processes with a digital system that ensured instant, accurate data collection and reporting from the field.
• Enhance planning and asset management 
  Implement a centralised platform that provided real-time visibility into operations, enabling better planning and more efficient management of resources.
• Reduce administrative burden 
  Minimise the time and effort spent on paperwork and manual data entry, freeing up staff to focus on more critical operational tasks.

Solutions

Re-flow provided a comprehensive solution capable of adapting exactly to ATV Contract Services’ needs:

• Digital forms and automated reporting 
  Re-flow’s digital platform replaced paper-based forms, allowing ATV’s operatives to quickly and intuitively complete and submit forms from their phones or tablets, ensuring that data is captured accurately and instantly.
• Centralised dashboard for real-time management 
  The user-friendly dashboard gave ATV full visibility into ongoing operations, including the status of 358 registered assets, enabling more efficient planning and resource management.
• Improved communication tools 
  Re-flow’s platform facilitated better communication between teams by providing a single source of truth, reducing the need for phone calls and emails, and enabling operatives to stay informed and focused on their tasks.

Results

Will Bale, operations director at ATV Contract Services, shared his experience: ​‘Re-flow has drastically reduced the amount of input I need on a day-to-day basis. It’s incredibly user-friendly, and we’ve seen a vast improvement in how we manage reporting from the field. The visibility of our plans has improved, and it’s much easier to see what’s coming up and where our resources are.’

ATV Contract Services achieved significant improvements with Re-flow: 

• Paperless operations 
  With a 75% reduction in paperwork, ATV has streamlined its data collection and reporting processes, leading to instant, cloud-based, and more accurate information flow between the site and office.
• Enhanced safety and compliance 
  A 75% improvement in health and safety management has boosted HSE record keeping and compliance standards.
• Operational efficiency 
  The company has seen a 25% reduction in time loss, allowing them to complete projects more efficiently and with better resource allocation.

Re-flow has become an invaluable tool for ATV Contract Services, helping them to overcome their operational challenges and achieve significant improvements in efficiency and communication. ATV are now better positioned to manage complex projects and maintain their reputation for delivering high-quality services across the UK. 

Charlie Stocks, contracts manager, described some of the practical benefits. ​‘In the past, RAMS, documents, and plans were often printed on paper, which would get damaged or ruined on-site, leading to excessive reprints. Now, operatives can access them directly on their phones or tablets, ensuring they’re always available when needed.’ 

‘This has resulted in significant time savings for our team – up to an hour per day on site.’ 

Ben Hensman, commercial director, gave his own perspective on how Re-flow has helped ATV. ​‘Re-flow has supported our growth into a more sophisticated and efficient business. It has greatly enhanced our systems and will continue to help us improve going forward.’ 

Will Bale said, ​‘I would highly recommend Re-flow to contracting businesses with a large workforce and their own equipment. It makes it much easier to track the team’s location and daily activities.’ 

He added. ​‘Personally, I rely heavily on the scheduler in Re-flow. It provides clear visibility of gaps, equipment status, and any plant repairs that may be needed. This ensures everything is in place, so when our team arrives on Monday, they can get straight to work without any issues.’ 

Ben Hensman wrapped up: ​‘Overall, the team finds data sharing much simpler. We can grant access to different parts of the system based on roles, which leads to considerable time savings. The comprehensive overview Re-flow provides allows us to make decisions quickly and effectively.’ 

‘We evaluated several platforms, but Re-flow stood out due to its high level of customisation. We felt confident we could tailor it to our specific business needs, which was essential for us.’