Sign Language has launched a new online ordering system that helps reduces vehicle downtime for fleets.

Now customers are being encouraged to allow Sign Language to hold in stock replacement livery on a panel-by-panel basis to enable same-day dispatch and thus significantly cut the cost of having a vehicle off the road, which can run into hundreds if not thousands of pounds.

Additionally, businesses ordering new vehicles can give permission to their suppliers to access the catalogue thus also speeding up the process for putting new vehicles on the road.

Previously replacement livery had to be ordered via a manual process, but Sign Language’s introduction of a customer-specific online catalogue accessed via a secure website portal means same-day livery dispatch if held in stock and ordered before 1pm, or next day delivery if ordered after 1pm. If livery is not held in stock the delivery lead times can dramatically extend the vehicle off road time.

Customers have total visibility of their livery stock holding on a per panel basis - front off-side wing, rear quarter panel, front door etc - and they can give authority to their service, maintenance and repair partners to access the site and place orders.

Users can also review vehicle livery history on a per vehicle basis thus enabling new signage to be ordered and held enabling stocks to be replenished in real time.

Sign Language also highlighted that there have been incidents of brand corruption with vehicle livery being used by fraudsters on their own vans to gain access to company depots to steal tools, equipment and materials.

Operations manager Nigel Brown said: “Customers and their vehicle repair partners can now manage their own livery stocks and place orders online on an as and when basis from the online catalogue.

“The system Sign Language has created is at the cutting-edge of the industry. Minimising vehicle downtime is vital for all fleets, but particularly for business operating vans in a time-critical environment.

“We are encouraging our rapidly expanding customer base to pre-order replacement livery on a part-by-part basis so Sign Language has stock holdings for prompt delivery.”

He added: “The ability to track livery ordering via a unique reference number, such as a vehicle registration number or VIN plate will help to prevent fraud and brand corruption.”

Managing director Tobin Jenkins added: “We have been working for many years to establish industry-leading procedures, systems and service standards that are suitable for the fleet market. The launch of our online ordering web portal complete with a customer-specific online livery catalogue is further proof of Sign Language leading the industry.”

Ged Raymond, fleet manager at Autoglass, said: “We will be using the system because the whole process is more efficient and will cut vehicle downtime. Replacement livery for accident-damaged vehicles can be ordered and dispatched to our own signage fitters significantly quicker than previously.”

Euro Car Parts recently appointed Sign Language as its livery supplier.

Tony Shearer, the company’s head of operations, said: “We were finding that many vans were returning from body repairs with livery missing, mainly as the process for supply was very long winded and manual with our previous supplier. We were also not ensuring that the cost was recovered within the claim process. I wanted a new supplier that could provide a platform to meet our requirements and Sign Language was able to deliver.

“By using the portal supplied by Sign Language we can easily give each of our sites the ability to order and supply replacement livery direct to the repairer along with the parts required, this will in turn ensure there is no additional downtime to have the livery fitted after the van is returned and also ensures Euro Car Parts doesn’t end up paying for it as we can track the livery required and recover the cost through the claims process.”

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