Tapfreight go paperless to keep drivers safe during Covid-19

Mandata’s paperless solution has helped Tapfreight to keep its drivers safe during the coronavirus crisis.

Tapfreight, an operator who specialises in the distribution of chemicals and pharmaceuticals, used a Mandata transport management system and integrated Manifest ePOD app to capture electronic proof of delivery for most of their work. However, the operator says that many of their customers insist on their own paperwork being signed, in addition to electronic signature capture.

Therefore, Mandata proposed a solution that transposed the name of the receiver and the signature onto the electronic POD which was also time and date stamped, avoiding all contact at the point of delivery.

Bob Milton, director at Tapfreight, said: “The adaptation has been a lifeline for our drivers, business and customers. It was essential for us to achieve a safer method of proof of delivery. Transposing the POD details straight on to the electronic delivery note was a neat solution which meant we were able to adapt quickly.”

Tapfreight says it has proven it can eradicate the need for hard copy delivery notes, Milton said: “We have been trying to convince customers for some time to go down the paperless route, it’s not necessary to lump around great wads of paper.

“Just one consignment can have two or three delivery notes and we’re required to get each of them signed. Since mid-March we stopped using customer’s own paperwork, and enclosed documents in wallets on the pallets. Customers have been very supportive and accepted that this was required to reduce the risk of Covid-19.”

Milton says going paperless can significantly reduce costs and benefit the environment, he said: “Once we have scanned the signed documents, all that paperwork has to be securely destroyed, which is such an obscene waste. Some of our customers will want to go back to the way it was, but we’re going to adopt this as policy going forwarded.

“I’m guessing we’ll save at least 4 hours a day on scanning alone - but there will be more time saved on the planning side too. The benefits are real and significant for our business and not only that, they’re good for the environment.”