BigChange Drives Local Government Transformation with the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE)

BigChange, Leeds-based mobile workforce technology company, has become an Approved Partner of the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE).

APSE is a network of local government representatives formed to promote excellence in the delivery of frontline services to local communities around the UK; a key area for BigChange.

The BigChange 5 in 1 system combines CRM, Job Scheduling, a Mobile App, Vehicle Tracking, and an On-Demand Booking App. that eliminates 100 per cent of the paper to automate all of the manual processes undertaken by back office and mobile workers. JobWatch can be used to simultaneously manage both in-house and sub contracted operations through their brand new BigChange Network Platform; a single system that provides full management and financial reporting enabling digital transformation.

Martin Port, CEO of BigChange, comments:

“As local authorities strive to improve efficiency and accountability, there is a growing need to eliminate cumbersome paperwork by introducing digital working. It’s especially important for council services involving staff who are out and about all day doing essential community work or providing transport services,”

JobWatch is already in wide use to manage services such as Special Education Needs, Waste, Passenger Transport, Property Servicing and Repairs, Social Housing, Highway Maintenance and Pest Control. The system is easy to configure for any service and includes a new booking app allowing local residents and businesses to book services from their smartphones.

Port says:

“We see membership of APSE as the ideal platform to engage with local government and especially those people who are forward-thinkers looking to improve public services through the use of the latest technology,”

Port adds:

“With JobWatch we have developed a platform that is already being used to completely transform council services. It replaces a number standalone legacy systems with a much more useful and affordable 5 in 1 solution utilising the latest cloud and mobile technology.”

By utilising the cloud and mobile apps, BigChange offers a highly flexible and simple to use solution and requires no special IT equipment or support – everything is available 24/7 though a secure web connection from any web-connected device.

People often assume that I am a disruptor and rule-breaker because I’m an entrepreneur. But here’s the thing: I have a huge amount of respect for rules, and have always seen the value in process and order.

Rules exist for a reason. They are put in place for the benefit or safety of customers, and to protect companies and their employees. I was reminded of this recently, when I visited a hotel in the North East.

A member of staff brought out my bill to sign. I tried to explain that I observe the Sabbath, which means I couldn’t use a pen. She was having none of it. It took a lot of self-control to keep my temper but I asked to speak to the manager and eventually they agreed to waive my signature.

At first I found the whole episode infuriating but then I realised how easily scammers could abuse the excuse of the Sabbath to get out of paying their bill. Of course the staff were wary. Especially as the bar attendant hadn’t experienced this issue before and was unsure of the rules governing the Sabbath in Judaism.

At BigChange, we try to be as flexible as we can. When customers want something, we bend over backwards to accommodate them. But there are cases when we need to be intractable. For example, sometimes customers try to use our hardware without installing our software. We tell people till we’re blue in the face that they need to install our platform to ensure it’s safe, and running as it should be, but people love shortcuts, don’t they?

We now have a rule in place, which states that customers who fail to use our software will not be covered by our warranty on the hardware. It’s not been the most popular decision but it’s important to stand by the rules that matter.

Entrepreneurs may challenge the status quo and shake up traditional structures but that doesn’t mean we don’t respect the rules. You need to have rules and process if you are going to build an efficient organisation.

When I come up against a customer service wall in future, if I’m told that rules are rules, and there can be no exceptions, instead of losing my temper, I’m going to remember that it’s not the employee’s fault. They are just doing their job, and we, as customers, need to try and understand that. In this age of “the customer is always right”, this may be an unusual – even unpopular – perspective.

There should always be the option to escalate a grievance to the manager. And companies should be willing to revise rules if they are no longer fit for purpose or could be improved. But that’s no excuse to take it out on the member of staff who is just trying to follow company guidelines. Don’t shoot the messenger: there is usually a good reason you can’t get your way.

In the meantime, I’m looking forward to the introduction of fingerprint recognition in hotels that works without electricity!

Agree with me? Think I’m completely wrong? Let me know your opinion in the comments.

Martin Port
Founder & CEO

An update from Transaid’s CEO, Caroline Barber – I hope you had a wonderful festive break and are settling into the new year.

Looking back on 2018, the last quarter saw us develop some exciting new corporate partnerships, make great progress in our programmes and celebrate an important milestone — our 20th anniversary.

In the last half of 2018 we mobilised a team of Zambian trainers, who travelled to Sierra Leone to deliver essential motorcycle training. By November, 190 field officers working on a national education initiative had been trained. We also delivered training of trainers to ensure that sustainable capacity is left in Sierra Leone.

After data from the MAMaZ Against Malaria (MAM) pilot recorded an incredible 96% reduction in child mortality from malaria in the Serenje district, Zambia, we were awarded funding to scale up the programme. Work on the scale-up began on the 1st December, and we now aim to reach over 220,000 people in rural Zambia.

The MAM scale-up will be in part funded by the proceeds of our Christmas appeal, which beat its target to raise over £29,000. Meanwhile, other fundraising efforts in the UK have taken us to many industry events in the run up to Christmas. We were delighted to attend the FTA Logistics Awards, Seahorse Christmas Party, CILT Fellows’ Lunch and Global Freight Awards amongst others.

We are now looking forwards to a busy and productive 20th anniversary year, as always motivated and humbled by the invaluable support we receive from the industry.

Latest Updates

- Transaid was delighted to see the MAMaZ Against Malaria programme featured in the New York Times in December 2018. The story highlighted the pilot’s outstanding results reducing child mortality from malaria in rural Zambia. You can read the full story online here.

- MAMaZ Against Malaria was also featured in the Guardian in October. You can read the story here.

- In addition to hosting our 20th Anniversary Showcase in November, Transaid has also had a presence at several industry events. On the 9th November, CEO Caroline Barber went to the Transport News Scottish Rewards Breakfast, which raised an astonishing £7,065. The figure was a record for the event.

- Events highlights for the quarter also include the Global Freight Awards, where over £2,380 was raised, and the FTA Logistics Awards, which raised over £4,500. Thank you to everyone who donated to any of the raffles run at industry events this quarter.

BigChange’s Impact

This quarter, BigChange once again became wonderful ‘Gold’ supporters of our Christmas Appeal, enabling us to reach and exceed our £25,000 fundraising target!

Transaid was also delighted to be invited by BigChange to partner on the ‘Leaders for Life’ initiative; inspiring CEOs and senior executives to raise awareness of the importance of road safety. So far, you have already made £1,650 worth of donations to Transaid through the scheme. Thank you!

Lastly, but perhaps most importantly, we received news this quarter that two bicycle ambulances donated by BigChange have been distributed to the selected communities. They were received with great appreciation and songs of jubilation, as these two communities now have means of transporting children with severe malaria to the health facility.Transaid, our partners and the whole community are so grateful to Martin, BigChange and to Mike for making this possible. Children’s lives are certain to be saved as result.

2018 Christmas Appeal exceeds its £25,000 target

We are extremely humbled and grateful for the incredible response to Transaid’s 2018 Christmas Appeal. This year the appeal surpassed its original £25,000 fundraising target to raise an impressive £29,245, an improvement on last year’s total of £26,442.

A huge thank you to everyone who supported the appeal and made this phenomenal total possible. Alongside the magazines that published our festive advert on a pro bono basis — Coach & Bus Week, Forwarder, Motor Transport, SHD Logistics, and Commercial Motor — we are also very thankful for the enthusiastic response from corporate supporters, which was instrumental to the appeal’s success.

This year Transaid was also given an exciting match funding opportunity which doubled every donation given by individual non-corporate supporters. To make the most of this, we set ourselves an additional individual fundraising target of £3,000. The total raised towards this secondary target currently sits at £3,795, and we are once again overwhelmed at the generosity of those who have donated to help us reach our goal.

The proceeds from the appeal will be put towards the MAMaZ Against Malaria programme, which has already seen a staggering 96% reduction in child mortality from malaria in the Serenje District, Zambia. The fantastic results of the appeal will help us reach even more rural communities who currently lack access to vital medical services.

Transaid’s 20th Anniversary Showcase: update

On the 21st November 2018, Transaid celebrated its 20th anniversary with a special showcase event in London. The event was attended by over 150 industry supporters, partners, ambassadors, and the entire Transaid team, as well as Patron HRH The Princess Royal.

The Anniversary Showcase highlighted Transaid’s journey through the past two decades as well as showcasing a variety of our achievements over the years. We also unveiled our 20th anniversary film, which sheds light on the direct impact that Transaid’s programmes have had on people’s lives in Africa. The video has since been made available on our YouTube channel, here.

Addressing the assembled guests, The Princess Royal said: “Thank you for being part of the first 20 years of Transaid. I hope you can all see what has been achieved and what is yet to come. Your industry expertise and knowledge has driven this success, which is making a real difference in places where people are looking for change.”

Commenting on Transaid’s driver training initiatives, she added: “Evidence suggests that increasing driver training across sub-Saharan Africa has improved lives across the board – Transaid’s programmes have been proven to work and I hope the industry recognises the value they add.”

Transaid CEO Caroline Barber took the opportunity to announce the scale up of the MAMaZ Against Malaria programme in Zambia, which saw outstanding results in its pilot earlier that year. She also welcomed Lytx, who had recently pledged their support to Transaid, as a corporate member.

Speaking about Transaid’s successes over the past 20 years, Barber said: “It’s been an incredible journey for us and we have made real progress in transforming people’s lives in Africa. We’re stronger than ever and we have a clear vision to guide us, with 32 faithful corporate partners by our side. Together we can make the world a better and safer place.”

Ismaila Balogun, a member of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, shared his personal experience working alongside Transaid to implement the Emergency Transport Scheme (ETS) in Adamawa State, Nigeria. He highlighted the positive change brought to the area by the scheme, which he had seen first-hand.

He told guests: “I have worked with Transaid since the beginning of the ETS scheme, sharing local transport solutions which improve access to basic services and economic opportunity for rural communities. These experiences have been profound and rewarding for me, and also for the lives of vulnerable women in subSaharan Africa who have been touched by the exceedingly great work and commitment that has been put in by Transaid.”

The event was held at Mail Rail — The Postal Museum, home to the one hundred year old Post Office underground railway. The venue was once the hub of logistics activity for Royal Mail in London.

Samworth Brothers Supply Chain donates training vehicle to Professional Driver Training programme, Uganda

In October 2018, Samworth Brothers Supply Chain donated a training vehicle to Transaid, which will help meet the growing demand for qualified HGV drivers in Uganda.

This is the first show of support from the temperature -controlled distribution service, which operates within the Samworth Brothers Group.

The MAN TGX truck was shipped over 6,000 miles to become a dedicated training vehicle for the Professional Driver Training — Uganda (PTD-U) project.

Globally, road traffic accidents are the biggest killer of children and young adults aged 5-29, with road deaths being three times higher in low income countries (source: WHO). PTD-U aims to build the capacity of heavy goods vehicle (HGV) and passenger service vehicle (PSV) driver training in Uganda, improving road safety in the process.

The project was secured in partnership with the German development cooperation’s GIZ E4D/SOGA – Employment and Skills for Eastern Africa, local nongovernmental organisation – Safe Way Right Way, the Ugandan Government and the local private sector.

The PTD-U training school has since opened its doors to train the first group of drivers. There has already been huge demand for the service, with over 4,000 people expressing their interest in response to a recent media campaign. The first 52 trainees have already completed the project’s license acquisition training course.

Neil Rettie, Transaid Road Safety Project Manager, said the vehicle donation will support the PTD-U school’s continued success. “We anticipate a massive demand for high quality professional driver training in Uganda and we are so thrilled to welcome each new driver that expresses an interest in training with the PDT-U school.

“The benefits for the transport industry in Uganda from the PDT-U school truly shows how much of an impact Transaid’s Professional Driver Training Samworth Brothers Supply Chain donates training vehicle to Professional Driver Training programme, Uganda projects are having in sub-Saharan Africa and how important this cause is to communities. The Uganda initiative was officially launched in 2017, and already the support it has received in the form of vehicle donations has been excellent.”

Commenting on the vehicle donation, Ian Cooper, Samworth Brothers Supply Chain Regional Fleet Manager, said: “Having the MAN available will prove so beneficial to the PDT-U project in helping drivers to learn new skills to ensure a safer working environment. Being able to contribute to its success is such a rewarding experience for us and we would not hesitate to assist Transaid again in the future.”

The donation follows in the tracks of a similarly specified Volvo FH tractor unit which was previously donated by corporate member Volvo Trucks. Together they will be used to haul a platform trailer — donated by W H Malcolm — loaded with an empty container for driver training. Thanks to the two second-hand vehicles and the trailer, Transaid can effectively double the number of drivers trained in a given period.

BigChange, the mobile workforce technology company, today announced that it has appointed Frederic Dupeyron, a highly experienced transportation and technology industry leader, to spearhead its expansion in mainland Europe from 1 February 2019.

Having served as a non-executive director at BigChange since it was founded, Dupeyron will join the company on a full-time basis at the beginning of February as Executive Vice President for Europe. He is tasked with establishing BigChange subsidiaries in mainland Europe and driving its expansion across the region.

Frederic Dupeyron, who will report directly to BigChange’s CEO, Martin Port, has held several senior leadership positions for European transportation and technology organisations over the last 20 years. He was CEO at Masternaut prior to its acquisition by Francisco Partners in 2012 and previously served as CEO of Hub One and ADP Management, subsidiaries of French airport operator Groupe ADP.

Frederic Dupeyron began his career working in finance, serving in the Transport Finance Team at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and then as Director of Corporate Finance at Aéroports de Paris.

Martin Port, founder and CEO of BigChange, comments:

“2019 is going to be a huge year for BigChange as we ramp up our activities around the world. I’ve worked with Frederic for many years and am delighted that he is joining BigChange on a full-time basis to lead our charge into mainland Europe.”

Frederic Dupeyron, comments:

“I’ve seen BigChange go from strength-to-strength since it was launched and I am excited the opportunity now exists for me to focus my efforts on boosting its business in mainland Europe. BigChange’s multilingual technology is already transforming mobile workforce operations on the continent, and there are huge growth opportunities for the company there.”

This is going to be a big year for BigChange. The year we expand overseas. The year we double our turnover. The year acquisitions supercharge our growth.

Taking your business to the next level is never straightforward so I’m sharing my three scale-up strategies to help anyone on the same journey.

1. Strategic acquisitions

Many companies tend to wind down over the holiday season but here at BigChange, we had a busy end to the year. We have made our first acquisitions as a company, buying two complementary businesses that will help us double revenues year on year.

The first, Labyrinth Logistics Consulting, is an award-winning supply chain, logistics and compliance consultancy. We also acquired Trace Systems, a creator of fleet, garage and workshop management software, which will be integrated into the BigChange system to make our platform even richer.

These businesses will give BigChange a strategic edge and neither distracts from our core market. We’re still 100% focused on our platform, but these companies will help us deliver an even better service to our customers.

Acquisitions are a great way to scale faster with very little risk. These companies are both small – employing 10 people between them. That means that integration shouldn’t be too difficult.

I have quite a lot of experience acquiring companies now, which means I know how to manage professional fees a bit better without reducing the quality of the advice. Make sure you know when you need to use a lawyer and accountant and when you don’t. If you’re not careful, doing deals can get crazy expensive.

My other tip for acquisitions is to make sure you have a great right hand man. That meant that I wasn’t too distracted from the core business while the deals were being done, and also sped up the process. It took just three weeks from heads of terms being signed for the deals to be done.

2. Go international

We will open our first international office in Paris in February. We decided to create a European operations hub to both take advantage of the weak pound and mitigate Brexit risk.

We have recruited a French national to help expedite the European expansion. Our new VP for Europe, Frederic Dupeyron, will be our man on the ground. I’ve known him for over 10 years: he bought my previous company, Masternaut, so it’s a wonderful twist that he is now coming to work with me at BigChange. There is no substitute for hiring local talent when expanding overseas: they understand cultural differences and tend to be much better at troubleshooting.

France is just the beginning for us. From this launch pad, we will move into Benelux, Germany and the Netherlands. Later this year, we’ll move into the US and Asia. Australia comes next on the international roadmap. We don’t know what’s going to happen with the UK economy over the next few years so having an international outlook is a good way to hedge.

3. Get the basics right

I launched BigChange in 2013 and the company has grown organically since then, which has enabled us to build up our cash reserves. We’ve had to be patient to get to this point, where we can invest in new acquisitions and international growth. Scaling is expensive: we have invested in new acquisitions and a new international team. When you have cash in the bank, you can move quickly to take advantage of new opportunities.

In 2018, we turned over £11m, and – with these acquisitions – we’re on course to hit £23m in 2019 – more than doubling revenues. Profitability will also double, which proves that our growth model works.

It’s really important that we don’t take our eyes off the ball here in the UK as we grow overseas. That’s why we’re investing in more sales and customer service colleagues right here. BigChange will employ 150 people by the end of this year.

As we grow, we also need to make sure everyone is moving in the same direction. This is why I just had a huddle with the team to explain the deals we’ve done, and ensure that everyone understands the transformation plan for this year. It’s important that everyone keeps doing the basics right, and doesn’t get distracted.

These three pillars make up our 2019 scale-up plan. If executed properly, BigChange should be a much bigger company by this time next year. Wish us luck!

Martin Port
Founder & CEO

BigChange, the mobile workforce management software company, today announced that it has gained valuable new software and consulting capabilities, as well as over 100 new customers, with the acquisition of two UK-based businesses.

BigChange has acquired Labyrinth Logistics Consulting, an award-winning supply chain and logistics consultancy based in Royal Leamington Spa. Labyrinth provides logistics strategy, compliance and procurement consultancy, alongside a self-audit software application called SilkThread®, to major transport, logistics, FMCG, and retail organisations in the UK.

Its directors, Ruth Waring and Jo Godsmark, will join BigChange’s leadership team and spearhead a new consulting arm called BigChange Advisory Plus

BigChange has also acquired Trace Systems, an established provider of fleet, garage and workshop management software. Trace works with fleet operators across the UK, including plant hire and haulage companies, local authorities and the emergency services.

The acquisition of Trace, which is based in Coventry, provides BigChange with a world-class asset and stock management capabilities that will be integrated into BigChange’s JobWatch platform. Trace’s founder, Bill Davies, will work as an advisor to BigChange.

Martin Port, founder and CEO of BigChange, comments:

“We are delighted to complete the acquisitions of Labyrinth and Trace. These businesses are the first that BigChange has acquired since it was launched in 2013 and provide us with more fantastic people, world-class technology, amazing new customers and multi-million revenue boost. They represent a significant milestone for our business and a major boost to our scale up plans.”

Ruth Waring, Managing Director of Labyrinth Logistics Consulting, comments:

“We are very excited to be part of BigChange. It is a strong, growing business that complements our offering very well indeed. As part of BigChange, we can develop a more comprehensive consultancy offering and take it to many more organisations around the world.”

Bill Davies, Founder of Trace Systems, comments:

“Having built a business over 30 years we see the sale of Trace Systems to BigChange as the next chapter in our development. It will allow us to transform our fleet, garage and workshop software to take full advantage of the latest cloud and mobile technology pioneered by BigChange. This will provide fantastic opportunities for our existing and future customers.”

KPMG and Blacks Solicitors advised BigChange

For both acquisitions, BigChange was advised by Graham Pearce, Head of Technology at KPMG, Nigel Hoyle & Richard Parr Partners at Blacks Solicitors in Leeds.

Graham Pearce, Head of Technology at KPMG, comments:

“I’m thrilled to have helped BigChange cement its position as a leading vendor, adding these exciting capabilities to its portfolio. With these two acquisitions, BigChange will continue to be at the forefront of technology in the UK and the rest of the world.”

Acumen, the provider of industrial site services and waste management solutions, has deployed the latest mobile workforce technology to streamline and expand its business.

The system combines CRM, Job Scheduling and Mobile Apps used by back-office personnel, drivers and field operatives connected in real-time to cloud-based operational management software; all part of a 5 in 1 solution from Leeds-based BigChange.

With headquarters close to the landmark Ferrybridge Power Station next to the A1M in Yorkshire, Acumen currently employs 90 staff and operates a mixed fleet of vans and HGVs including tankers and roll-on roll-off trucks. First established in 1994 and still privately owned, the company offers a range of waste management, site clean-up and associated environmental products and services.

Acumen has embarked on an ambitious growth plan to double the size of the business in 5 years. The business is very diverse and the company realised it needed to completely transform its IT with a modern, future-proof system that could handle the very varied operational needs.

Kris Sutton, Acumen’s Finance Director comments:

“We had a multitude of different systems operating in silos with stand-alone systems for waste management, vehicle tracking and CRM that were all disconnected. We realised our wish for an all-encompassing system that could do everything and handle the complexity of our business was a tall order,”

Leon Kirk, Acumen’s Group Managing Director explains:

“Initially we looked at BigChange just as a works management tool to get rid of paper reporting but it soon became evident that it offered a lot more and crucially the software could be easily customised. That was a revelation as we had not found anything else that came close to meeting our group-wide needs. Now we see BigChange as central to our growth as we are no longer constrained by any IT system,”

Acumen operates from 7 locations and provides services throughout the UK. The company operates liquid and solid waste treatment and recycling solutions, contracted total waste management services and industrial cleaning services. Acumen is a well- respected specialist working closely with the Blue-Chip industrial clients and regulators such as the Environment Agency.

Acumen has pioneered the use of new technology in the hazardous waste and recycling industry. Innovations include AcuBin and HazBox services that ensure hazardous waste disposal remains compliant and ClearWater, a water recycling system that uses harmless micro-organisms to clean contaminated water from grounds drainage or washdown areas.

BigChange mobile apps are used for everything from electronic consignment notes, job-sheets, time-sheets and expenses, health and safety, defects reports to job quotes and invoicing. Drivers clip their tablets into dashboard cradles when on the move and service operatives access the apps using their mobiles phones. The data is real-time synchronised with the centralised BigChange cloud system giving management visibility of the operation across all divisions and locations.

Kirk Says:

“BigChange gives us a single overarching system to provide complete and real-time management visibility. We can drill down from a high level business performance reports down to the details of individual jobs. BigChange has really revolutionised our operations and the cost is no more than our previous system but it does a lot more and has already replaced 5 separate systems.”

BigChange, Leeds-based mobile workforce technology company, has become an Approved Partner of the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE).

APSE is a network of local government representatives formed to promote excellence in the delivery of frontline services to local communities around the UK; a key area for BigChange.

The BigChange 5 in 1 system combines CRM, job scheduling, a mobile app, vehicle tracking, and an on-demand booking app. that eliminates 100 per cent of the paper to automate all of the manual processes undertaken by back office and mobile workers. JobWatch can be used to simultaneously manage both in-house and sub contracted operations through their brand new BigChange Network Platform with a single system that provides full management and financial reporting creating digital transformation.

Martin Port, CEO of BigChange comments:

Port adds:

Port continues:

BigChange collaboration allows companies to allocate jobs to their partners, and it tracks all the paperwork, monitors issues like health and safety, takes care of billing and scheduling, and updates all parties on the progress of the jobs in real time – giving a sense of control and transparency.

Imagine that you run a plumbing company in Scotland. Your local customers love you and want to work with you on a nationwide basis, but you don’t have the resources to take on contracts in Wales or down in London. Through BigChange, you can now collaborate with other plumbing companies in other areas and sub-contract out the work.

I can’t overstate the potential of something like this. Small businesses can act like big companies – at the touch of a screen. They can reach an almost unlimited scale, bolting on other services and growing their empires. Think of the savings in travel costs if you could sub-contract out work at the other end of the country?

Virtual companies could be created, drawing on the expertise of other firms, using their sales and marketing expertise to grow and thrive.

UK businesses could expand overseas using this system – something that many entrepreneurs may find useful post-Brexit. You could find a contractor in Australia for your customer and watch the job being done in real-time.

In the past, collaboration like this has been bogged down in paperwork, email and endless phone calls. The mist falls over Paper Town and it’s hard to know what’s going on. With JobWatch, it’s all clear and paperless, and your partners appear like an extension of your own firm. Your customers even see the same screen if they log into the booking portal to check which jobs have been completed. Your partner company invoices you, and you invoice your customer as usual – all through BigChange.

It’s that easy.

We don’t charge our customers anything extra to collaborate, but we benefit because we believe that the collaboration feature will encourage more customers to join us. That’s the beauty of a business like this: by focusing on making our customers more successful, we succeed too.

If you are interested in receiving more information on how you can expand your network please email info@bigchange.com for more information

Martin Port
Founder & CEO

BigChange, the mobile workforce technology company, today announced its full year financial results for 2018. The company attracted more than 250 new customers in 2018 and signed new business contracts worth £16m.

Full year sales at the company reached £11m in 2018, an increase of 65% year-on-year, while profits before tax grew to £1.4m, almost three times the level achieved in 2017.

Martin Port, founder and CEO of BigChange, comments:

“2018 was a stellar year for growth at BigChange. We’ve made significant investments in sales, marketing, product development and customer support, and these have been rewarded through substantial increases to both sales and profitability.”

Port adds:

“Our customers want to be greener, more efficient and offer Amazonian levels of service. We are helping more than 800 organisations and over 20,000 mobile workers and back office users of our system deliver on all three of these objectives across the retail, construction, transport, field service and waste management sectors.”

Port continues:

“We will be scaling up our activities significantly in 2019, with strategic acquisitions and international expansion planned for France, Germany and the US. We are targeting over £25m in new contract wins and full year sales in excess of £17m in 2019.”

BigChange provides an award-winning, cloud-based system called JobWatch that provides everything organisations need to monitor and manage their mobile workforces. The five-in-one system combines CRM, smart job scheduling, vehicle tracking and a marketplace booking app to eliminate paper record keeping and automate many of the manual processes undertaken by mobile workers. New subscribers in 2018 include AFI Uplift, Arco, Braemar Shipping Services, BID Group, Recycling Lives, Jackson Fire & Security, Nationwide Window Cleaning, PHMG, Snorkel UK and Tripod Crest.

BigChange creates 40 new jobs to sustain growth

Growing demand for JobWatch in 2018 has coincided with the creation of more than 40 new jobs at BigChange and enabled the company to donate more than £200k to charities, including Transaid and Brake.

In September, BigChange launched Leaders for Life, a campaign to turn business leaders into role models for road safety and reduce the number of people killed and injured on Britain’s roads by people driving for work. Ambassadors for the campaign include the British racing driver Nic Hamilton, who is also sponsored by BigChange.