Specialising in all aspects of asbestos abatement, Rilmac operates a team of specialist operatives across the UK. Using BigChange, Rilmac now has 24/7 visibility of its operations, has reduced its paper consumption, and has improved both back-office and field efficiencies.
Rilmac selected BigChange based on the features and functionality offered. “It was all about the three Ps for us – performance, people, and, of course, price. We knew that any system we implemented would be better than what we had, but the fact that BigChange offered a scalable solution that we could introduce in manageable chunks and was customisable for different aspects of the business was crucial,” added Stephen Finch, business development manager at Rilmac.
BigChange is used to plan work, communicate schedules and detailed job specifications to field operatives, report on ongoing projects, and share crucial updates with clients. As a result, Rilmac has achieved notable efficiency gains and cost savings.
“Using BigChange, we have already reduced our back-office admin resource by about 30 percent - a resource that can be deployed to other tasks - and we have slashed the amount of paper we use, eliminating it altogether from some workstreams. Conservatively estimated, this amounts to 20,000 sheets of paper saved annually, though the actual figure is likely closer to 25,000. This reduction not only represents a significant cost saving for the business but also benefits the environment.
“In addition, what we do is highly—and rightly so—regulated, and BigChange ensures that we not only adhere to these regulations in the field but can also prove compliance,” Finch continued. “Using BigChange, we have set up logical, step-by-step workflows that operatives have to follow. Although nobody likes change, these have actually made it easier to record the necessary information in the field, as BigChange guides you through each step, ensuring you record photographs and equipment readings at defined points, all of which have been ratified by our compliance manager.
“We recently had an unannounced inspection by the Health and Safety Executive, which is not uncommon for asbestos removal works, and we were able to show how we are using BigChange in the field. The inspector was very complimentary about the system itself.”
Rilmac is also leveraging additional features and functionalities offered by BigChange. These include mandatory daily vehicle checks that ensure the fleet remains roadworthy and safe while promptly notifying the fleet management team of any defects or issues. The CRM tools help contract managers and the business development team stay updated on current projects and the sales pipeline. Furthermore, Rilmac now highlights its use of BigChange and the associated client benefits when bidding for new work.
Future plans for BigChange within Rilmac’s asbestos division, and the wider group, include a customer self-service portal where existing clients can access up-to-date reports and documentation and even book appointments for routine work. Additionally, automated asset management tools will provide better control over equipment and consumables used on-site.