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January 22, 2021

Investment in new carbon efficient accommodation marks start of nationwide improvements on the Defence Training Estate

Kenneth Booth January 22, 2021

Soldiers using Salisbury Plain and Nesscliff Training Areas are the first to benefit from new carbon efficient accommodation, delivered as part of the £45m Net Carbon Accommodation Programme (NetCAP). The programme is being part-funded using money from a £200m investment to improve Armed Forces accommodation, which was announced by the

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LEADING HOUSING ASSOCATION LAUNCHES SALES AGENCY

Kenneth Booth January 22, 2021

LAUNCH OF ‘SO RESI AGENCY’ MARKED BY PARTNERSHIP DEAL WITH BRICK BY BRICK IN CROYDON Today, the shared ownership brand of leading housing association Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing has announced the launch of its new sales agency, created to help make shared ownership more accessible to homebuyers.  SO Resi Agency’s

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Five upgrades to keep your house warm this winter

Kenneth Booth January 22, 2021

Euramax explores energy-saving home improvements The average UK home spends around £550 a year on space heating alone. Surely there is a smarter way to invest this money and achieve long-term savings? Leading uPVC windows and doors manufacturer, Euramax, has released an infographic that examines five ways homeowners can improve their home

Read More »
Building Timber Frame Houses Can Save Taxpayers

Building Timber Frame Houses Can Save Taxpayers

Cristina Diaconu January 22, 2021

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has called on the government and local authorities for urgent investment in housing to meet the growing demand for social housing. Homeless charity Crisis recently calculated that 90,000 homes need to be built a year in order to meet this demand. Paramount Timber

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4 Simple Ways to Increase Your Delivery Service Efficiency

John Dale January 22, 2021

Are you looking to make some changes to your delivery business’s daily operations to increase its efficiency? We’ve got your back! Running a courier business isn’t a walk in the park—there’s a fleet to maintain, expenses to control, and a team to manage. Still, increasing business efficiency and making it

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Issue 328 : May 2025

January 22, 2021

National Apprentice Week: Lee Marley Brickwork Applauds Apprentices for Adapting to The Challenges of Covid-19

Kenneth Booth January 22, 2021

National Apprentice Week runs between the 8th-14th February and this year the team at Lee Marley Brickwork Ltdare celebrating their amazing apprentices and how well they’ve adapted to the changes in training that Covid-19 has created. Lee Marley Brickwork (LMB) is one of the UK’s leading integrated brickwork, scaffolding and stone sub-contractors. The company recently employed Apprentice Training Manager Christian Hatherall-Good who is currently looking after 35 apprentices, (9 scaffold and 26 brickwork). Students are working on sites such as Oval Village Vauxhall with Berkeley Homes and Chelsea Barracks for Multiplex.  Christian comments: “I believe that training on the job through an apprenticeship is the best way to learn. You can earn a wage while learning. I believe that real life learning is important, but cannot be all of the learning, as apprentices need to have the opportunity in a college or training centre to practice new skills, gain knowledge and have the opportunity to make mistakes, without it being detrimental to the build of the project and time constraints.” LMB Managing Director Lee Marley commented “As a former apprentice bricklayer I appreciate the opportunities that a quality apprenticeship can offer. It is also essential for the construction industry to encourage young talent into the sector and focus on evolving skills in order to improve productivity.” LMB has a firm belief in the need to develop the next generation of bricklayers, scaffolders, stone masons and steel fixers. Modern methods of construction are continually evolving, and the company want to ensure that the workforce of the future is equipped with the skills to adapt to this. The company has formed partnerships with Brooklands College, for brickwork, and the CITB, for scaffolding. This allows them to incorporate their own syllabus into the apprentice’s curriculum meaning that they are fully prepared to meet the changing needs of the construction industry. The company continue to have a close relationship with a number of other colleges which allows them to offer greater geographic and trade specific coverage in their recruitment programme. How a construction company has filled training gaps in the absence of colleges During the first Covid lockdown, it became clear that LMB apprentices would not receive the same theory and practical training they would have done at college and on site. This lockdown, with colleges being closed, the company have responded to the situation and developed a revised training plan, so their apprentices do not miss out on either the theory or practical side of their training. Before Covid restrictions set in, an apprenticeship at the company allowed apprentices to work on site four days a week and attend College one full day. In response to the current situation, the apprentices continue to have remote learning from the College tutor and from the Training Manager on their usual college day. Christian continues to visit the apprentices on site in controlled and social distanced conditions in order to carry out teaching and provide guidance to the apprentices while they work. The apprentices are usually placed in pairs on projects. Many of the company’s current apprentices are from Brooklands College.  Christian has been working closely with the College and between both parties a plan for training the apprentices has been developed. This includes Google classroom groups with a wide a range of resources available such as ‘how to’ videos, Workbooks, PowerPoints, scenario assignments, worksheets and revision quizzes. On the apprentices’ usual college day, they attend at least two, one-and-a-half-hour theory sessions on Google MEET’s group video call with their tutor.  Christian has also organised a one-to-one review session for each apprentice on |Google MEET’s with their tutor and on-site assessor. The aim being to check on the student’s wellbeing, work progress, targets and to provide advice on any work they needed help with. Naomi Hamilton, 19, has just completed her bricklaying apprentice NVQ2 and will be beginning her NVQ Level 3 shortly, after that she’d look to getting her gold CSCS card and one day would like to be a supervisor.  Naomi won the first ever inaugural Female Trainee brickwork competition sponsored by Forterra in 2019. She has the following advice for others looking to get into the construction industry: “Don’t give up, keep at it, your hard work will be rewarded. Ask questions, you’ll find solutions which you can apply to your work. Keep building your skillset – challenge yourself. If you’re a female don’t be afraid, believe in yourself and prove people wrong, you can do this in a male orientated industry.” The next step for LMB will be to open their own training centre that would be at the forefront of brickwork and scaffolding training in the UK.  Watch this space! For more information about Lee Marley Brickwork Ltd, please visit: www.leemarley.com. The company currently offers both brickwork and scaffolding apprenticeships in order to bring the next generation of tradesmen into the construction. To find out more about apprenticeship and careers opportunities at LMB please email jobs@leemarley.com

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Investment in new carbon efficient accommodation marks start of nationwide improvements on the Defence Training Estate

Kenneth Booth January 22, 2021

Soldiers using Salisbury Plain and Nesscliff Training Areas are the first to benefit from new carbon efficient accommodation, delivered as part of the £45m Net Carbon Accommodation Programme (NetCAP). The programme is being part-funded using money from a £200m investment to improve Armed Forces accommodation, which was announced by the Defence Secretary last summer. The MOD is investing more than £35m of this funding, in addition to funding from the British Army, into its nationwide programme, which aims to improve facilities for troops when they are training away from their permanent barracks. 38 new carbon efficient accommodation blocks, providing more than 1,700 bed spaces, will be installed across the UK Defence Training Estate by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), working with industry partner Landmarc Support Services and its contractor Reds10. The remainder of the £200 million investment is being spent on Service Family Accommodation and training accommodation at Longmoor Training Camp, and improvements to Single Living Accommodation in Army barracks, RAF bases and Naval establishments. Westdown Camp on Salisbury Plain was the first to receive the new accommodation. The modern facility has an A-rated Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), just 12 points from achieving net zero, thanks to air source pumps and rooftop solar panels. This prototype was further improved on for three new accommodation blocks at the second site, Nesscliff Training Area in Shropshire, which have an EPC rating of -5. This means the buildings generate power for the site, reducing electricity costs. The buildings range in size as required, typically providing up to 46 bed-spaces each, which can be subdivided as needed. This innovative design means that different military units, whether trained soldiers or cadets, male or female, can be accommodated within the block together. Showers, ablutions and drying rooms are also part of the complex, improving the overall experience for personnel by removing the need for troops to move to different buildings.  All accommodation is being designed and constructed offsite by modular building specialists Reds10 before being transported to site for assembly and installation. The manufacture and installation of the single block at Westdown Camp took just 15 weeks. The team was then able to take what it had learned and reduce this to 13 weeks for three buildings at Nesscliff. Installation on site takes about a month, minimising disruption for training troops compared to traditional construction. Labour was locally sourced at each site, helping to reduce the carbon footprint and boost local economies by providing 400 jobs across the programme, 150 of which were new. Another benefit of modular construction is that it allows the same design to be used for later blocks with improvements and alterations put in place as necessary. The buildings are also equipped with SMART building technology, which optimises energy use and provides data for improvements in the design and specification of subsequent modular constructions in the programme. Lessons identified following the installation of the Westdown Camp block have not only meant that Reds10 delivered the Nesscliff buildings as net zero, but also allowed for 30% reduction of embodied carbon compared to Westdown Camp. Brigadier Jonathan Bartholomew, DIO’s Head of the Overseas and Training Region said: “DIO supports our Armed Forces by providing what they need to live, work and train. Working closely with our industry partner, Landmarc, and Reds10 we are proud to have delivered the first new accommodation blocks on time and during the current climate. These new buildings are modern, flexible and efficient and will support troops on exercise, providing them with the high-quality accommodation that they expect and deserve.” Mark Neill, Managing Director at Landmarc, said: “The welfare of the troops that use the estate is our top priority and the accommodation facilities are a key contributor in delivering the best possible training experience. “We are therefore delighted to work with DIO and Reds10 to deliver a programme that will not only support the government’s commitment to improving living accommodation for our Armed Forces but will also provide a highly energy efficient solution that will help DIO meet its long-term carbon reduction commitments.”  Paul Ruddick, CEO of Reds10 said: “Our brief was to deliver the lowest carbon usage possible. Air source heat pumps, which take supplementary electrical power from solar PV panels installed on the roof, generate the accommodation’s complete heating and hot water requirements. “We installed SMART technology in the building at Westdown Camp, which provides detailed information on how that building is being used, its hot water and heating demand and occupancy rates. This has enabled the team to monitor the energy demands of the building and feedback directly into subsequent building design and specifications, allowing us to deliver the buildings at Nesscliff as the first net zero buildings of the programme. “We are proud to be able to continually push our modular construction methods to deliver these sorts of results throughout the programme.” The programme will continue into 2021 and early 2022 with the installation of more carbon efficient accommodation blocks on other training sites, some of which will be larger. These sites include Knook Camp on Salisbury Plain, Brunswick Camp in Hampshire, Castlemartin in Pembrokeshire, Warcop in Cumbria and West Tofts and Wretham in Norfolk.

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Alumno secures over £43m to fund student developments in Manchester and Bermondsey

Kenneth Booth January 22, 2021

Two student accommodation projects set for completion for the 2022/23 academic year have secured the required forward funding of £43.8 million by major diversified real estate investor Barings.   Managed by award-winning developer Alumno, the properties will provide must needed accommodation for students based in Manchester and Bermondsey in London.    The 4,600 square metre project on Bermondsey Spa Gardens is Alumno’s fourth development in the London Borough of Southwark and will provide fully integrated facilities for 143 students. These include high-quality rooms with shared amenities, such as a basement cinema lounge, study room and community area. The site is located close to Bermondsey underground station with good access to several world renowned higher educational institutions. HG Construction, which recently completed Alumno`s latest project in Norwich, has been appointed as the main contractor. In line with Alumno’s policy of delivering key benefits to the local communities adjacent to its projects, the developer is working with a Bermondsey nursery to help with a historical legacy book, as well as refurbishing a playground, and collaborating on an innovative wayfinding scheme to help visually impaired students find their way around the area.   The 1,449 square metre central Manchester development will comprise 62 studio apartments, along with a communal area, rooftop terrace, office and feature storage space for 12 bikes. It is located within the campus of Manchester Metropolitan University, with the Manchester University Campus close by. Alumno is also partnering with charity One Manchester to raise £50,000 for local projects, and is again helping to fund a wayfinding project. GMI Construction Group has been appointed the main contractor on this scheme. In both cases, Alumno will commission new art to enhance the public spaces around each building, another trademark of all its developments.  “We are absolutely delighted to have concluded this agreement with Barings, a world leading real estate investor,” said David Campbell, Founder and Managing Director of Alumno. “This is a huge boost for our business coming into 2021. It also highlights the confidence in bringing forward major investment into the purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) sector, which has again demonstrated its resilience during these challenging times.” Commenting on the funding, Darren Hutchinson, Managing Director – Head of UK Real Estate Transactions at Barings, said: “These are two high-quality PBSA assets in very strong locations in London and Manchester. Both London and Manchester are undersupplied markets supported by strong universities and a deep occupier demand. We are excited to work with Alumno to create well-designed, contemporary accommodation that will appeal to a wide range of students.”  

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LEADING HOUSING ASSOCATION LAUNCHES SALES AGENCY

Kenneth Booth January 22, 2021

LAUNCH OF ‘SO RESI AGENCY’ MARKED BY PARTNERSHIP DEAL WITH BRICK BY BRICK IN CROYDON Today, the shared ownership brand of leading housing association Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing has announced the launch of its new sales agency, created to help make shared ownership more accessible to homebuyers.  SO Resi Agency’s first deal is with Brick By Brick, the development company set up by Croydon Council to provide high quality and affordable homes across the borough. The newly established SO Resi Agency will handle the sale of these affordable homes, which will be available for purchase through shared ownership. The homes comprise of one, two and three-bedroom apartments alongside a small number of maisonettes, in keeping with demand for entry-level properties for local first time buyers.  The three schemes, located in Upper Norwood, Thornton Heath and South Croydon in South London, are designed by outstanding architects, including RIBA Stirling Prize-winning Mikhail Riches. Homes have been developed to a high specification, with timber parquet flooring, Silestone worktops, Bosch appliances and private balconies. All have a range of integrated energy efficient features to ensure their sustainability credentials, including secure cycle storage, solar energy, electric vehicle charging points, and an Environmental Performance Certificate rating of B or higher. Diana Alam, Head of Sales at SO Resi Agency, comments: “We are excited to announce our first partnership through our new SO Resi Agency, and to work together with Brick By Brick to increase levels of affordable homeownership in Croydon. Partnerships such as these create a genuine opportunity to leverage expertise and work alongside equally ambitious partners to accelerate the delivery of much needed local, affordable housing. “Croydon is a highly searched area on the SO Resi website, demonstrating that there is a clear demand from customers for shared ownership properties in this area as well as Greater London. We are pleased to be supporting Brick By Brick with the sale of these properties at three developments in the borough, which will allow aspirational first time buyers get onto the property ladder and secure their own home.” Colm Lacey, CEO at Brick By Brick, said: “Brick By Brick’s partnership with SO Resi Agency will help us to provide high-quality affordable housing to those who need it in Croydon and accelerate the returns we provide to our shareholder Croydon Council. These high-spec homes, which have been designed to our usual high environmental standards, offer a very appealing option for local people looking to take their first step onto the property ladder.” The award-winning team at SO Resi launched the innovative new shared ownership sales agency for external parties earlier this month, with an official virtual launch set to take place in February. The aim of SO Resi Agency is to provide greater access to affordable homes available with external parties including housing associations, local authority housing providers, investment funds or private developers able to promote their property on the SO Resi website. As well as promotional support, partners will be able to access the SO Resi teams’ shared ownership expertise including marketing and sales support. SO Resi partners will be able to gain increased exposure for their shared ownership properties via the agency website which already attracts approximately 60,000 visitors every month. Despite the unprecedented challenges the pandemic has posed for the country and the housing sector over the last year, SO Resi has continued to report high levels of demand for shared ownership due to its affordable route to homeownership. To find out more about SO Resi or the new homes available through Brick By Brick in Croydon, visit www.soresi.co.uk or call 0208 607 0550.

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Five upgrades to keep your house warm this winter

Kenneth Booth January 22, 2021

Euramax explores energy-saving home improvements The average UK home spends around £550 a year on space heating alone. Surely there is a smarter way to invest this money and achieve long-term savings? Leading uPVC windows and doors manufacturer, Euramax, has released an infographic that examines five ways homeowners can improve their home this winter to keep warm, without turning up the heat. When winter approaches and the temperature starts to drop, many homeowners begin thinking about how they can reduce the cost of their energy bill. This year, keeping homes warm without excessive costs is more relevant than ever. In April 2020, 46.6 per cent of people in employment did some work at home, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Many people traditionally turn their heating off during the day while they are out of the house. However, with government advice to work from home wherever possible not set to cease, this will not be the case. Many people will spend their days inside their homes this winter, meaning heating expenses will rise. As a result, homeowners will need to take actions to keep their homes suitably warm, without increasing their financial outgoings. As well as lowering costs, homeowners may also want to explore more environmentally friendly heating methods. In summer 2020, the UK government announced that it would be supporting homeowners that want to make energy-efficient home upgrades, with its Green Homes Grant. As part of the scheme, the government will provide a voucher worth up to £5,000 or £10,000 to cover the cost of making energy-efficient home improvements. Homeowners and private and social landlords are entitled to the vouchers, which can be used for changes such as improved insulation or low-carbon heating. “Elevated energy bills are a worry for many people across the UK, especially in winter. Fortunately, there are things that can be done to help bring these costs down and relieve some financial strain,” explained Nick Cowley, managing director of Euramax. “Some of these changes are things that can be done at no extra cost, like setting your thermostat effectively, while others do take a bit more preparation. “We wanted to suggest some possible uses of the Green Homes Grant, while demonstrating how high-quality windows and doors can improve the energy efficiency of a house. This infographic offers some suggestions that will allow homeowners to optimise their home this winter, whatever their budget.” To learn more about Euramax and their products, visit euramaxuk.com.

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Building Timber Frame Houses Can Save Taxpayers

Building Timber Frame Houses Can Save Taxpayers

Cristina Diaconu January 22, 2021

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has called on the government and local authorities for urgent investment in housing to meet the growing demand for social housing. Homeless charity Crisis recently calculated that 90,000 homes need to be built a year in order to meet this demand. Paramount Timber Frame have gathered recent studies in the industry to calculate that if these houses were built using timber frame construction rather than traditional masonry methods, it could save the government over £261 million. Timber frame construction responds to the wider housing challenges. In fact, building with timber would see the government’s existing target of building 300,000 homes per annum reached far more effectively and sustainably, generating cost savings across the board and arguably moving towards bursting the current housing bubble. Timber framed homes in the UK is the most traditional building method boasted by the UK’s oldest properties, surviving since the 15th Century. However, brick became the Victorian answer to mass housing production in the 19th Century. With sustainability becoming a core value for many businesses and individuals, the other benefits to building with timber are beginning to come into focus. Building with timber is cost effective, with timber frame coming in at around a 2.8% cost saving. It is also shortening construction time as Rider Levett Bucknall found in a study between the 2 methods. The build time for an average timber frame home was only 41 weeks compared to 49 weeks for masonry. The 2 months of saved time equates to further cost savings on labour most notably, as well as improve cash flow by completing projects sooner. The cost savings and efficiency aren’t the only benefit associate with timber frame, it is also highly sustainable. Timber is part of the circular economy, which is the most effective carbon store. When used instead of the more traditional building materials, a single cubic metre of timber will save around 0.8 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. When extended to the 90,000 homes a year – that can make a huge difference to the environment. Timber is also a renewable material, with up to 90% of the timber used in the UK coming from certified sustainable sources such as the FSC and the PEFC. The majority of the remaining 10% comes from well managed sources in countries which do not practice certification. For every one tree that is harvested, five are planted in its place which means that it is not only a sustainable method, but one that is integral to the governments Net Zero by 2050 initiative. Richard Swayne, Director of Paramount Timber Frame says: “The time has come for the industry to switch to timber frame more aggressively. The benefits for using timber instead of traditional masonry methods are tenfold. At Paramount Timber Frame, we know there is intense need for delivering high quality, good value housing and fast. Switching to timber frame is how we start to build for tomorrow. To not only alleviate the housing crises, but to evolve the industry to becoming more sustainable, for both the environment and society. Andrew Carpenter, Chief Executive of the Structural Timber Association says: “It’s no secret that Britain’s housing construction has faced numerous challenges over the decades, from planning restrictions, cost of materials and safety issues. Timber construction provides a glaringly obvious solution to many of these challenges whilst also meeting housing needs efficiently and net zero carbon by 2050 target. With timber construction we believe we can build back Britain, Better, Greener and Faster. Our Time for Timber campaign embodies this, bringing together the science, data and industry thought-leaders, echoing that the time to change our outdated construction methods is now.”

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Lismore Real Estate Advisors concludes £10.5m sale of Fife’s premier industrial estate

Kenneth Booth January 22, 2021

Lismore Real Estate Advisors (Lismore) advised a UK fund client on the £10.5m sale of the multi-let Belleknowes Industrial Estate in Inverkeithing to PATRIZIA and Caisson. The sale price reflected a net initial yield of 5.95%. Belleknowes Industrial Estate is Fife’s premier industrial estate and is located only 15 minutes from Edinburgh airport. Extending to 140,000 sq.ft, it comprises 22 units of varying sizes and provides trade, warehousing and light industrial accommodation. It has a strong occupier base including Network Rail, Kwik-Fit, Speedy Hire, Plumbstore and Bella & Duke. Commenting on the sale, Chris Macfarlane, director of Lismore said: “The sale price and competitive bidding from both UK and overseas investors on this asset highlights the continuing demand for multi-let industrial opportunities across Scotland.” Lismore Real Estate Advisors and Shepherd & Wedderburn represented the vendor, whilst PATRIZIA and Caisson was advised by Galbraith and Morton Fraser.

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4 Simple Ways to Increase Your Delivery Service Efficiency

John Dale January 22, 2021

Are you looking to make some changes to your delivery business’s daily operations to increase its efficiency? We’ve got your back! Running a courier business isn’t a walk in the park—there’s a fleet to maintain, expenses to control, and a team to manage. Still, increasing business efficiency and making it into a successful business opportunity is possible if you have a good team and the right tools in place. But how do you increase your delivery efficiency? The secret to increasing delivery efficiency lies in your ability to utilize resources effectively. Even the smallest changes deployed can have a significant impact on your business. That said, here are some tips to help you increase your delivery service efficiency. 1. Set Priorities Any efficient delivery process starts with setting order priorities. This way, you’ll be able to easily identify stops that must be done at the beginning of your route based on an order’s importance or specified calendar date. But to achieve that, you’ll need to invest in route planner software. The best route planner apps let you set advanced parameters like priority stops and time-constraints. For instance, if you’re a courier and one of your clients needs their package delivered ASAP, you can prioritize that stop and your route planner app will optimize the fastest route for that stop. This not only increases delivery efficiency but also ensures customer needs are met, and on time. 2. Go Paperless You want your delivery agents and other staff to stay organized, right? That goal can easily be achieved by going paperless. Having a paperless office or processes will save you time that you’d have spent sorting, printing, and mailing filing papers. But when you go paperless, you’ll significantly improve delivery efficiency since you’ll be able to create, search, and store documents online. These online documents can be accessed anywhere and from any device. Plus, you’ll be able to quickly find any personal or business document you need, instead of spending hours digging through piles of file folders. 3. Focus on Customer Service In a crowded marketplace, making a positive impression can mean the difference between getting repeat customers and clients switching to the competition.  That said, your success in the courier industry depends on how you treat your customers. Do they always complain of late delivery? What about pricing…are your customers concerned about your high prices? Are they satisfied by your mode of delivery and communication? If you answered ‘Yes’ to any of these questions, you’ll need to work on the areas of your business that are lacking.  For instance, if your customers always call to inquire about delivery progress, you could invest in a route monitoring software that provides real-time updates to customers. If communication is the problem, you could open multiple channels of interacting with your clients, ranging from social media to live chats and more. 4. Limit Unauthorized Vehicle Use One of the benefits of investing in fleet tracking software is that you get to track your drivers and manage your fleet better. This not only helps you to track your vehicles in the event they get stolen but also helps to limit unauthorized vehicle use. If not tracked and monitored, your delivery drivers might divert from their scheduled route to attend personal errands in-between jobs. Worst of all, unscrupulous drivers might use your delivery vehicles for unrelated and unauthorized businesses. Such activities might paralyze business operations, cause wear and tear, and affect the overall fleet efficiency. Wrapping Up By incorporating the above strategies, you’ll stand to benefit from increased delivery efficiency and be able to stick to your commitments.

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