News, Events & Press

January 2008 PRESS RELEASE:

Ethos Recycling is one of the UK's first waste recycling companies to simplify and automate the waste collection process by installing mobile data communication systems in its vehicles! The new IWS Mobile system from P&L Software was chosen for the task and is already significantly improving route and load efficiency, minimising environmental impact, eliminating errors and automating many tasks to provide substantial cost savings.

The new system provides ultimate control and flexibility for any busy transport manager. It allows the office to instantly communicate with the vehicle - updating the driver with route changes and new information. The PDA style device also has integrated satellite navigation and simple colour-coded "menu driven" options for ease-of-use.

Ethos Recycling specialise in construction waste and has recycling centres in East and West London. The company has invested substantially in sophisticated machinery and can boast consistent material recovery rates of 80% – 85% (compared with industry averages of 50%). With P&L Waste Management’s IWS Mobile system, Ethos Recycling saw further potential to improve its efficiency.

P&L's new handheld device sits in a cradle on the vehicle dashboard and works in unison with PP&L's Integrated Waste System (IWS) –a feature rich software package that simplifies and accelerates the everyday tasks associated with running a waste management company.

Collection and delivery details are transmitted from the office computer to the vehicle via mobile phone technology (GPRS). The driver can view a list of tasks which are executed through simple menu driven options. Each task is displayed on the device's touch screen which is also used to capture the customer's signature. The driver can also update or amend any collection anomalies using an on-screen QWERTY keyboard.

Completed tasks are transmitted back to the office where the status is automatically updated and recorded. The waste transfer note and invoice are generated and e-mailed by the IWS system - providing a totally automated and paperless operation with a full audit trail (including signatures), for Duty of Care compliance.

With instantaneous control over the fleet it is easy to swap loads around or reorganise schedules should a cancellation or hold-up occur. Ethos Recycling Transport Manager John Francis comments "The time we save by not having to call mobile phones is staggering. Reallocating cancelled or "waiting loads" has allowed us to gain 5-6 extra jobs a week for each driver! With a fleet of 40 vehicles that represents a substantial saving. Being able to adjust capacity for Wheely Bin collections has also been invaluable - when a driver is scheduled to empty 100 bins and actually empties 130, it can impact on the vehicle' collection capacity. The new system not only updates the status and allows us to react (if necessary), but also makes sure the correct amounts are invoiced."

Ethos Recycling Director of Operations John Rae adds "With mandatory legislation coming into force in April, construction and demolition companies will need to produce "Site Waste Management Plans" and will be looking very closely at who can provide the best solutions. This new IWS mobile device makes us incredibly responsive, flexible and highly efficient, we are excited to be the first company to invest in this technology and provide further benefits for our customers. The system reduces our carbon footprint and offers a tremendous number of time saving functions and error eliminating features".

Founded in 1987, P&L software is the UK's leading software company for the waste industry. P&L Software provide purchase or lease options with full support, training and RTB warranties for all of their products.

For more information see the IWS-mobile product page or
contact Joe Barnes either by telephone on +44 (0)1865 370722 or

November 2007

P&L have also had a busy year recruiting additional staff at their offices in Kidlington, north Oxford – and also creating the office space needed for those extra desks!

The company has been joined by software engineer Barry O'Brien, an excellent programmer with a 1st class Honours degree from Oxford Brooks and four years experience as a software developer. Barry will working on the new IWS-mobile product.

The company is currently in the (dusty and noisy) process of taking over unit 3 Lakesmere Close to provide much-needed additional space. When the builders have finished, this extra space will provide a new programming room and enable us to implement a single-floor working environment which will better integrate all the departments. The ground floor will then be used for storage and staff facilities.

Unit 3 is in addition to the new Training facility located in Unit 20, which P&L acquired earlier in the year.

October 2007

Following successful trials and a huge amount of interest at RWM in September, the first IWS-mobile orders have now been installed.

The launch of the new handheld device has created a very busy year for P&L, with a high level of enquiries and subsequent demo requests continuing.

"The industry seems ready and eager for this technology now and there are clear benefits in efficiency and environmental gains for those companies switching to paperless systems" says P&L Director Julie Emery-Priest.

For more information see the IWS-mobile product page, telephone our sales desk on 01865 370722, or contact:
Joe Barnes, +44 (0)1865 370722

June 2007

Vsitors at CIWM 2007 will have seen P&L's new hand-held product IWS-mobile for the first time.

IWS-mobile has been developed to let P&L's Integrated Waste System (IWS) out on the road, both hugely increasing operational efficiency through instant paperless transactions and data capture at the point of collection.

IWS-mobile also brings other benefits through its GPRS technology, providing mobile communications, satellite navigation and tracking, geofencing and driver/vehicle safety routines.

The new handheld device will next be on show at the RWM Exhibition at the NEC in September; but if you'd like to see one before then, please just contact our sales desk.

For more information see the IWS-mobile product page or contact:
Joe Barnes, +44 (0)1865 370722

February 2007

P&L Software – developers of the industry-standard Integrated Waste System (IWS) – have been given ISO accreditation in recognition of their levels of support and training. The accreditation comes as they reveal new training facilities and a new three-tiered maintenance package to help users get even more out of their powerful software. P&L are the only waste-management software developers to be awarded ISO accreditation (ISO 9001:2000). "The ISO accreditation is a proud event for all our staff," explains Director Julie Emery-Priest. "Not only are we the only waste management software house to specialise in waste – now we're the only ones with ISO accreditation. It means better service for all our customers. Councils and companies who are also ISO accredited will understand the levels of service and support to expect."

New training facilities

As part of that service, P&L have hugely expanded their training, developing a specialised in-house customer training facility. "IWS is extremely powerful," explains Julie, "but its power and range of features can mean that some users do not tap the full potential of the software. So we've developed an in-house training unit to show customers what IWS can really do for their business. We'll be offering a range of one and two-day courses, allowing small groups of users to drill down into the software and see exactly all that it has to offer." The centre is fully air-conditioned, and equipped with the latest pop-up desking system and Digital Laser projectors. There is also a cafe-style area for relaxation and refreshment.

New maintenance packages

Along with the training centre, P&L have also launched a new three-tiered range of maintenance packages, allowing users to select exactly the right level of support for their business. The standard level of support already offers upgrades to software and access to the 24-hour software support helpline, but now users can choose "silver" or "gold" levels of support, which also offer on-site consultative visits from P&L's technical experts. The Silver level provides for one annual consultative visit, while the Gold level offers three. "A consultative visit can bring up all sorts of issues," explains Julie. "We'll analyse and optimise the user's system, but we'll also help customers to use the software to its full capability and even advise them on putting together new and better system and administration procedures. We want to give the best possible service to our customers – because we believe that we offer the best software."

ENDS

CONTACT: Julie Emery-Priest, +44 (0)1865 370722

NOTE TO EDITORS

1. P&L Software Systems Limited is based in Kidlington, just north of Oxford.

2. P&L Software Systems has specialized exclusively in waste management software since 1987– and with the largest installed software base in the UK, is recognized within the country's waste industry as one of the major players in waste management software. Since 1996 P&L has also been developing materials brokerage software to integrate with the waste paper industry's needs.