RWE npower Partners With ByBox To Deliver The Smart Meter Implementation Programme
ByBox, the leading provider of supply chain services to the UK’s field support sector, has partnered with RWE npower to support its logistics requirements for the installation of the energy company’s new wave of smart meters. The contract, which will last for seven years, sees the company’s engineers using ByBox’s network of 1,500 dropbox locations to collect smart meters and other related parts distributed from ByBox’s National Distribution Centre (NDC) in Coventry.
The service will allow RWE npower to have complete flexibility over its rollout programme and as a result of integrating ByBox’s ThinventoryTM management platform, will provide detailed track and trace of the new serialised assets throughout the supply chain from manufacture, to engineer, to wall and return to asset owner. In addition, the depth of ByBox’s dropbox network significantly reduces the distance engineers must travel to pick up parts, enabling a more frequent replenishment cycle to reduce inventory in the field and increasing the amount of time engineers can dedicate to the install and engaging with customers.
Chris Thewlis, Head of Metering at RWE npower said:
“ByBox’s market leading logistics capability represents a key component in npower’s transformation supporting our ambition to be number one for customer service. Ensuring our Meterworkers have the right assets at the right time will allow them to deliver a great customer experience every time. ByBox’s innovative approach via its drop box network reduces our fieldforce’s travel time whilst their fully integrated systems means that we have complete real time visibility of all assets in the supply chain.”
Mark Garritt, Managing Director, ByBox said:
“We are the only in-night network operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, allowing us to effectively fulfil RWE npower’s exciting smart meter roll-out. Our service supports the high level objective of a low-carbon Britain by reducing the amount of miles that engineers are travelling to collect parts and through our systematic asset management capabilities we will help ensure a successful seven year roll out programme.”
The smart meter roll out will pilot in 2014 with the full project set to go live in 2015.
