An online platform that has the potential to save the transport sector millions of pounds ever year is helping a Wolverhampton firm to aim for a record year.

Family-owned Spillard Safety Systems (www.spillard.com), which employs 60 people at its Four Ashes headquarters, has sold over 5,000 ‘Spillard Live’ systems to customers that include DHL and Bentons Haulage.

This has seen its sales reach £3 million in the first half of the year, and 15 new jobs have been created.

Compliance and accountability are becoming more important for companies in the transport sector, and being able to instantly see what a driver has done (or is doing) makes that task a lot easier.

Finance director Craig Spillard said: “Spillard Live is the future of connected-vehicle technology.

Through the use of an industry-leading camera system, it allows users to view all of the cameras in real time, as well as being able to view historical footage.

"This has a huge benefit in terms of reviewing driver performance, reducing risks and accidents, and allowing companies to prove that their drivers were not at fault in incidents.

“With over 5,000 systems connected to the platform already, we can see how big the demand is.

“The focus will now be on developing the system and adding more features to the mix.

“We have already invested £250,000 in its development, and I can see us doubling this figure, as we look to take advantage of being ‘first to market’.”

Managing director Pete Spillard said: “The future releases will include tacho downloads, driver behaviour telematics, vehicle faults and diagnostics through the telematics, tyre pressure monitoring and enhancements on the alerts.

"Then the final release will include working with BigChange to allow the vehicle faults to automatically schedule a repair and booking with the local dealer.

“All of these developments are creating a paradigm shift in terms of how fleets are managed and tracked.”