Bunzl Canada Launches National Hygiene Compliance Platform
New IoT solution rolled out to warehouse operations to verify and validate cleaning protocols
BURLINGTON, ON, June 18, 2020 /CNW/ - Bunzl Canada (bunzlcanada.ca) today announced the phased rollout of its digital cleaning management system, WandaMOBILE™, to major distribution centres across Canada.
As an essential link in Canada's grocery, safety, and cleaning & hygiene supply chain, keeping its buildings and vehicles clean and hygienic to protect both employees and customers is vital for Bunzl. However, like most organizations, the national distributor struggled to easily verify and validate cleaning program compliance. To solve that problem, Bunzl collaborated with its development partner, Visionstate IoT, on the WandaMOBILE™ application.
Accessible from any mobile device, WandaMOBILE™ contains the specific cleaning protocols for each warehouse facility and vehicle fleet, including both tasks and frequencies. Staff can easily enter cleaning activities as they are completed. Managers can quickly and conveniently view compliance dashboards to verify that necessary activities are taking place to keep facilities clean, healthy and safe. The system is designed to focus cleaning efforts, improve effectiveness and promote compliance in any type of facility.
According to Bunzl's Senior Director of Operations, Tim McKinnon, the program pilot was highly successful. "We began this initiative in our Mississauga, Ontario facility. The first month was a learning curve - as expected, it took our team some time to get used to a new way of doing things. But by week four, our cleaning program was running so well that our compliance rose to over 100%, and the feedback from our management team and employees was really positive. Now we've begun a phased rollout, beginning with our five largest distribution centres across the country."
John Howlett, President of Bunzl Canada and a passionate proponent of the system, said it will be implemented in all of the company's office and warehouse locations by the end of the year. "If you can't measure it, you can't manage or improve it," he said. "The health and wellbeing of our employees and customers is our top priority and foremost concern. Digitally managing and monitoring cleaning program compliance enables us to maintain a cleaner, healthier and more hygienic work environment for our employees. That protects our customers, and gives them confidence when our vehicles arrive with their critical supplies."
WandaMOBILE™ is a component of the WandaNEXT™ system, comprised of robust analytics software and data collection components that include touchscreen tablets, infrared traffic counting units, the new mobile application and IoT alert buttons. Its configuration can be customized to meet specific facility management needs. The system's growing installation base includes healthcare, retail, commercial office, conference, airport and distribution facilities across Canada and the United States. It was also recently launched in the United Kingdom and Australia.
"WandaMOBILE™ is a powerful compliance management tool that helps to raise the standard of cleaning and hygiene in public spaces," said John Putters, CEO of Visionstate IoT. "The feature-rich technology continues to evolve to enable and support state of the art environmental management."
For more information on WandaMOBILE™ and the complete WandaNEXT™ system, visit www.bunzlcanada.ca/WandaNEXT.
About Bunzl Canada
Bunzl Canada Inc. (bunzlcanada.ca) provides the cleaning and hygiene products and equipment, food and retail packaging, safety products and industrial supplies which keep over 45,000 Canadian businesses running optimally, every day. The company brings its customers the advantage of global sourcing, product innovation and national scale combined with responsive local service and deep category expertise. Bunzl Canada Inc. is a division of Bunzl Distribution USA, LLC.
About Bunzl Distribution
Bunzl Distribution USA, LLC (bunzldistribution.com), headquartered in St. Louis, Mo., is the largest division of London-based Bunzl plc, an international distribution and outsourcing group. With more than 100 distribution centre throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean, Bunzl supplies a wide range of products to food processors, supermarkets, retailers, convenience stores and other users.
About Visionstate IoT
Visionstate Corp. (TSX-V: VIS) is a growth-oriented company that invests in the research and development of promising new technology in the realm of the Internet of Things, big data and analytics, and sustainability. Through Visionstate IoT, it helps businesses improve operational efficiencies, reduce costs and elevate customer satisfaction with its state of the art devices that track and monitor guest activities and requests. The footprint of its WANDA™ smart device now extends to hospitals, airports, shopping centres and other public facilities across and beyond North America. Through building up a collection of synergistic technologies, Visionstate Corp. will continue to innovate, reduce environmental impact and transform consumer experiences.
SOURCE Bunzl Canada
