Productivity rises at Peterborough robotics firm as it bins paperwork

Food manufacturing robotics experts OAL, based in Southgate Way, in Orton Southgate, undertook the clear-out as part of a move to digitise its operations at the start of the first covid lockdown,

The company also equipped its open-plan offices with 14 fully-equipped pods, each with air conditioning, allowing one person to work safely but still able to collaborate with colleagues and customers through video calls and shared documents.

The company secured £48,000 through the Covid-19 Capital Grants Scheme from the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority to meet the costs of digitising the business and transforming the offices to make the workplace covid-secure.

Managing director Harry Norman said: “We were able to make the most of the quieter period at the height of the lockdown to streamline operations and take advantage of new technologies.

“This meant an end to old systems generating what amounted to around 14 square metres of paperwork and non-integrated software which made it difficult for our teams to work collaboratively.

“This grant has been extraordinarily important for the future of our business. People are now doing in two hours what it might have take them all day to do before. We’re estimating productivity gains of about 20 per cent.”

CPCA Mayor James Palmer said: “OAL has created the most innovative, paperless 21st century office.”