When a sewer backs up – or a collapsed drain threatens to flood a street – few people stop to think about who’s going to fix it. But for Lanes Group, one of the UK’s leading wastewater specialists, responding to these emergencies is what they do best. 

By tapping into Samsara’s Connected Operations Platform – which provides real-time visibility of vehicle locations and driver status – the business is able to dispatch the closest and best-equipped team to the scene as soon as a call is logged. 

Up until a few years ago, these call-outs would have been coordinated using a combination of phone calls, fragmented IT systems, and paperwork. But in recent years the company has moved from paper-based processes to digital forms and automation – consolidating four different systems into a single platform.

That’s not all. The platform enables Lanes’ front-line teams to handle a range of operational tasks in one place – everything from filling out safety checks to completing timesheets. Health and safety data – which once existed in silos, making it difficult to get a comprehensive view of operations – is now available at a glance on a smartphone or tablet. 

Modernising operations with connected technology 

"Connected Workflows have transformed how we operate,” said Mo Dawood, Group IT Director, Lanes Group. “We've gone from siloed data and manual processes to a unified system that enables real-time action. That's the power of automation with purpose." 

And it means Lanes can continue doing what it does best – responding to its customers and fixing infrastructure problems so residents and businesses can get on with their lives. 

For most people, that would be the end of the story. But for the people at Samsara, knowing that Lanes is using their technology to operate more safely, more efficiently, and more sustainably is exactly what inspires them to do their job. 

“Samsara is the underlying connected platform that customers use to connect everything – be they vehicles, assets, or the guys out on the road trying to fix the problems,” said John Mills, Regional Sales Director.“We are the glue that pulls all that together. And I think that’s a really exciting place to be.” 

But Lanes is just one example where Samsara’s technology – and the people behind it –  make a difference in the real world.

Behind almost every parcel or lorry delivery, every infrastructure repair, and every logistics operation that keeps the world turning, there’s someone solving a complex problem. 

“From renting a vehicle at the airport to receiving a delivery, there are thousands of transport managers and drivers who made it all possible,” said Ruthie Ayres, Samsara Enterprise Account Executive. “And we're here helping them build safer, more efficient, and sustainable operations. And the most impactful thing about that for me is ensuring that they're getting home safely to their families.”

Technology with real-world impact

That sentiment is true for many who work for Samsara. Midland Tyre Services – Ireland’s largest independently owned supplier of truck, agricultural, and off-the-road tyres – attends over 10,500 breakdowns every year. But its frontline role in keeping things moving came at a cost. 

“We were experiencing a high accident rate and, as a result, sky-high insurance premiums,” said Chief Commercial Officer, Chris Parle. “It wasn’t sustainable, we knew we had to change our approach.”  

Following a review of its operations, Midland Tyre invested in Samsara. And since then, the business hasn’t looked back. 

“Samsara gives us a powerful pair of eyes across our entire fleet,” said Parle.“ It’s helped us resolve issues and respond to callouts much faster. We can share tracking data through dispatch links so our customers and technicians have a clear view of the nearest vehicle responding. It’s great for transparency and having complete visibility over our drivers is a massive benefit.” 

Samsara underpins physical operations

Not only has Samsara helped Midland Tyre Services reduce road traffic accidents by 54% in two years, it’s also enabled them to renegotiate insurance premiums to keep costs low. For the people at Samsara, knowing that they have played a part in this transformation spurs them on to do more. 

“Our customers are important because they're there for every occasion – be that a fire, flood, or a roadside blow-out – physical operations still need to continue,” said Jonathan Ramsey, Regional Staff Solutions Marketing Manager. “And it’s great to work in an organisation like Samsara where we're helping to support those organisations in their mission.”

That sense of purpose – of making a real-world difference – is something you hear often among Samsara employees.

James Wright, Engineering Director at Samsara responsible for our Core Platform, has a self-confessed “deep customer obsession that informs [his] product strategy” that is only matched by a “rigorous focus on operational excellence.” 

Writing recently, he said: “The things that we do improve the daily experience of physical operations workers in the field. All those people who are out there every single day keeping lights on, constructing buildings, or moving goods from A to B — we’re making their experience better. 

“What we do at Samsara – whether it's saving lives through accident avoidance, driver awareness, automating millions of workflows, digitising things that were literally printed on paper and faxed to wherever – we make an impact. 

And he’s not alone in understanding the importance of the work Samsara does.

“What's very inspiring about working for Samsara is that we can have a real-world impact on the lives of our customers,” said Thomas Becker, Sr. Sales Engineer, Enterprise.

It’s what keeps engineers, product designers, customer success managers, and salespeople all aligned – knowing that their work, though often invisible to the public, has a visible effect in the real world. 

They’re not just developing software or using the latest technology to improve safety. They’re connecting the physical and digital worlds in ways that help businesses run better – and help people get home safely at the end of the day. 

So, what does it mean to work for Samsara? It means enabling and supporting the people who keep the world moving so that they’re safer, more efficient and more sustainable – even when no one’s watching.

Find out more about the impact Samsara employees make on the world of physical operations:

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