Lanes Group deploys over 100 digital workflows to improve safety and make annual savings of over £300K

"We've seen a huge drop in the number of at-fault claims, and a significant improvement in our ability to defend non-fault claims. The data speaks for itself: In the same 6-month period from the previous year, our payouts have dropped by £125,000. And, a significant number of would-be 50/50 claims, are now classed as non-fault claims."  Andrew Brierley, Technical Director, Lanes Group

Standout benefits

• £300K+ saved annually through insurance reductions (£250K) and workflow automation (£60K+)

• 111 workflows digitised that process 65,000+ monthly submissions (3.8 million projected annually by 2025)

• £7.2 million of equipment protected with Asset Tracking, plus £60K saved from theft/loss prevention

• 63% of customer complaints proven false through AI Dash Cam verification

• Top 25% of safest fleets according to Samsara's Fleet Safety Score

A commitment to service, safety, and excellence

Lanes Group is one of the leading wastewater utility solutions providers and the largest independent drainage specialist in the UK. As a vital part of the UK's infrastructure, their services impact millions of daily lives. When something critical blocks or breaks, Lanes Group ensures these essential services are restored as quickly as possible.

However, managing such critical operations across 55 depots with 4,000 employees and a growing fleet was becoming increasingly challenging. The company faced mounting problems with road incidents, operational inefficiencies, and lack of visibility into their widespread operations.

Teams were jumping between multiple applications for different tasks, from safety checks to timesheets. Health and safety data existed in silos across different systems, with paper-based forms creating delays and confusion. "We had multiple health and safety systems throughout the business. None of them were joined up together and we had silos of data, as well as paper-based forms," explains Mo Dawood, Group IT Director.

The lack of fleet visibility was particularly costly. Without dash cam evidence, the company struggled to defend against false insurance claims, leading to unnecessary payouts. Equipment worth thousands of pounds would go missing for weeks with no way to track it. Vehicle incident reports took weeks to process, delaying insurance claims and resolution.

Lanes Group needed a smart solution that would help drivers improve their behaviour, provide teams with real-time data for coaching, reduce administrative burden, and ultimately lower incident claims and insurance premiums.

From fragmented systems to unified excellence

Lanes Group found their solution in Samsara's comprehensive platform. Starting with AI Dash Cams and Vehicle Gateways for crucial fleet visibility, the immediate impact on safety and insurance claims was dramatic.

Since installing Samsara, Lanes Group has seen a reduction in the frequency and severity of incidents, recently featuring in the top 25% of safest fleets according to Samsara's annual Fleet Safety Score. The team has also been able to lower their premiums and reduce the average cost of each claim by £1,000—generating an annual insurance saving of £250K.

"We've seen a huge drop in the number of at-fault claims, and a significant improvement in our ability to defend non-fault claims. The data speaks for itself: In the same 6-month period from the previous year, our payouts have dropped by £125,000," said Andrew Brierley, Technical Director.

But Lanes Group didn't stop at basic fleet tracking. They implemented Connected Workflows to consolidate four different systems into a single platform, digitising 111 different forms that now process over 65,000 submissions monthly.

"Connected Workflows has transformed how we operate. 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," says Dawood.

The transformation included innovative employee wellbeing checks. Through digital forms, employees indicate their wellbeing status daily, with the system automatically alerting a qualified psychologist if someone needs support — ensuring crucial contact within the hour.

"It demonstrates to our employees that they're not just a number,  they're part of the Lanes family," says Dawood. "This has a knock-on effect on driver retention. It shows loyalty from the business."

Measurable impact across every operation

Beyond the £250K in annual insurance savings, workflow automation has delivered additional cost reductions of £60,000 on a single contract alone.

"On one contract alone we've saved around £5,000 a month in terms of the cost of time spent on driver management and administration," said Andrew Smith, WNS Fleet Manager.

Vehicle incident processing time has plummeted from weeks to just five minutes. When an incident occurs, drivers submit details via the app, triggering immediate alerts to fleet managers who can access footage and submit documentation to insurance companies the same day. Daily vehicle checks have also been dramatically streamlined — what used to take up to an hour now takes just 10 minutes thanks to digitised walkarounds.

AI Dash Cams have proven invaluable for driver protection, with 63% of customer complaints now proven false through video evidence. "Our drivers love that 63% of customer complaints were false - it proves to them that we are here for their protection," notes Amber Kirkby, Fleet Systems Team Leader.

Asset tracking using Samsara AT11s has also delivered extraordinary value, protecting £7.2 million worth of specialised equipment while saving an additional £60,000 annually from theft and loss prevention. Equipment that previously took weeks to locate is now found in minutes. "We have grown with Samsara, meaning we can standardise more processes, and put everything in one platform with one source of data. I can't imagine the way they did it before," says Kirkby.

Positioned for sustainable growth

With recent contract wins including Southern Water and Yorkshire Water, Lanes Group will handle 70% of all UK water utility repairs and maintenance. They're already exploring new applications, including geofencing capabilities to optimise waste disposal routes.

"Using geo-fencing to trigger alerts when vehicles are in the right disposal areas will allow us to be proactive. We can cut down on wasted trips and optimise routes for better efficiency and reduced environmental impact," explains Dawood.

The Samsara platform's flexibility allows rapid deployment of new workflows based on employee feedback, with projections of 3.8 million digital submissions by end of 2025, saving an estimated 475 trees annually.

"These aren't just efficiency gains. They show our people they're valued, which translates directly into better service for the millions who rely on us to keep their water flowing," concludes Dawood.

For Lanes Group, Samsara has proven that investing in technology delivers tangible returns — from substantial cost savings to improved safety ratings — while creating a more connected, efficient workplace that values both performance and people.