Next adopt YellowJacket

BRE is an international, multi-disciplinary, building science organisation with a mission to improve buildings and infrastructure through research and knowledge generation. On 18 December 2018, BRE announced that fashion and lifestyle brand Next had become the first retailer to use their YellowJacket software.

YellowJacket is part of SmartSite, BRE’s health, safety and environment software suite for construction site monitoring and reporting. It uses automated and adaptable software that allows users to record and raise issues onsite, in real time. It provides organisations with a digital solution for managing and improving site health and safety by supporting effective day-to-day management of safety and quality procedures and encouraging site-wide safe behaviours.

With more than 500 stores nationwide, Next has a significant number of construction and refurbishment projects at any time, and it employs a substantial supply chain of contractors across the country. The retailer had been using a paper-based system to audit and record health and safety on site, which proved problematic as it allowed issues to slip through the net, unresolved.

BRE were approached by Next in their search for a solution that would improve the management of safety issues and provide a better quality assurance process.

Adopting the YellowJacket system has created an in-depth process for incident reporting and auditing, with mobile functionality to help project managers understand the status of health and safety actions while out on site.

Next hopes the use of YellowJacket will extend beyond site safety staff and contractors, to employees in its 500+ stores. By including employees and contractors from all ends of the supply chain on a single platform, the software enables Next to create a community in which safety and repair issues can be reported and actioned cohesively with ease.

A Next spokesperson said; “The system is now used by Next project managers to drive safe working practices on site during all development and improvement works. YellowJacket has been invaluable in auditing and tracking compliance with both legal and company safety standards, whilst driving a real sense of ownership and accountability where improvements are required.”

A BRE spokesperson said; “Working with our first retailer demonstrates the adaptability of YellowJacket in a range of industries, proving the software can be tailored to meet specific needs of organisations and focus on improving efficiency throughout supply chains.”

YellowJacket is suitable for organisations of all sizes across sectors including; retail, infrastructure, facilities, hospitality, logistics and construction. It is ideal for any organisation looking to improve safety, achieve quality standards or deliver environmental targets.