Aplant Hire Co
Aplant Hire Co specializes in the manufacturing and rental of shoring solutions, proudly producing all shoring equipment in Australia. With branches in Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Melbourne, and Sydney, they provide a complete end-to-end service, including assessment, design and engineering, equipment delivery and pickup, as well as installation.
Business Location
VIC, QLD, NSW
Number of Branches
4
Number of Latner Users
32
Previous Software
Hire it Out
The Problem
Aplant Hire Co conducted a review of their internal processes and discovered inconsistencies between their Brisbane and Melbourne branches. However, one commonality was the reliance on paper-based processes for every step of the rental workflow.
From customer pricelists, rental quotes and contracts to off-hires & returns, transport movements, and inspections, everything was handwritten on carbon copies and manually entered into their rental software—often days after the event occurred.
Staff found themselves working outside of office hours to manually create reports and complete end-of-month tasks such as cycle billing and batch syncing with MYOB.
With plans to open a new branch in Sydney, Aplant Hire Co recognized the need for consistent processes across all locations and aimed to transition to a fully paperless system. This realization prompted their search for a cloud-based rental software solution to streamline operations and support their growth.
The Solution
The first priority was to streamline how Aplant Hire Co’s sales representatives created quotes for customers. All price lists were imported into the system, and sales reps began using the Latner CRM and Rental Quote module. With floor rates preloaded, controls were established to standardize pricing. Sales reps could now generate quotes and manage orders directly from their phone, tablet, or laptop, eliminating the need for handwritten orders.
Next, transport planning was transitioned from Excel sheets and a whiteboard to Latner’s transport allocation screen. Drivers started using tablets to manage deliveries, replacing traditional paper dockets with a fully digital workflow.
As part of the implementation, detailed pre-hire and post-hire digital checklists were introduced in the Latner mobile app. These ensured staff could efficiently inspect equipment for damage and verify quantities, automatically generating reports that could be shared with customers as needed.
Invoicing between Latner and MYOB was seamlessly integrated via API, enabling instant data synchronization and eliminating the need for overnight batching. The previously time-consuming cycle billing process was reduced from hours to just minutes, significantly improving efficiency.
General Manager, Aplant Hire Co - Paul Moggridge
At Aplant Hire Co, we recognized the need to modernize and align our business with current industry trends. While exploring options in hire software, we discovered Latner and had the privilege of joining during its early stages. This early involvement allowed us to provide valuable input on how the software could be tailored to better meet the specific needs of our industry. This collaborative approach reflects Mark and the Latner team’s commitment to creating a product shaped by real industry feedback rather than assumptions about what users might want.
Throughout this journey, the Latner team has consistently demonstrated exceptional support and responsiveness. They have been open to our suggestions, promptly addressing any issues, and ensuring a smooth transition from our previous software to Latner. Their dedication has made the entire process feel seamless.
I highly recommend Latner to any business seeking to streamline daily operations and unlock new opportunities within the hire industry.