This month we’re focusing on the emerging differentiator in the market – user experience (UX). We’ve always championed excellent customer support; from enquiry to rollout and well beyond. Now that seamless technological integration is widely expected, it’s our UX that really makes us stand out in a crowd.
We’re also covering recent events and how we are able to support clients with our GIS capability and experience that goes well beyond route optimisation.
Enjoy the read – and if you need us, you know where we are!
It has been our absolute pleasure to assist Oadby & Wigston Borough Council with a highly successful rollout of our SmartSuite software solution.
Oadby & Wigston Borough Council cover part of Leicestershire with a population of around 60,000. Their team approached us in 2025 with a view to utilising several modules of our SmartSuite solution, including Webview, Jobs Management and In-cab Service Verification and Navigation.
Our work with the team at Oadby & Wigston really highlighted our commitment to excellent customer service. The roll out included face to face training, constant contact throughout and “boots on the ground” problem-solving.
Read the full case study here.
“Integrated Skills stand out because of their excellent software, but also their customer service. We felt supported and heard from day one as we were able to speak to Jonathan directly throughout. We can drop him a message and be confident of a response within the working day, with all of our ideas taken on board and put into future plans.
They were flexible in accommodating a few delays on our end, went the extra mile by meeting with us in person to train teams and solve problems, and are just generally great to work with.“
Dominique Druce, System Support Officer at Oadby & Wigston
“The team at Oadby & Wigston now have enhanced visibility via real time driver reporting, optimised in cab routes, and clear communication of assisted collections and service updates directly to drivers.”
Implementation Consultant, Jonathan Uttley
As integrations become simpler and more accessible, client-focus is shifting. The question is no longer: “Can your systems seamlessly integrate?” Instead, the question is now: “Who can deliver the best experience for the staff handling the tech day-to-day?”
This was the key theme of our 30th April webinar, “SmartSuite – Minimal Touch, Maximum Impact”. Integrations are now expected as standard – the real differentiator is the quality of the user experience. This is exactly where SmartSuite has been designed to stand apart.
As discussed throughout the webinar, SmartSuite is built around the principle of “minimal touch, maximum impact”. The software quietly handles the complexity in the background, allowing drivers, crews, supervisors, and back-office teams to focus on their work rather than wrestling with technology.
At Integrated Skills (an employee-owned company) we take user experience extremely seriously, so this became the focus of our recent blog.
At the heart of our commitment is the ongoing evolution of SmartSuite’s user experience (UX). Working closely with customers, our development and design teams are creating a next-generation interface that is more intuitive, consistent and efficient for operational users.
The focus is on reducing clicks, simplifying workflows and presenting the right information at the right time; helping teams complete tasks quicker and with greater confidence. By combining modern design principles with real-world operational feedback, SmartSuite continues to evolve in ways that support productivity, adoption and long-term customer success.
From implementation and onboarding through to day-to-day support, our focus is always on creating long-term partnerships that genuinely support operational teams. Our clients receive ongoing support, designed to help them continue creating value from their systems long after go-live.
Clients receive as standard:
This approach results in quick resolutions and builds long-term working relationships. Our clients are never left navigating operational challenges alone.
We’ve attended and sponsored multiple events since our last newsletter did the rounds – here’s a what we’ve been up to:
Feb 2026: APSE Street Cleansing Seminar
As proud sponsors, we had a fantastic day with APSE – a great way to spend a Thursday in Solihul! One of our clients, Geoffrey Knight (Environment and Design Manager at Durham County Council) gave a great talk entitled “Sweeping Change: How Technology Is Transforming Street Cleansing Services in Durham” and we met with established, new and prospective clients throughout the day.
March 2026: Ordnance Survey Partner Conference
As a long standing Ordnance Survey partner, we attended the annual partner conference at OS HQ near Southampton. A great day full of insightful talks, meetings and even a little fun.
April 2026: Small Posts and Islands Postal Forum
We have supplied route optimisation software to the parcel and postal sector for over 15 years, including well-known names such as DX Group, CTT (Portugal Post), Isle of Man Post and MaltaPost.
For several years, we have proudly sponsored the Forum, led by Derek Osborn (a long-respected figure within the global small posts and islands community). The forum brings together CEOs, COOs and other senior executives to collaborate on shared operational challenges, exchange practical insights, and advance common strategic goals.
May 2026: IFAT
This was well worth the flight to Munich! We had a brilliant response from attendees as they visited our stand to find out more about ISL. We came away with strengthened relationships and plenty of inspiration.
Did you know we work with the cities of Leipzig and Chemnitz amongst others to optimise their street cleansing, waste and recycling operations?
May: Utility Week Live
We settled into the Birmingham NEC to joined the Ordnance Survey team on their stand, showcasing our software portfolio: RouteSmart Route Optimisation, Trafficworx, Highwayworx and Emergencyworx.
As the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) continues to develop across the UK, the scheme administrator, “Exchange for Change”, are considering the operational and logistical challenges it may bring.
Integrated Skills are well-versed in this space already.
We supported Zero Waste Scotland with planning the (now defunct) Deposit Return Scheme, delivering drive time analysis, detailed route plans and infrastructure analysis to help determine the most efficient logistics network and minimise operational costs.
Our team can support organisations with a range of GIS services including location analytics, heat mapping and drivetime analysis – not just route optimisation.
Whether you need support identifying the best locations for facilities, understanding catchment areas, planning collection infrastructure, or creating efficient routes for non-waste services, we can help turn complex data into practical operational decisions.
Newcastle – From Cab to Quad
Hot off the press: After deploying SmartSuite for their waste and street cleansing services, our innovative customers at Newcastle City Council are taking an innovative approach to weed control…
The team are trialling the use of SmartSuite with their fleet of quad bikes! The same in-cab system that has transformed day-to-day operations for the waste management team will now optimise routes for their weed spraying team.
We are impressed!
Would you like to know more about June 2026 Newsletter: UX, Recent Events and SmartSuite Mobile on Quad Bikes? Fill in your details below and let us know how we can help.
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