Digital Job Bag

Revamping Operational Efficiency Kew Gardens

The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, a UNESCO World Heritage site, spans 121 hectares and houses the world’s largest collection of living plants. Despite their global reputation, their design department faced inefficiencies caused by a manually managed system. Handwritten job sheets and time-sheets led to redundant data entry, errors, and significant time wasted on tasks like approvals and reporting.

What We Did

To address these challenges, Cutting Edge Software developed a cross-platform “digital job bag” system tailored to meet Kew’s needs. The solution seamlessly integrated into their mixed-device environment, ensuring usability across both Windows PCs and Mac computers.

• Streamlined Job Tracking:
  Allowed managers and designers to access comprehensive job information from their computers.
• Single-Entry Data Management:
  Eliminated duplicate data entry, saving time and reducing errors.
• Designer Logs:
  Enabled designers to log time and materials directly against specific jobs.
• Manager Scheduling Tools:
  Provided managers with tools to allocate tasks and monitor designer workloads.
• Business Rule Enforcement:
  Ensured all jobs met internal charging and authorization standards, minimizing discrepancies.

The Results

The implementation of the digital job bag system revolutionized operational efficiency within the design department, providing measurable benefits:

• Time Savings:
  Monthly reporting now takes under an hour instead of a full day.
• Data Accuracy:
  Enforced business rules reduced errors and ensured compliance with internal processes.
• Increased Productivity:
  Managers gained access to detailed reports, enabling informed decision-making and effective resource allocation.
• Cross-Platform Accessibility:
  Supported seamless usage on Windows and Mac, ensuring all team members could utilize the system.

Cutting Edge Software’s tailored solution not only addressed Kew’s immediate operational challenges but also provided a scalable framework to support future growth.