How Gregory Distribution scaled from 1,000 to 3,500 employees without adding HR headcount

The challenge

The workforce management
challenge at Gregory Distribution

As one of the UK’s leading transport and logistics companies, Gregory Distribution needed to streamline time and attendance across its growing workforce.

All HR operations, from rotas to holiday requests, were paper-based. Managing 1,000 employees across 30 depots meant countless manual processes, compliance risks and lost time.

The company also wanted to strengthen depot security through a digitised access control system.

The solution

Crown’s integrated approach to
time, attendance and access

Crown implemented an automated time and attendance system that allows employees to clock in and out via mobile, vital for 2,000 remote drivers. Within the same system, staff can now:

• Apply for holidays and record absences
• Automatically track time for payroll integration
• Gain real-time visibility into workforce data

To enhance site security, Crown’s access control and ANPR cameras were deployed across all 30 depots, ensuring only authorised staff access vehicles and goods. All systems are backed by dedicated support, both virtual and on-site.

The results

The results – Efficient growth
and empowered teams

With Crown’s platform in place, Gregory Distribution has been able to expand from 1,000 to 3,500 employees without increasing HR headcount, a major operational efficiency. What was once a manual, paper-heavy process is now a streamlined digital workflow that saves the HR department around 37.5 hours every week.

This efficiency has allowed HR to focus on higher-value initiatives such as performance development reviews and employee wellbeing programs, rather than administrative tasks.

The system’s real-time insights also help managers spot patterns in absence data and open proactive wellbeing conversations with staff. And with automated scheduling across 2,000 drivers, Gregory can ensure every shift is covered without the risk of over- or under-resourcing.

For Gregory Distribution, Crown’s solution has turned workforce complexity into operational clarity
that supports sustainable growth, enhanced security and a better experience for employees across
the business.