IMPROVING customer service and safety is going digital in Bradford thanks to a pioneering new system developed for Bradford Markets.

A new web-based system has been created to allow markets staff and traders to instantly log and report issues such as trip hazards, poor waste storage and disposal, sub-standard cleaning or housekeeping and maintenance problems.

All incidents including photographs will now be logged via a mobile device which are automatically sent to traders and markets management.

The new system will allow the Council’s Markets Service to remotely review all incidents and where necessary take action against persistent or repeat offenders.

Historically, reporting such incidents could involve time-consuming site visits, record checking and administration.

By logging issues in real time, the new system significantly reduces this process.

In a bid to continuously drive up service standards, Bradford Council’s Markets Service worked closely with software developer, Carr Design, to produce the new system which will be rolled out to all traders from April.

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: “This brilliant new software will improve the customer experience, enhance safety, cut administration times and reduce costs.

“It’s part of the council’s ongoing commitment to improve the health and safety and risk management of our indoor markets which already offer very high standards of safety and service.”

Rob Carr, Director of Carr Design Ltd and founder of the Market Manager software solution, said: “Markets typically don’t have any web-based solutions for monitoring incidents around the site and Market Manager addresses and solves these issues.

“We hope other markets across the UK will follow Bradford’s lead and see the benefits in the performance management of their market.”