The UK’s Strategic Road Network (SRN) is essential for maintaining the flow of goods, services, and people across the country, but challenges such as rework, delays, and job cancellations continue to disrupt operations and place pressure on public spending.

Additionally, the resources required to demonstrate safety compliance through traditional methods of paperwork slow down work execution. These issues not only hinder the timely completion of projects but also contribute to significant economic costs. National Highways estimates that time lost to delays on the network costs society around £3 billion per year, with roadworks accounting for approximately 15% of these delays, translating to a substantial financial burden.

Contractors and National Highways must address these challenges to improve efficiency and ensure that the SRN operates smoothly. This requires more than just managing the physical infrastructure; it involves leveraging advanced digital tools to optimise job planning, enhance collaboration, and minimise rework. By using FYLD’s AI-powered platform, contractors can achieve better planning accuracy, reduce delays, and ultimately contribute to a more reliable and efficient road network.

Opportunities in managing the Strategic Road Network

While managing the SRN presents challenges, it also offers significant opportunities for improvement, particularly through adopting digital tools that enhance efficiency and collaboration among contractors and National Highways.

National Highways is focused on optimising asset data and enhancing supply chain coordination to meet the demands of the RIS 2 strategy. These areas are critical for meeting target dates for enhancement projects under the RIS 2 strategy.

FYLD supports these efforts by improving data accuracy, minimising rework, and enhancing job execution through AI-powered workflows. 

The importance of real-time data and visibility

Real-time data and visibility are critical for making informed decisions and ensuring timely interventions. Through FYLD’s AI-based notification feature, FYLD provides immediate site-visibility to managers and control centres when they need it most, delivering a 71% reduction in remote-response time, and a 35% reduction in job completion time, directly contributing to more efficient and reliable project execution on the SRN. This real-time insight also helps in reducing rework, with a reported 15% decrease in rework among contractors using FYLD.

Moreover, accurate asset data and real-time visibility can directly influence job planning, reducing the risk of delays and rework. This, in turn, leads to fewer disruptions on the road network, contributing to better overall performance against key KPIs, such as the average delay per vehicle mile, which currently stands at 9.5 seconds.

Digital transformation: the FYLD solution

Digital transformation is not just a buzzword; it is essential for addressing the challenges faced by the SRN. AI-powered work execution platforms like FYLD provide real-time visibility, enhance data accuracy, and streamline communication across teams and organisations.

Industry leaders like Colas and Kier have successfully implemented FYLD’s AI-driven tools to revolutionise planning and safety in road maintenance. In recognition of these efforts, FYLD, in partnership with Kier, won an award from National Highways,the Highways Awards, and the Chartered Institute of Highways and Transportation, centred around delivering productivity improvements on the SRN. FYLD has also recently been shortlisted for the Digital Transformation Award at  the Highways Awards this year in collaboration with Colas and National Highways. These accolades celebrate the significant impact FYLD has made in improving working practices, service outcomes, and overall productivity within the highways sector.

By integrating AI-powered, smart workflows and real-time hazard assessments, these contractors have significantly reduced rework, improved safety compliance, and enhanced operational efficiency. This digital transformation not only supports National Highways in meeting KPIs but also ensures faster, safer, and more reliable road network services for the public.

The benefits of FYLD for national highways and contractors

FYLD’s platform delivers significant benefits to National Highways and contractors, driving both immediate and long-term improvements. Contractors have reported an 8% productivity uplift, leading to an estimated £4.3 million in productivity savings in just one year. Additionally, a 25% reduction in supervisor travel time has resulted in more efficient project management and resource allocation. These gains not only help meet current KPIs but also prepare the SRN for future challenges, ensuring a more resilient and effective road network.

By minimising road network disruption and enabling first-time-right job completion, FYLD significantly reduces rework, enhancing overall productivity. This efficiency allows contractors to complete more projects on time and with fewer delays, ultimately contributing to a more reliable and efficient SRN.

At FYLD, we’re committed to driving innovation in road maintenance and response. By partnering with contractors and National Highways, we offer AI-powered solutions that address the sector’s most pressing challenges—from minimising road network disruption to maximising productivity and ensuring the highest operational efficiency. Our platform is designed to meet and exceed industry KPIs, ensuring faster, safer, and more reliable road networks.

Transform your road maintenance operations with FYLD—contact us today to book a demo and discover how our solutions can benefit your organisation.