Yard Base was developed from first-hand vehicle recycling experience to help smaller, owner-operated yards move away from paper-based processes and reduce double handling. Built around simplicity, compliance and the realities of day-to-day yard operations, the platform aims to make digitalisation less daunting while helping recyclers save time and manage DEFRA requirements more efficiently.
Roman Drew, Manager at Truro Recycling, an operational vehicle recycling yard in Cornwall, discusses how his hands-on industry experience led to the development of Yard Base, a purpose-built software platform designed for smaller vehicle recycling and waste operators. He explains the challenges of digitalisation and DEFRA compliance, and why simplicity and real-world yard experience shaped the system from the outset.
Built on Real Yard Experience
My industry background is the foundation of Yard Base. I started working at the scrap yard every Saturday when I was 14, then left school at 16, did a joinery apprenticeship, but soon left and joined the yard. For the first year, I worked outside on the metals and learned how a yard runs. It wasn’t until I recognised how unorganised the office was that I decided to step in. I went from pen and paper to using accounting software. I spent years getting annoyed by all the double handling.
I’d get a call for a car to be collected, write it all down, and then the driver would lose the ticket, so I’d have to input everything again. My experience on the phones and the bridge has helped me build a system from the perspective of someone living it day to day, in real time.
Why the Industry Needed Something Different
Most waste software is built by people in tech; they don’t know our industry the way I do. For 10 years I’ve processed more tickets than I care to remember, and it always involved spreadsheets or more paper on the desk. I wanted to get rid of it all; it was on our yard every day. Waste software has been built for top-of-funnel yards, not small yards like mine that want something easy and uncomplicated.
Speaking the Industry’s Language
Our industry is unique and hard to understand unless you’re in the thick of it; it’s taken me years to fully understand different parts of the yard, and I still manage to learn something new every day. Every time I pick the phone up to chat with someone about Yard Base, I’m instantly relatable; I’ve normally answered all their questions before they’ve asked them, and that’s because I know their language.
Built for Smaller Yards
There’s no doubt Yard Base is built for smaller, owner-operated yards. These yards are old-school, and I get it: pen and paper or it didn’t exist- that kind of people. My family have been in this industry their whole lives, and telling someone who has handwritten tickets for 30 years that they now need to go digital is scary, but I get it. That’s why Yard Base does all the work for you.
Overcoming the Fear of Going Digital
The new DEFRA legislation has really shaken up the industry, but I believe it was needed. Many yards are still running behind the times, and it’s actually creating more work for them. I speak with yards regularly that have a huge backlog, but it’s always down to the systems they have in place, going back to my comments about double-handling everything. I have family who will be using Yard Base, and already they can’t believe how much time they’ve saved. From conversations I’ve been having, the biggest resistance comes from the data and security aspect; it’s out of their depth, and it scares them. They hear horror stories online about data breaches, etc., and it’s completely out of their control. Pen and paper have always felt safe for them.
Keeping Software Simple
Software can easily confuse me, and I’ve been building it! For me, software should be about making something easier and more efficient. Who wants to subscribe to something which makes their job harder? Definitely not me. For me, Yard Base is about doing the job; imagine your first step into a digital world.
These yards don’t need a thousand reports or overcomplicated language; they need ease. My role in the yard included being a technical competence manager, which ties in nicely with all the compliance and paperwork. I’ve spent many hours pre-filling data into Yard Base so yards don’t need to. Overcomplicating my software was the biggest non-negotiable.
Building Trust Through Social Media
My personal brand, ‘Recycle With Roman’, has been so important in building Yard Base. I’ve been able to get valuable feedback from my end users without even speaking to them. Industry friends are often baffled by my audience on TikTok, because I’m reaching yard owners without even trying. One day I’m posting about what I found in a scrap car, and the next I’m showing them a new feature on Yard Base. I never try to sell to them; it’s always natural and helpful. By doing this, enquiries roll in naturally.
Further Reading on ATF Professional
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EA Tightens Waste Tyre Export Rules – What ATFs Need to Know
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Meeting the Moment: The Ford Certified Used Parts Store Is Live
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Scrapco Red Lodge Invests in Depollution Equipment to Meet Rising EV and ELV Demand
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ASM Auto Recycling Retains Highest FORS Gold Standard as Investment in Drivers and Sustainability Continues
