Normans Transport

Normans Transport has been a cornerstone of the Waikato logistics sector for more than half a century. Founded by Marie and Charlie Norman, and now owned by their son Adam, the business has grown from its family origins into a leading provider of transport, container movements, general freight, and specialised storage for dairy and animal products.

Today, Normans operates four storage facilities across Morrinsville, Hamilton, Rukahia, and the Bay of Plenty—all of which hold Approved Transitional Facilities (ATFs) for devanning import containers. Three of these sites also operate under strict Risk Management Programme (RMP) certification, enabling the team to handle everything from whole milk powder to fish derivatives destined for export markets with full compliance and traceability.

General Manager of Operations, Jackie Conaghan, explains that the business effectively runs two interconnected operations: a warehousing arm responsible for storage and compliance, and a transport arm that moves containers, general freight, and specialised freight throughout the region.

Paper Trails and Compliance Pressure

Before Accredo was fully embedded, Normans relied heavily on manual processes. Batch and serial tracking—essential for dairy compliance—was technically available but not being used. Staff were creating handwritten notes, and key modules, such as Sales Orders, weren’t switched on. For a business that stores regulated foodstuffs, this poses operational risk. Every batch must be traceable “from farm to consumer,” says Conaghan, and the old approach wasn’t robust enough.

The challenge wasn’t just compliance; it was visibility. Without structured batch, bin, and pallet tracking, answering simple questions like where a product was stored or how much of a batch remained required digging through paperwork or manually reconciling spreadsheets. As volumes grew, the manual approach became increasingly unsustainable.

Tailoring Accredo to the Normans Way

Normans had been using Accredo for more than 15 years, but the system wasn’t being used to its full capability. Working with their QSP, Solve, they began switching on modules, enabling batch/serial tracking, and building the customisations needed for a 3PL handling regulated goods. Accredo now sits at the centre of their warehousing operation, supporting everything from inbound shipments to compliance documentation.

Jackie describes the transformation as a complete shift in how the business operates. “Using Accredo, our inventory control is very sophisticated. It allows every batch serial coming in and out of the operation to be recorded properly.”

Accredo has been adapted to treat inbound product as customer‑owned stock—not supplier‑owned—a nuance that required thoughtful configuration. It also supports the way Normans invoices for handling, with inbound shipments automatically generating the correct charges.

Today, Accredo underpins key operational processes, including:

• Batch and serial tracking customised beyond the standard product

• Inbound shipments that automatically generate handling invoices

• Custom stock reports that allow date‑range visibility for any customer

• Forms and workflows aligned to RMP audit requirements

• Ferret data extraction integration to attach all paperwork to the correct orders

One of the biggest advantages for Normans is Accredo’s ability to flex. Conaghan, who has used SAP and Microsoft Dynamics AX in previous roles, is emphatic about the difference:

“Accredo outranks everyone. The ease of customising something to suit your business model is hands down the biggest selling point.”

Finance Runs on Accredo

On the finance side, Elaine Meeke, Finance Team Leader, describes Accredo as indispensable. Everything from Accounts Payable to reporting begins in Accredo, and the introduction of Ferret has dramatically reduced manual data entry. With around 5,000 invoices scanned per year, automation has freed staff to focus on higher‑value work. Meeke appreciates the system’s structure and logic, noting:

“I’m a fan of Accredo. It seems very logical. It’s easy to use and well set out.”

The recent rollout of the fixed assets module has also provided Normans with a single source of truth for its large fleet of trucks, trailers, and equipment. Instead of relying on external accountants to maintain registers, the team now manages depreciation and asset lifecycle internally, with all data at their fingertips.

Clear Visibility, Stronger Control

Accredo’s customised reporting has given Normans the visibility they need to run a compliant, efficient operation. They can instantly view stock by batch, pallet, or customer and run historical stock reports for any date range—an invaluable capability during audits or customer queries. All inbound and outbound paperwork is attached to the correct order, and the system supports MPI audits that occur every three to six months.

Accredo now provides:

• Instant visibility of stock by batch, pallet, and customer

• Historical reporting for any date range

• A single source of truth for fixed assets

• Complete traceability for compliance and dispute resolution

This visibility has strengthened compliance and reduced the risk of errors—essential in a business handling regulated foodstuffs.

A System Staff Actually Like Using

One unexpected benefit has been staff adoption. New hires who have used Accredo elsewhere are delighted to see it again, and even long‑time users find the transition smooth because the interface remains familiar. With more than 20 staff from warehouse teams to finance using the system daily, Accredo has become the operational backbone of the business. As Conaghan notes, it’s a telling sign when people join the company and immediately express relief that Accredo is in place.

Keeping a 52‑Year‑Old Business Moving Forward

For Normans Transport, Accredo isn’t just software—it’s the system that keeps their warehousing and compliance operation running smoothly. With tailored workflows, strong traceability, and a structure that grows with the business, Accredo helps Normans deliver the accuracy and reliability their customers expect. A family business with deep roots in the region now has the digital foundation it needs to keep moving freight—and the business—forward.