A Trafford Park Operation Built for Precision
Interspan is a specialist provider of warehousing, freight forwarding, and contract packing services, operating a state-of-the-art facility in Trafford Park, Manchester. Its customer base includes major retailers and blue-chip clients, organisations that expect accuracy, speed, and compliance as standard, not as an added extra.
Interspan’s operation is deliberately broad, covering bonded storage, contract packing, distribution, and specialist value-added services that require disciplined processes and dependable reporting. The business also supports hazardous goods storage and handling, adding another layer of compliance and operational scrutiny.
That mix of activities creates a familiar pressure point for modern warehouse operators. As complexity increases, the systems running the warehouse either become a competitive advantage or a constraint. For Interspan, their on-premises WMS began to act as the limiting factor.
The mission was clear: build a warehouse operation where teams spend time optimising and improving flow, not wrestling with admin. The gap was that their existing system could not deliver the visibility or speed required for the next stage of growth.
Overcoming WMS Challenges Holding The Business Back
Manual effort replaced momentum
Interspan’s previous on-premises WMS drove manual workarounds. Manual order processing and picking added friction to fulfilment, increasing turnaround times and creating inefficiencies that were felt across the warehouse.
The operation also lacked real-time visibility. Without live insight into stock position and order status, teams have to spend time validating information before they can act. That slows down decision-making and makes it harder to provide confident answers to customers.
Compliance reporting was too slow
One of the most significant bottlenecks was compliance reporting, specifically COMAH-related reporting. Interspan described reports taking hours to generate, consuming valuable time and turning reporting into a disruption rather than a routine control mechanism.
When reporting takes hours, it does more than slow admin. It reduces the organisation’s ability to respond quickly, spot issues early, and keep compliance activity running smoothly alongside operational execution.
“We were holding ourselves back”
Interspan’s leadership framed the change as necessary because their existing WMS was preventing progress. The problem was not only the system itself, but what the system forced people to do: manual tasks, delayed visibility, and time spent producing information rather than using it.
“Our previous WMS was holding us back. Manual processes, limited visibility, and time-consuming reporting meant we were spending too much time on admin rather than optimising operations. We needed a system that could automate key processes, improve efficiency, and give us instant access to the data we need.”
– Jack Irwin, Managing Director
This is the tension moment in the story. Interspan’s ambition to serve major customers with precision and compliance was colliding with a system that could not scale in the way the business needed.
Guiding Interspan Toward WMS Transformation
Why Clarus WMS
Interspan evaluated multiple options, then selected Clarus WMS for three clear reasons evidenced in the source material: scalability, automation capability, and a proven track record in warehouse management.
The choice also matched the operational reality at Trafford Park. Interspan needed a system that could streamline workflows, enhance accuracy, and create real-time insight across the warehouse, including specialist areas such as bonded storage and hazardous goods handling.
The selection criteria reveals something important: Interspan was not looking for a feature checklist. It was looking for a system that would remove friction from the operation and free the team to focus on performance improvement.
A shared implementation focus
Clarus positioned the engagement as a collaboration centred on defined objectives: automating compliance reporting, improving visibility, and streamlining fulfilment by eliminating manual processes.
“Interspan had a clear vision for what they needed, a WMS that could automate compliance reporting, improve visibility, and streamline fulfilment. We worked closely with them to ensure the system delivered on those objectives, eliminating manual processes and giving them the tools they needed to operate more efficiently.”
– Tim Payne, CEO, Clarus WMS
Implementing The Solution: From Planning To Execution
Moving from on-prem to cloud
Interspan transitioned from an on-premises WMS to Clarus WMS, bringing real-time visibility and automation into the operation. The shift to cloud also supports ongoing scalability, reducing the constraints that often appear when on-prem systems require heavy IT involvement to evolve.
The implementation scope described is comprehensive. Rather than focusing on a single area, Clarus WMS is positioned as the operating backbone for multiple warehouse functions: inbound, storage, picking, shipping, billing, customer visibility, and compliance.
Automating warehouse workflows
The implemented capabilities include: label generation for improved traceability, suggested putaway to optimise placement, mixed pallet handling to support efficient storage and transport, and automated billing to improve invoicing accuracy and transparency.
These capabilities directly address Interspan’s earlier pain points. Where manual work previously slowed down fulfilment, the system introduces structure and automation. Where visibility was limited, the system provides live access to stock and order status. Where reporting took hours, the system is designed to compress reporting into a faster, scheduled format.
Scanning and location barcoding
Interspan is also barcoding warehouse locations and introducing handheld scanning devices. This change enables real-time data capture, which is a foundational improvement for stock accuracy and workflow speed.
Scanning supports process confirmation at the point of activity, reducing lag between action and system record, and helping teams maintain cleaner inventory truth. This is especially important in operations serving major retailers and handling regulated goods where traceability must stand up to scrutiny.
Compliance-ready capability
The implementation includes Hazchem and bonded warehouse management, supporting regulatory requirements and helping Interspan operate with stronger compliance control. With advanced reporting and scheduled reports, compliance evidence becomes faster to produce and easier to maintain.
Results Achieved: WMS Success In Action
Reporting time reduced by 90%
Interspan’s headline measurable outcome is a planned reduction in reporting time by 90%, achieved by moving from hours to minutes through advanced reporting and scheduled reporting capabilities.
It is important to treat this carefully in the narrative. The source states “reduce reporting time from hours to minutes” and the title claims “Cut Reporting Time by 90%”. If this 90% reduction has already been measured post go-live, it can be stated as an achieved result. If it is an intended outcome, it should be framed as a target until verified by operational data.
Real-time visibility and faster control
Interspan has gained real-time visibility through Clarus WMS, improving the ability to track inventory and fulfilment status without delay. This improves internal decision-making and customer service responsiveness, particularly important for blue-chip customers who expect accurate, timely information.
Automation reduces admin load
With automated processes across reporting, labelling, putaway, and billing, Interspan’s teams can redirect effort away from manual admin and toward operational optimisation, directly aligning with the motivation described by Jack Irwin.
A foundation for growth
The combined capability set, cloud WMS, client portal, advanced reporting, scanning, and compliance modules, positions Interspan for long-term scalability. The system resolves immediate bottlenecks and also creates an operational platform that can adapt as service lines expand and customer requirements evolve.
“A step change” in operations
Interspan’s leadership framed the implementation as more than an upgrade. It is described as a step change in how the business operates, anchored in visibility, automation, and efficiency.
“This isn’t just a system upgrade, it’s a step change in how we operate. Clarus has given us the visibility, automation, and efficiency we need to grow and better serve our customers.”
– Jack Irwin, Managing Director
Client Reflections And Lessons Learned
Compliance becomes operational, not disruptive
Interspan’s story highlights how compliance reporting can either create drag or become routine, depending on system capability. When COMAH reports take hours, reporting competes with operations. When reporting is scheduled and automated, compliance becomes part of the warehouse rhythm rather than an interruption.
Visibility changes customer experience
Real-time visibility impacts customer experience as much as internal efficiency. When Interspan can see stock and order status instantly, it can respond faster and with greater confidence. For major retailers and blue-chip customers, that transparency becomes part of the value proposition.
Automation creates headroom
Automation is not only about labour reduction. It is about creating headroom for better management. Interspan’s initial problem was spending too much time on admin rather than optimisation. A WMS that automates core processes changes where leadership attention goes, away from firefighting and toward improvement.
Your Path To WMS Success
Interspan’s transition from an on-premises WMS to Clarus WMS shows what modern warehouse operations can unlock when manual burden is replaced with real-time visibility and automated workflows. The Trafford Park operation now has a foundation designed for accuracy, compliance, and scalable service delivery, with advanced reporting positioned to reduce reporting time dramatically and support faster decision-making.
If your operation is constrained by manual reporting, limited real-time visibility, or fulfilment processes that rely on workarounds, the lesson is clear. A cloud WMS can remove friction, strengthen compliance control, and give teams the data and automation they need to optimise, not just operate.
Discover how Clarus WMS can help your warehouse reduce admin, speed up reporting, and deliver the transparency and efficiency that modern customers expect.