Customer Story: Aggreko

Aggreko is a global supplier of temporary power, temperature control, and energy solutions headquartered in Glasgow, Scotland. Recently, they started optimizing their document generation processes.  

We spoke with Andrew Nixon, Salesforce Center of Excellence Leader at Aggreko, to understand how implementing PDF Butler helped transform their Salesforce document generation process. 

Andrew oversees all Salesforce-related activities at Aggreko. His responsibilities encompass the development, health, support, and adoption of the platform. He ensures that all business demands are met with secure, scalable, and supportable solutions, and he leads a team to push for innovation and seamless integration with various systems. 

Challenges Faced  

Before implementing PDF Butler, Aggreko faced several challenges with document generation: 

• Multiple Tools: They used various tools. While one was relatively manageable, the other tool was unfriendly and slow. 

• Manual Coding: A significant portion of document creation was done through Visualforce pages and Apex code, which was not scalable or easily supportable, leading to prolonged change cycles. 

• Lack of Standardization: Aggreko wanted to centralize and standardize document generation across the business, but fragmented systems made this difficult. 

The Search for a Solution 

Andrew discovered PDF Butler through the Salesforce AppExchange and recommendations from his professional network. This dual endorsement encouraged him to explore the tool further. Working with Luke Henaghan from PDF Butler, Andrew found the procurement process straightforward and transparent, leading to a smooth decision-making journey. 

“We needed a solution to create various documents in different formats (Word, Excel, and PDF) pulling data from various Salesforce object records. After trialing several products, we went with PDF Butler due to its strong feature set, relatively simple setup, and responsive support and sales team.” Andrew shared. 

Implementation Process 

The implementation of PDF Butler was notably seamless: 

• Proof of Concept (POC): Aggreko defined their requirements and built a POC within weeks, leveraging the support and resources provided by PDF Butler, including PDF Butler Academy. 

• Ease of Use: The user-friendly nature of PDF Butler allowed non-developers to make changes to documents, freeing up developers to focus on more critical tasks. 

• Agility: The agility gained from using PDF Butler meant faster turnaround times for document changes and updates, improving internal customer satisfaction. 

Implementing PDF Butler at Aggreko resulted in significant benefits, including time savings, increased flexibility, and enhanced scalability. 

Andrew also said, “The support from PDF Butler was exemplary, making the go-live and subsequent development phases uneventful in the best possible way.” 

Use Cases  

Aggreko now uses PDF Butler to generate: 

• Opportunity Pipeline Documents: Detailed sales inquiry forms with hundreds of questions, driving decisions across teams. 

•  Transactional Quotes: Thousands of daily quote documents are created and delivered efficiently. 

These documents drive decisions and involve multiple teams. Although the volume in this segment is around 100 documents per month, the transactional side of the business generates thousands of quotes daily. 

Advice for Others 

Andrew’s advice to others considering a similar solution is to ensure clarity of requirements and leverage the support and resources available from PDF Butler. He stated, “The tool’s ability to reduce dependency on developers and speed up the document generation process makes it a valuable asset for any organization looking to streamline its operations.” 

Conclusion 

Aggreko’s journey with PDF Butler highlights the transformative impact of adopting the right document generation tool. By centralizing and standardizing their processes,  

Andrew’s advice? Define your needs clearly, leverage the support offered, and take full advantage of the PDF Butler Academy. 

“I would highly recommend PDF Butler to anyone looking to generate documents from Salesforce.”