Seamless Nationwide Mobilisation: Delivering 86 Hydration Stations Across DPD’s UK Depot Network

The Ask

DPD required a new hydration partner to take over the water contract across its UK depot network. With drivers and warehouse teams working long, demanding shifts, reliable access to drinking water was essential across all sites. The business had experienced ongoing frustrations with its previous supplier, including:

• Repeated service and repair issues
• Cleaning schedules not being completed
• Filter changes missed for several years despite a service agreement
• Missed SLA commitments
• Poor communication and account management
• Invoicing issues
• Difficulty contacting anyone to resolve problems

DPD went to market looking for a supplier who could deliver a large-scale national rollout with no disruption, while providing confidence that service standards would be maintained long term.

The Solution

2468 Group presented a clear mobilisation plan focused on speed, control, communication, and zero disruption to depot operations.

Nationwide Rollout Programme

2468 mapped a full installation plan across 86 UK locations covering all current DPD sites. We designed and delivered a 6-week rollout schedule to de-rig old units and install new hydration equipment on time. The 2468 Install Team communicated schedules in advance with DPD site leaders and maintained regular progress updates throughout the project. We held fortnightly review meetings and issued weekly install trackers to ensure all stakeholders remained fully informed.

Zero Disruption Changeover

• Adapted quickly to changing site layouts, new locations, and evolving depot requirements
• Removed old units, positioned them for collection, and immediately installed replacement units to avoid loss of water supply
• Prioritised sites with broken equipment or urgent issues as first installations

Premium & Sustainable Hydration

• Installed a new fleet of Elkay bottle fillers across the estate
• Custom branded units in DPD red with company logos for a consistent, professional finish
• Enabled drivers and depot teams to refill reusable bottles, reducing reliance on single-use plastics and supporting sustainability goals

Long-Term Service Control

• Added every installation to an automated SLA management system to track: planned maintenance, filter changes, cleaning schedules, repairs and breakdown response times

The Outcome

• 86 hydration stations successfully mobilised across the UK, delivered on schedule and without disruption.
• Staff and drivers maintained continuous access to water throughout the changeover period.
• DPD gained confidence in a supplier with structured communication, reliable execution, and strong account management.
• Improved compliance through automated tracking of cleans, filters, and service events.
• Enhanced depot environments with branded, high-quality bottle fillers.
• Reduced single-use plastic waste while keeping a large national workforce hydrated every day.

This project demonstrated 2468 Group’s ability to mobilise complex national contracts the right way — on time, fully tracked, and stress-free for the client.