As part of our work with the Community Transport Association (CTA) Challenge, MCD Systems was invited to present at Innovation Tees Valley, a key event celebrating digital transformation and business innovation across the region. The event brought together leading businesses, innovators, and industry experts to share insights into how technology is driving change in sectors such as transport, logistics, and compliance.
Our Managing Director, Lyle McCalmont, took to the stage to deliver a talk, sharing how MCD tackled CTA’s data fragmentation challenges and developed a scalable digital platform to support standardised data collection and real-time reporting.
The Community Transport Association plays a vital role in ensuring accessible transport for vulnerable people across the UK, yet their ability to advocate for funding and demonstrate impact was hindered by inconsistent data collection across hundreds of transport providers. Each operator was logging data differently—some tracking individual stops, others only recording start and finish points, leading to gaps, inaccuracies, and inefficiencies. This inconsistency meant that CTA lacked the evidence needed to influence policy, secure funding, and prove the value of community transport services.
The challenge wasn’t just about building software—it was about creating a solution that worked for real people. Our approach focused on collaboration, flexibility, and designing technology around users, rather than forcing users to adapt to technology.
💡 Discovery & User-Centric Design – We spent time with CTA and transport providers, understanding their frustrations and workflows before designing any solution.
💡 Solving the Data Problem – We built a high-performance web-based platform that ensures consistent data entry, helping CTA finally get a clear, real-time view of their impact.
💡 Supporting Funding & Policy Influence – With standardised, structured data, CTA can now provide powerful, evidence-backed reports to policymakers, funders, and stakeholders.
💡 Applying Lessons to Other Industries – The issues faced by CTA are not unique. Many organisations—especially in compliance-heavy sectors like transport, logistics, and safety reporting—struggle with disconnected systems and inefficient reporting.
MCD Systems was also recognised at the event with the Innovative Small Business Award, highlighting our commitment to building digital solutions that solve real business challenges.
Want to learn more about how we work? Let’s talk about how digital innovation can help your organisation operate more efficiently and make better, data-driven decisions.
