The software Wilson’s Group of Companies used worked well for them for many years but is no longer updated regularly.
“We knew we needed something new to ensure we could keep up with the pace of technology and client demands.” said Ali Spillette, the Victoria, British Columbia-based company’s Vice President of People & Culture.
That search led Wilson’s to TBN, a U.S.-based software company that recently expanded into the Canadian market with support for Canadian dollars and metric distance calculations. The enhancements mark a major milestone for the cloud-based platform, which has been gaining traction among North American motorcoach operators.
“By providing native support for CAD and metric distance, we’re eliminating barriers and making it easier than ever for companies in Canada to leverage our industry-leading software,” said TBN CEO Chris Riddell.
The new features allow operators to generate quotes, invoices, and reports in Canadian currency, while enabling route planning and trip estimates using kilometers, standardizing the software for the Canadian market and improving overall efficiency.
Wilson’s, which operates scheduled services, charters, and sightseeing tours through a network of companies across British Columbia, recently began implementation of TBN’s platform with its Vancouver Island Coach Lines division.
“We’re focusing on the dispatch and charter sales piece,” said Spillette. “We also considered the needs of our accounting team, but our priority was functionality, security, and building a long-term partnership.”
Understanding the industry
Though her title focuses on people and culture, Spillette also oversees a variety of IT functions at Wilson’s. She was instrumental in the company’s discovery process, speaking with other Canadian operators and evaluating a range of software solutions.
“One operator in Eastern Canada mentioned TBN, so we reached out and started the conversation,” she said. “What stood out was that their team really understood our industry.”
That industry knowledge was a key differentiator, Spillette added.
“Often when talking to tech companies, it’s clear they either know software or they know your business. TBN brought both,” she said. “Our sales and dispatch teams felt heard, and more importantly, understood.”
The new platform is expected to streamline Wilson’s dispatch operations, replacing time-consuming manual calls and emails with automated communications and integrated systems. It will also offer an improved experience for the company’s customers, many of whom are unfamiliar with booking charter transportation.
“We’re hoping for faster quoting, real-time pricing, and an interface that provides a smoother customer journey,” said Spillette. “It’s about staying relevant and modernizing how we work.”
The transition is still in its early stages, but Spillette said Wilson’s sees strong potential in the partnership.
“We’d like this to be a long-term relationship,” she said. “Of course, we’ll know more once we’ve had some time to really use the platform.”
TBN’s move into Canada reflects its broader mission to simplify motorcoach operations with user-friendly, scalable tools designed for the specific needs of fleet operators.
“Our goal has always been to innovate in ways that truly benefit operators,” said Riddell. “With these new features, we’re empowering Canadian businesses to optimize their operations, improve accuracy, and enhance customer service like never before.”
Canadian operators interested in learning more about TBN’s updated platform or scheduling a demo can visit TBNdrives.com or contact sales@tbndrives.com.
