As part of our ongoing commitment to sharing and collaborating with the TTM industry, RTL continues our web series exploring innovative developments in the TTM space. Through these articles, we aim to highlight emerging solutions that address industry challenges -  with a focus on expanding awareness of the evolving technology landscape.

Our latest spotlight features Smart Roads, a purpose-built software solution that has emerged in response to the compliance challenges created by the introduction of NZGTTM standards. This specialised platform centralises multiple operational functions while maintaining alignment with current regulatory requirements.

We recently sat down with Ashley Trice to learn about Smart Roads' development origins and upcoming feature plans for the platform.

While several TTM software options exist, Smart Roads seems to have found a unique positioning in the market. What specific industry pain point or "aha moment" inspired you to create Smart Roads?
When the new NZGTTM standards came into effect, there was a clear gap in the market - no system existed to help companies prove staff competency or maintain full compliance in line with the new framework. That was the “aha moment.” I wanted to build something that truly supported the new standards and made it simple for companies to stay compliant day-to-day. From there, Smart Roads kept growing - we added features like bookings, timesheets, invoicing, and vehicle checks, so it became the complete end-to-end package for traffic management companies.

What client story makes you proudest when you reflect on Smart Roads' journey so far? How are you seeing companies transform their daily operations and compliance processes through your platform?
The feedback from TTM companies has been incredible. Many clients have told us Smart Roads has completely changed how they operate. Several companies have gone from using three or more different systems to now using just Smart Roads - saving both time and cost while gaining more functionality. Seeing the excitement from clients during demos and how easily their teams have adopted the software has been really rewarding. It shows how needed this solution was for our industry.

In an increasingly competitive landscape, how is Smart Roads helping TTM companies stand out in tender situations? Are you seeing your platform's data make the difference when bidding for contracts?
Absolutely. One of the biggest advantages of Smart Roads is the level of data companies can now present to clients and tender panels. With a single click, they can generate a ZIP folder containing all their company documents, organised automatically - including staff competency reports, qualifications, and vehicle compliance certificates. This gives companies a professional, evidence-based way to prove capability and compliance instantly, which has made a huge difference when competing for work and pre-qualifications.

It’s great having RTL maintenance and recertification protocols integrated into the Smart Roads ecosystem. Can you share how this collaboration came about and your experience working with the RTL team? 
One of our main goals has always been to make Smart Roads accessible for everyone - affordable, practical, and built to connect the entire industry. Working with the team at RTL has been fantastic. They’ve been forward-thinking and easy to collaborate with, and it’s been great to integrate their maintenance and recertification processes directly into our vehicle checks. Now, when a company flags a fault with a piece of RTL equipment, Smart Roads can automatically generate a maintenance alert and report it straight back to RTL.  Going forward, we’re developing a live supplier index within the Smart Roads dashboard - giving users quick access to verified suppliers, products, and contact links. It’s all about connecting the ecosystem and making operations smoother for everyone involved in TTM.

Every founder has challenges that drive their innovation roadmap. What’s the next significant TTM industry problem you are looking to solve with Smart Roads software?
We have some very exciting developments coming that we can’t reveal just yet - but what I can say is they’re features the industry has never seen before. Our focus remains on simplifying complex processes, saving time for companies, and keeping everything fully aligned with NZGTTM requirements. Watch this space - the next phase of Smart Roads will take traffic management software to a whole new level.

Companies interested in learning more can contact Ashley Trice at info@smartroads.co.nz or visit www.smartroads.co.nz.