One Trip: Doing It Right the First Time

Efficiency is making headlines everywhere—especially with the new administration and their work with DOGE to identify waste and streamline government operations. Naturally, it’s stirred up a range of reactions, from applause to outrage. That’s pretty typical when you start talking about change, accountability, and disruption.

But regardless of where you stand on DOGE’s work, one thing’s for sure: in today’s world, efficiency isn’t optional—it’s essential.

How “One Trip” Was Born

At our company offsite back in December 2023, my leadership team and I found ourselves asking: What does efficiency look like for us? How could we capture a simple, clear goal that every team member could understand, get behind, and actually use?

That’s when "One Trip" came to life.

It’s a simple phrase with powerful intent: get it done right the first time. Whether it's delivering and installing a printer, resolving an IT issue, or submitting a clean, accurate sales order—the goal is one trip, one touch, one clean execution.

And this idea doesn’t just apply to a few departments—it touches everything we do.

Why One Trip Matters

If you know our business, you know we’re a 91 year technology company that serves clients all across Oklahoma and North Texas. We deliver and install hundreds of devices every month, and our teams handle thousands of service calls across print and IT.

But here’s the kicker: when a job takes more than one trip—because an order was wrong, the tech didn’t have the right part, or we weren’t fully prepared—it costs a lot. Not just in time or gas. It costs in client trust. It adds stress. It slows everything down.

It’s the same story when a sales order has to be reprocessed due to missing or incorrect info. Every extra touch adds friction.

So, “One Trip” isn’t just a catchy slogan. It’s a smarter way of doing business—for us and for our clients.

How We're Making It Happen

This wasn’t just a mindset change—we committed real resources to it and will keep investing in getting it right.

  1. We started tracking it. Dashboards, scorecards, real data—because you can’t improve what you don’t measure.

  2. We talk about it. A lot. From team meetings to hallway conversations, “One Trip” has become a company-wide mantra. 

  3. We brought in the experts. Lean Process consultants trained our team, and we are in the process of hosting our second Kaizen event focused on streamlining our order process. The goal: build systems that work the same way, every time.

The result? Huge improvements. So much, in fact, that we decided to keep “One Trip” as our 2025 theme too. Because doing it right the first time? That never goes out of style.


What We’ve Learned from Living “One Trip”

Here are a few key lessons and benefits we’ve seen since embracing this mindset:

Better Time Management

Time is gold. And making fewer trips means we spend less of it chasing down fixes and more of it delivering value. It adds up—fast.

Real Cost Savings

Less driving means less fuel, less wear and tear on vehicles, and fewer hours lost to rework. It’s a win for the bottom line and for our teams.

A Greener Operation

Fewer trips = fewer emissions. It’s good for the environment, and that’s something we’re proud of.

Higher Productivity

When every task is done right the first time, everyone wins. Our teams are less stressed. Our clients are happier. And the entire company runs smoother.


The Takeaway

“One Trip” isn’t just about physical trips—it’s about precision, preparation, and pride in getting it right the first time. And it’s making a big impact on how we serve, how we operate, and how we grow.

We’re excited to keep the momentum going in 2025. Because the more we simplify and streamline, the more we can focus on what really matters: delivering excellence, every single time.

Greg Elliott, Standley Systems Co-Owner & CEO

Greg leads the executive team to oversee daily operations of the company, with a focus on culture development, team health and business growth.

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