RER recently interviewed Greg Bennett, vice president of sales, Point of Rental Software, about new trends in rental-related software, the benefits of telematics, mobile apps, and how to make deliveries more efficiently.
RER: What have been the most important developments/trends in rental-related software in the past year?
Bennett: One of the newest developments in the industry is the bolstering of customer self-service with the addition of rental kiosks. This automation streamlines the ordering process and offers customers an innovative way to help themselves, resulting in reduced labor costs and improved customer service.
What do you expect will be the most important development/trend in the coming year or so?
With the IoT (Internet of Things) making significant advancements, many rental stores are finding that the benefit of features such as RFID and Telematics is now worth much more than the cost. As more companies are using these features, the improvements are developing rapidly and in the next coming year will bring about crucial progress to the industry.
What have been the most overlooked features of rental-related software in the past year or so – in other words available features that rental companies tend to not take advantage of?
With countless features to wirelessly connect the warehouse, jobsites, yards and drivers to the counter system through WiFi or any carrier network, paperless workflow delivers streamlined efficiency and often goes overlooked. By using tablets out in the warehouse or yard to fulfill and return orders, staff can replace load slips and prep reports to avoid timely errors with real-time updates and contract changes. Utilizing mobile apps out in the field enables delivery drivers and jobsite crew to attach condition photos, notes, proof of delivery, pick-ups and even notifies the customer when they are in route. These paperless features relay the information in real-time to counter staff; reducing customer wait time while also eliminating miscommunication and mistakes due to missed notes or changed contracts.
How can software help rental companies do delivery more efficiently?
Using management software with a fully integrated dispatch and routing feature enhanced with GPS services is the most efficient technology available today. Dispatch and routing tools allow dispatchers to schedule pickups and deliveries as trips assigned to specific delivery trucks. Each truck-trip combo can have multiple stops routed with turn-by-turn, round-trip directions and maps. Dispatchers can assign drivers and crew, track fuel costs, view the anticipated weight of the load, view estimated time parameters for each stop and even see real-time route status updates. This technology permits one dispatcher to run multiple trucks across a much large area encompassing many store territories. If changes need to be made, dispatchers can adjust the trip at any time during the day, which updates the drivers and provides new turn-by-turn directions.
How can software help with fleet management?
The most innovative software today provides KPIs and interactive dashboards enabling successful management for larger and more complex fleets. A fleet manager and their team are able to view information on assets globally, regionally and each individual asset for maximum ROI. This provides critical data allowing them to make business decisions on fleet management to improve profitability.
How can software help with running the shop more efficiently?
Intuitive software works with the flow of your business. In the shop, mechanics are able to streamline the service process, eliminate parts order errors and increase rental fleet’s utilization. Purchase orders and work orders are automatically and accurately populated. Automated self-updating information on parts, service and repairs that is customized down to the individual asset number for equipment in your fleet saves you time, money and accuracy to improve individual and overall ROI.
