|
|
08/24/2004
InTow Program (excerpt)
|
|
Hi Mark,
This is a good
question and I'd like to address some of the differences
between QuickBooks (which is a good accounting system)
and specific towing software.
QuickBooks does not allow:
1)
Automatic Driver Commission Calculations - With tow
software, as calls are entered, a commission is
automatically calculated for the driver based on the
commissionable services selected on an invoice. This
reduces the manual calculation and potential errors
related to payroll and commission.
2) Vehicle Impound Lot Management - With towing programs,
as calls are entered into the the system and vehicles are
placed in your impound, the calculated daily storage
rates begin to track the length of time and auto-price
the storage fees.
Lot inventory
reports can be produced for inventory checks or police
reporting purposes plus reminder notifications can be
configured for lien processing purposes.
Putting police holds on vehicles prohibit
those vehicles from being released from the impound until
the Police Department has authorized the Release.
Barcoding of vehicles as cars come
into the impound for even better lot control can be
implemented.
Managing your impound
and lien process is vital to the success of the storage
yard. Much money can be lost or stolen from improper
management and "lose rules" surrounding
the management of your yard.
3)
Color Coded Dispatching - As calls are received via phone
or web-based customer direct call requests, the active
calls can easily be managed by the dispatcher in a color
coded dispatch window. The dispatcher knows the status of
each call, what calls are overdue, what calls are future
dated, the active and available drivers and
trucks.
4) Integrated Mapping and
Messaging with Drivers - As a dispatcher enters call
information, integrated Mapping allows the dispatcher to
find the call location quickly. They can find route
information, calculate both EnRoute and Intow mileage and
send driving directions and call details directly to
driver cell phones, pagers, Blackberry's or in-truck
laptops. This communication layer with drivers GREATLY
reduces the amount of radio or phone traffic in the
office.
5) Searching the Database -
Being able to quickly find information in your database
is key to good customer service. Being able to lookup
information based on Plate, VIN, Invoice Number, etc,
etc. and supply information quickly to customers or
management helps reduce time in finding information in
the office.
6) Service Rate Setup
and Custom Price Book per Customer - Being able to setup
Services based on your contracted rates with each
customer eliminates the manual calculation of invoices.
For example, being able to select a LIGHT DUTY TOW and
having the system automatically know the price for the
customer means anyone in the business can enter calls. In
addition, being able to setup different types as services
such as a FIXED RATE so it can't be over-ridden, or a
CALCULATED RATE SERVICE so you can simply enter the
billable miles on an invoice and the math is done for you
and added to the invoice. This reduces errors inherent in
the manual calculation of invoice totals. No more will
you need pieces of paper hanging on the wall or a price
book with various contracted rates that needs to be
referenced every time an invoice needs to be
created.
7) Driver Tow Ticket
Management - Being able to assign a book of tickets or
invoices to a specific driver or truck, allows you to
properly manage your invoices. Knowing what tickets have
been used and are still outstanding can help to eliminate
the misuse of your invoices. Each driver is assigned a
book of tickets and dispatchers will know the next ticket
that should be used before the driver even calls the
invoice number into the office. If a discrepancy occurs,
it can be addressed immediately.
8)
Tracking Call Times and Driver Efficiency - Being able to
track the Call Time, Dispatched Time, OnScene time, Into
time and Cleared time of each call can assist with
reporting to Motor Clubs, Police Departments and indicate
whether you need to re-evaluate your Eta's or a specific
drivers training requirements. You can run reports based
on Driver Call Efficiency or Customer Call Efficiency.
Being able to produce reports for a customer to show them
your performance is a nice marketing tool and contract
negotiation tool.
9) Associating
Pictures to Call Records - The ability to assign a photo
or multiple photo's of an accident scene can help you to
justify your invoice price with insurance company's or to
defend fraudulent claims of damage from disgruntled
customers.
There are multiple other
benefits to running a properly architeched towing
software application over simply running QuickBooks.
Running QuickBooks on it's own is great for Accounting,
but it was not desiged specifically for running towing
operations. Some application's (including ours) integarte
with QuickBooks so all invoice, payment and credit
information can be synchronized with your QuickBooks
database, but the information and business requirements
of a towing dispatch company is much better managed in towing
specific software.
Click here to read the full article.
|
| |
| Back |
| |
|
