electronic dispatching

[parnotte]

Does anyone know of a vendor that has dispatching software other than the DMS?

[mgl]

The only one I have used is ReyRey- and if it is set up properly it is a dream come true. Works beautifully.

[capsgs]

Reynolds works very well. We do find that we have to baby sit it though. We get a lot of waiters.I have my warranty clerk/dispatcher handle it.

[slapenta]

parnotte

>Does anyone know of a vendor that has dispatching software other than the DMS?

The only non DMS dispatching software that I have seen are spin offs of the old Shop Trak manual shop loading charts which are available in a window based application. These applications do not incorporate electronic real-time labor hour inventory control capabilities; in other words, the software does not maintain labor hour inventory accuracy and fails to relieve or add labor hours to sell, based on the status of repair order jobs line during the course of the day.

ADP, Reynolds & Reynolds and UCS offer electronic real time labor inventory control-dispatching software applications, which automatically perform labor hour inventory updates every 2-5 minutes throughout the day. Arkona offers electronic dispatching application, but Arkona told me that the development of electronic service labor inventory control was on the table. I can only assume that youre looking to an outside vendor because you are not employing any of the major DMS vendors and/or you have expense on your mind.

Below are the benefits that ADP, Reynolds & Reynolds and UCS electronic real time labor inventory control-dispatching software applications can provide for your service department as Arkona also offers some of the following benefits.

For example:

The service department can operate in an informational based atmosphere rather than a crisis based atmosphere.
Improves business performance and lowers department operating costs.
Appointment control - shop loading (selling labor inventory hours/time) in real time rather than by vehicle counts or by guess work.
Improve shop operational efficiency, reduce carryovers and complete more vehicles per day with the same number of technicians -- technicians will book/flag an additional 1.5 hours per day.
Allows service management to control and manage the service departments labor hour inventory with optimum efficiency.
Technician time control reporting functions.
Measure technician productivity and efficiency performance.
Service advisors have ability to provide customers with promise or estimated completion times.
Eliminates the need for a full time dispatcher position and job assignment favoritism with the technicians.
Requires a water-downed dispatcher/administrator position, clerical or service advisors, to manage dispatching alerts and job hold function information, in order to maintain accuracy with DMS labor hour inventory.
Computer terminals in the shop provide technicians access to customer history, service price guide, parts request, additional work needed, labor time guide, etc.
DMS electronic labor inventory control-dispatching software will return your investment over and overand you will have the numbers to prove it, when you sit and review the bottom line of the financial statement with your dealer principal every month!

Depending upon what your specific needs are you will most likely struggle to find a non-DMS dispatching software application that can integrate and match up to above mentioned DMS vendors in the marketplace.

If you prefer, I can walk you through some screen shots and highlights on one of the major DMS electronic labor inventory control-dispatching software applications, via a web meeting, so when the time comes for you to make a dispatching software purchase, you will be able to weight your decision with great care.

You are welcome to contact me by e-mail or telephone if you have any questions.

Steve LaPenta

[robc]

Look at the products over at http://www.instatcom.com/
and their dispatchpro system.

I've always liked their products, great people always willing to answer questions and serve dealers. And if not that ProtoCall has always been a great product to look at.