Dispatch Software

Guide to Dispatch Software

Move your mobile service force into high gear with productivity enhancing dispatching software
By Greg Brown

There's nothing quite so old economy as a fleet of repair trucks, delivery vehicles and service reps roaming a territory. Seems we'll never get over the human touch, and we'll clearly never be able to do without someone to bring us the goods and services we need to keep working.

But the unavoidable reality of having to touch your customers gets a huge New Economy boost out of cutting-edge dispatching software. No whiteboards and faded city maps here. This stuff jacks into your customer database, flips Web maps on the fly and can manage accounting on the side -- even beam data to handheld devices in the field.

Covered in this guide to transportation dispatch software:

1. Dispatching software suites and dispatch software applications for general use
2. Specialized truck dispatch software
3. Transportation dispatch software for scheduling service calls
4. Specialized dispatch software applications for routing and scheduling dispatch software, and transportation accounting software applications

Action Steps for Sizing Up Dispatch Software

The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Dispatch and scheduling software keeps the workday on track People in the field need data, but they also need a central point guiding them from call to call and handling the constant need for feedback and details on the customer. All around transportation dispatch and accounting software can be a good answer.

I recommend:  Empowering your central dispatcher is a matter of training but also of providing a complete suite of transportation dispatch software to put all the facts at their fingertips. Take a look at dispatching software vendors like Desco, InsightDirect, and ProBusinessTools. For more information about vendors of dispatch software applications, see the Business.com directory pages on dispatch software and fleet management software.

Dispatch software is highly customized for trucking Sending out a fleet of 18-wheelers is a big job, even national in scope. Timing things like drop-off and fuel down to the minute can save big on the bottom line. Truck dispatch software is key.

I recommend:  If your needs are strictly trucking, consider specialized truck dispatch software from Cheetah, Aurora, Axon, Dr. Dispatch, and Strategy Systems.

Computer-aided dispatch software can drive service industry profits Dispatch software is quickly replacing a roomful of call center techs when it comes to keeping service reps moving on their daily calls. Most work hand-in-hand with transportation accounting software applications and small business favorites like QuickBooks and offer global positioning satellite linkups to track service people in the field.

I recommend:  Vendors of service-industry specialized dispatch software include Evron, MyServiceForce, and High5Software. There's more on technology for managing logistics and transportation, including transportation accounting software applications, at Business.com.

Service dispatching software includes route scheduling in advance Because of the 24/7 nature of Web information you can now have a call center set up service calls at any hour and then have your trucks ready to roll by light.

I recommend:  Truck dispatch software applications vendors include InterGis, Senarc, and ServicePower. See more on mileage and routing software, driver log software and additional transportation dispatch and accounting software at Business.com.

Tips & Tactics for Smart Use of Transportation Dispatch Software

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• Tractor trailers are not the same as taxicabs. Make sure you buy a transportation dispatch software that is robust enough but also specialized to your needs, like truck dispatch software or transportation accounting software.
• Can't seem to make it work for you? Talk with the vendor about custom solutions. They'll often do Web development on transportation dispatch and accounting software for cheap if they think your company is a decent guinea pig for a new product.
• Watch out for long-term contracts and onerous software licenses. You might outgrow the transportation dispatch software or transportation accounting software you start on. If it's a good fit, there should be no need to sign off on years of exclusivity.