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I am looking into Limo Anywhere as software of choice, however is there any system out there that I can receive some sort of confirmation from the client that confirms that we performed services? Kind of like a sign off. Also, is there a way for the driver to confirm electronically that the service has been complete as well?

I hope the question is clear enough.

We use Limoanywhere and the release of LA Mobile was great. This system works and allows you to get something done in that idle time. Great Job to Max and his Staff!!!

Hello everyone! I just wanted to bring you guys up to date on Limo Anywhere technology.

We recently released LA Mobile 1.0 (Limo Anywhere Mobile) which allows you to use your PDA/handheld wireless device to perform some of the functions you could only do from the main administration system.

Currently the following features are available in LA Mobile 1.0:

• Check availability via calendar
  
• View & edit reservations
  
• Dispatch trips to drivers
  
• Email & fax confirmations and trip sheets
  
• Accept/reject online reservations
  
• View & respond to quote requests
  

The 1.1 version is due out later this month and will allow you to add new reservations and process credit card payments (not through a swipe terminal yet, just an internet gateway).

In about 6-8 weeks from now we plan to release another version that will allow drivers to use their PDAs to update statuses and finalize their jobs. But technically you can have them do it now by creating a system user account for them instead of just a driver account. Although they will most likely have access to more data than you'd want them to see. So I'd probably wait for the 1.2 release if you want your drivers to be able to update their own job statuses etc.

We have some more great things coming this year but we will make a more official press release within a few weeks regarding that.

Thanks,

Max @ Limo Anywhere

> I guess what I was trying to avoid with the signature
> is a client chargeback from the credit card company.
> But how often does stuff like that happen?
Definately charge backs can be a costly problem and meeting the CC compnies requirements of a card holder signature and card present at time of service will also help you get a better discount rate on your transactions so any method used in that reguard is worth the money.

However the nature of our business is such that many times the person in the vehicle is not the credit card holder / person who booked the ride so a signature at time of service is sometimes useless.

When the card holder is present it's not only the signature that is required but also proof that the card was there. This can be in the form of a imprinted CC slip or an electronic reader (swipe devise). But just a signature without proof that the card was there will not prove much with the CC company. About as usefull as having a signed CC authorization form coming over the fax machine.

> I guess the only point left is having the driver update drop
> offs & pick ups. The reasoning behind it is so I have up to
> the second whether the driver is free or not.
OK while your goal is noble you still have to remember you are dealing with humans and you will notice that we sometimes like to get out of work. So if I drop off and am feeling like I have done a hard days work being stuck in traffic for the last hour maybe I want to relax for a while and decompress. I pull over somewhere and arrange my stuff, grab a drink, hit the head, maybe even close my eyes for a while. At the end of that then I will input my status to the computer. Not exactly up to the second if you know what I mean. However if you had a sharp dispatcher they would know what time the last job was under way, about what time they should have dropped and even looking at the GPS what time they got to the drop location. From that 10 minutes after the arrival at the drop location (giving time to unload and remove bags and such) that dispatcher would then be on the horn to the driver getting his status if he had not already indicated drop and availible. Now if the employee was due a break that's fine but the dispather would factor that in and give him the assingment that fit in with that. Importatnt part is the dispatcher makes the decision about what work gets distributed not the employee when he is good and ready for the next assingment.

I understand your desire to eliminate a salary from your company but the truth of the matter is this:
1. Either your so small a company that no dispatcher is needed.
Give your driver thier runs once in the morning and no changes or last minute jobs
come in during the day and if they do they are rare and handeled with a few phone calls.

2. Your so busy that you are dispatching on the fly and no computer can take into account all the varying combinations of delays, mistakes, mis communications, work avoidances, humanness that a good human dispatcher can coordinate.

I do not think there is much middle ground between these two situations where a computer could do it all.


> Also, I was thinking how such a system can integrate
> into the greater reservation system.

The ideal situation:

1. Client books online and it automatically schedules based upon vehicle type and availability.
2. Driver is notified of said booking and instructions are delivered to him.
3. After job is done, driver confirms and system is updated.
4. System knows that driver is available once again.

> All this is without a dispatcher required.

Yea that would be sweet for sure!

Bottom line is that the most important part of our job in this industry is getting the right piece of equipment in place at the right time. If you want to leave that up to a computer I would say you have more faith in them than I do! Don't get me wrong they are great for organizing and keeping track of your business but important decisions should be left up to the humans. Case in point:

GPS is not always right

This is not a business that can be put on auto pilot as much as we would all like to!

You have clarified a few points. I guess what I was trying to avoid with the signature is a client chargeback from the credit card company. But how often does stuff like that happen? and does the frequency justify the cost? I don't know. I will have to research it further.

I guess the only point left is having the driver update drop offs & pick ups. The reasoning behind it is so I have up to the second whether the driver is free or not. Also, I was thinking how such a system can integrate into the greater reservation system.

The ideal situation:

1. Client books online and it automatically schedules based upon vehicle type and availability.
2. Driver is notified of said booking and instructions are delivered to him.
3. After job is done, driver confirms and system is updated.
4. System knows that driver is available once again.

All this is without a dispatcher required.

quote:

Originally posted by Steve W.:
> is there any system out there that I ca
> receive some sort of confirmation from the
> client that confirms that we performed
> services?

If you dont mind me asking Red why exactly do you need to have a signature that the service was performed? Is this a requirement of some of your contracts? Something legal? Or are you just talking about a signature on a credit card charge?

Maybe your doing such a volume that this is needed but in the many years I have been in the limo business I have never heard the request "prove to me there was a customer in the car".

Guess what I am asking is what is all this technology supposed to acomplish and what is the cost benifit to implementing it for a problem you may only have sporatically?

Or are you also just trying to eliminate some of the duties of a dispatcher? Updating and the like.

That silent dispatch does sound cool though, would be great if some integration happend with them and some other limo software companies.

> is there any system out there that I ca
> receive some sort of confirmation from the
> client that confirms that we performed
> services?

If you dont mind me asking Red why exactly do you need to have a signature that the service was performed? Is this a requirement of some of your contracts? Something legal? Or are you just talking about a signature on a credit card charge?

Maybe your doing such a volume that this is needed but in the many years I have been in the limo business I have never heard the request "prove to me there was a customer in the car".

Guess what I am asking is what is all this technology supposed to acomplish and what is the cost benifit to implementing it for a problem you may only have sporatically?

Or are you also just trying to eliminate some of the duties of a dispatcher? Updating and the like.

That silent dispatch does sound cool though, would be great if some integration happend with them and some other limo software companies.

quote:

Originally posted by Wade Randolph:

quote:

Originally posted by redtoesblue:
I want to move to a paperless environment though. The process should be entirely digital and efficient. Also, the drivers aren't the most technologically savvy people, so I need something so easy my mom could use it.

quote:

Originally posted by AAA Limos:

quote:

Originally posted by redtoesblue:
Is it easy for the drivers to use the SMS response if they have multiple jobs during the day? How does this work exactly?

I am trying to have LimoAnywhere do most of the work, rather than having multiple other systems in place. Also, I want to make it so its extremely easy and quick to use for drivers. I don't want them focused too much on this end of things.

quote:

Originally posted by Salicete:
Limo Anywhere can be accessed from any or all of your cars at one time. (If your cars and or drivers have laptops with air-cards.) The drivers can, if you give them access, mark the job as "done" on the live reservation screen.

They also offer a module that allows SMS/Text messaging, so drivers could mark off jobs that way as well.

I use it. I like it.

Navtrack your cars and you will have exact location, speed, direction, status (on-off-locked etc) at all times. That may be the control that you seek.

Limoanywhere has a signature line on the printed trip sheets if you want to use them. Not instant, but I require drivers to turn in signed trip sheets to get paid.

Try the Silent Dispatch one. It looks paperless to me.

With Silent Dispatch all the drivers have to do is tap on the screen each time there is a change to their status.

quote:

Originally posted by redtoesblue:
I want to move to a paperless environment though. The process should be entirely digital and efficient. Also, the drivers aren't the most technologically savvy people, so I need something so easy my mom could use it.

quote:

Originally posted by AAA Limos:

quote:

Originally posted by redtoesblue:
Is it easy for the drivers to use the SMS response if they have multiple jobs during the day? How does this work exactly?

I am trying to have LimoAnywhere do most of the work, rather than having multiple other systems in place. Also, I want to make it so its extremely easy and quick to use for drivers. I don't want them focused too much on this end of things.

quote:

Originally posted by Salicete:
Limo Anywhere can be accessed from any or all of your cars at one time. (If your cars and or drivers have laptops with air-cards.) The drivers can, if you give them access, mark the job as "done" on the live reservation screen.

They also offer a module that allows SMS/Text messaging, so drivers could mark off jobs that way as well.

I use it. I like it.

Navtrack your cars and you will have exact location, speed, direction, status (on-off-locked etc) at all times. That may be the control that you seek.

Limoanywhere has a signature line on the printed trip sheets if you want to use them. Not instant, but I require drivers to turn in signed trip sheets to get paid.

Try the Silent Dispatch one. It looks paperless to me.

I want to move to a paperless environment though. The process should be entirely digital and efficient. Also, the drivers aren't the most technologically savvy people, so I need something so easy my mom could use it.

quote:

Originally posted by AAA Limos:

quote:

Originally posted by redtoesblue:
Is it easy for the drivers to use the SMS response if they have multiple jobs during the day? How does this work exactly?

I am trying to have LimoAnywhere do most of the work, rather than having multiple other systems in place. Also, I want to make it so its extremely easy and quick to use for drivers. I don't want them focused too much on this end of things.

quote:

Originally posted by Salicete:
Limo Anywhere can be accessed from any or all of your cars at one time. (If your cars and or drivers have laptops with air-cards.) The drivers can, if you give them access, mark the job as "done" on the live reservation screen.

They also offer a module that allows SMS/Text messaging, so drivers could mark off jobs that way as well.

I use it. I like it.

Navtrack your cars and you will have exact location, speed, direction, status (on-off-locked etc) at all times. That may be the control that you seek.

Limoanywhere has a signature line on the printed trip sheets if you want to use them. Not instant, but I require drivers to turn in signed trip sheets to get paid.

I want to have it completely digital and instant. Any other suggestions?

quote:

Originally posted by AAA Limos:

quote:

Originally posted by redtoesblue:
Is it easy for the drivers to use the SMS response if they have multiple jobs during the day? How does this work exactly?

I am trying to have LimoAnywhere do most of the work, rather than having multiple other systems in place. Also, I want to make it so its extremely easy and quick to use for drivers. I don't want them focused too much on this end of things.

quote:

Originally posted by Salicete:
Limo Anywhere can be accessed from any or all of your cars at one time. (If your cars and or drivers have laptops with air-cards.) The drivers can, if you give them access, mark the job as "done" on the live reservation screen.

They also offer a module that allows SMS/Text messaging, so drivers could mark off jobs that way as well.

I use it. I like it.

Navtrack your cars and you will have exact location, speed, direction, status (on-off-locked etc) at all times. That may be the control that you seek.

Limoanywhere has a signature line on the printed trip sheets if you want to use them. Not instant, but I require drivers to turn in signed trip sheets to get paid.

quote:

Originally posted by ASAP:

quote:

Originally posted by Wade Randolph:

quote:

Originally posted by ASAP:
Check out SilentDispatch at http://fairsing.com/.
Excellent product with a signature confirmation captured on a PDA and immediately sent back to the dispatcher or anyone with login rights.
Stuart and his crew are excellent to work with. I wish I had enough business to justify purchasing their system

This looks like the best idea that I have seen in a long time.

I did a three week demo of SilentDispatch while I was with a former employeer. The drivers just tap on the PDA when they are in route, on location, when they have the passenger on board, and when they are dropped a signature can be captured and sent to dispatch. All this with no verbal communication. The dispatcher can see the drivers location using the GPS tracking in the PDA. The price was close to the cost of our NavTrak and Nextel combined.

I am definitely going to their booth at the Vegas Show.

quote:

Originally posted by Wade Randolph:

quote:

Originally posted by ASAP:
Check out SilentDispatch at http://fairsing.com/.
Excellent product with a signature confirmation captured on a PDA and immediately sent back to the dispatcher or anyone with login rights.
Stuart and his crew are excellent to work with. I wish I had enough business to justify purchasing their system

This looks like the best idea that I have seen in a long time.

I did a three week demo of SilentDispatch while I was with a former employeer. The drivers just tap on the PDA when they are in route, on location, when they have the passenger on board, and when they are dropped a signature can be captured and sent to dispatch. All this with no verbal communication. The dispatcher can see the drivers location using the GPS tracking in the PDA. The price was close to the cost of our NavTrak and Nextel combined.

quote:

Originally posted by ASAP:
Check out SilentDispatch at http://fairsing.com/.
Excellent product with a signature confirmation captured on a PDA and immediately sent back to the dispatcher or anyone with login rights.
Stuart and his crew are excellent to work with. I wish I had enough business to justify purchasing their system

This looks like the best idea that I have seen in a long time.

We were one of the first in the country to use and integration between FastTrak and TeleTrac that has consoles in the car that sends a code to the dispatch software and updates automatically when a status changes. This also combines GPS and navigation tools.

We always required chauffeurs to call in status codes per trip - this could amount ot hundreds of phone calls per day from the chauffeur to the office - those days are over. We can also text the car and send messages,updates cell numbers,flt updates,etc.

This is not cheap and I would not consider it if I was only doing 10 runs a day or party work. For that , just get a simple gps program and have all trips sheets filled out properly.

We still require trips sheets with signatures.

95% of our work is charged after the service is complete. We only require payment in full up front for weddings , night out , party style trips.

quote:

Originally posted by redtoesblue:
Is it easy for the drivers to use the SMS response if they have multiple jobs during the day? How does this work exactly?

I am trying to have LimoAnywhere do most of the work, rather than having multiple other systems in place. Also, I want to make it so its extremely easy and quick to use for drivers. I don't want them focused too much on this end of things.

quote:

Originally posted by Salicete:
Limo Anywhere can be accessed from any or all of your cars at one time. (If your cars and or drivers have laptops with air-cards.) The drivers can, if you give them access, mark the job as "done" on the live reservation screen.

They also offer a module that allows SMS/Text messaging, so drivers could mark off jobs that way as well.

I use it. I like it.

Navtrack your cars and you will have exact location, speed, direction, status (on-off-locked etc) at all times. That may be the control that you seek.

Limoanywhere has a signature line on the printed trip sheets if you want to use them. Not instant, but I require drivers to turn in signed trip sheets to get paid.

Is it easy for the drivers to use the SMS response if they have multiple jobs during the day? How does this work exactly?

I am trying to have LimoAnywhere do most of the work, rather than having multiple other systems in place. Also, I want to make it so its extremely easy and quick to use for drivers. I don't want them focused too much on this end of things.

quote:

Originally posted by Salicete:
Limo Anywhere can be accessed from any or all of your cars at one time. (If your cars and or drivers have laptops with air-cards.) The drivers can, if you give them access, mark the job as "done" on the live reservation screen.

They also offer a module that allows SMS/Text messaging, so drivers could mark off jobs that way as well.

I use it. I like it.

Navtrack your cars and you will have exact location, speed, direction, status (on-off-locked etc) at all times. That may be the control that you seek.

Check out SilentDispatch at http://fairsing.com/.
Excellent product with a signature confirmation captured on a PDA and immediately sent back to the dispatcher or anyone with login rights.
Stuart and his crew are excellent to work with. I wish I had enough business to justify purchasing their system

Limo Anywhere can be accessed from any or all of your cars at one time. (If your cars and or drivers have laptops with air-cards.) The drivers can, if you give them access, mark the job as "done" on the live reservation screen.

They also offer a module that allows SMS/Text messaging, so drivers could mark off jobs that way as well.

I use it. I like it.

Navtrack your cars and you will have exact location, speed, direction, status (on-off-locked etc) at all times. That may be the control that you seek.