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PFW IntelliDealer's Rental Module
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PFW Password - summer 2007If you’re going to rent
and rent effectively, you need to use the same type of rent-to-rent software as a rental house. Without the capabilities of fully integrated rental software as a part of your Dealership Management System, you are giving your competitors an unfair advantage – and that is where the Rental module of PFW IntelliDealer comes in.
Originally designed in cooperation with some of our largest rental-based clients, then fine-tuned with the help of rental industry specialists, the Rental module gives our industry-leading PFW IntelliDealer full rent-to-rent capabilities.
“There are so many reasons why a Dealer would want to utilize fully integrated, rental-specific software, but in the end, it all comes down to the fact that it can save you two very important things: time and money,” says John Andersen, VP and PFW Evangelist at PFW Systems Corporation.
To help you increase profits and efficiency, IntelliDealer’s Rental module includes a wide array of powerful features, including Rental Availability graphics (see Rental Availability at a Glance on page 4), in-depth Rental Reports, extensive search tools and – of course – total integration with the rest of PFW IntelliDealer.
The New Tools of the Trade
IntelliDealer’s Rental module includes a wide array of information-gathering tools that can help you manage and build an efficient, profitable fleet by keeping track of the specific financing costs, maintenance costs, repair frequency, profitability and utilization of each unit in your fleet. It can also automatically send critical information to the managers of every department, providing them with the custom-tailored information they need to solve problems without waiting for a report.
As a part of the fully integrated PFW IntelliDealer, the Rental module also works with the accounting system to show the full financial picture of any rental unit or fleet. Among other factors, the Rental module can track and display revenue, cost, maintenance expenses, finance expenses, depreciation, write-downs, paid contracts and unpaid invoices in relation to any unit.
The Final Piece of the Puzzle
A good rental-specific software application should act as the final piece of the puzzle for your business, fully integrating with your Dealership Management System – and IntelliDealer’s Rental module was designed to do just that. Specifically, it offers smooth, complete integration with your fixed-asset systems, service systems, dispatch systems, accounting systems and customer care systems – including CRM (Customer Relationship Management) applications. With the latest release of IntelliDealer (R6V05), you can even download data from Data Miner, Financial Reporting and Marketing Campaigns directly to your favorite Microsoft Office or Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) PC-based program.
Level the Playing Field
As you’ll see later in this issue (be sure to check out Customizable Billing = Exceptional Customer Service on page 5), customization is also a key component of IntelliDealer’s Rental module. Along with the powerful tools we have already discussed and the key features we will share below, customization is just another way in which IntelliDealer’s Rental module helps dealerships even the playing field when competing against established rental houses.
The Key Features of the IntelliDealer Rental Module
PFW IntelliDealer’s Rental module is adaptable to meet the changing needs of your rental business. Whether your focus is on sales and occasional rent-to-purchase or on building a rent-to-rent business to compete against specialized rental houses, PFW’s rental-specific software can help you achieve your goals.
The Rental module is incredibly robust – and while you might never use every option, you can take comfort in knowing it is full-featured and even includes the following key features:
AUTOMATED REMINDERS The Rental module can suggest or automatically add related parts or services when a rental unit is selected. This feature can be set to function when an item is rented to remind your staff about possible add-ons – or even when an item is returned to make sure charges like fuel or delivery are not forgotten.
INSPECTION SHEETS Designed to make routine maintenance easier and more efficient than ever, the Rental module allows users to create specific inspection sheets for every type of unit in your fleet. These inspection sheets outline only the procedures and steps required by a specific machine, ensuring critical tasks are not missed and your valuable time is not wasted.
ASSOCIATED ATTACHMENTS The Rental module gives you the ability to associate specific attachments with their parent units (for example, what buckets work with what excavators). This handy feature not only makes it easy to keep track of compatibilities within large inventories, it also encourages add-on sales or rentals to increase profitability and efficiency.
CUSTOMIZABLE DURATIONS Completely customizable, the Rental module gives you the power to define your own rental durations to meet the needs of different customers. The Rental module makes it easy to set up multiple rental durations – including both 28-day and 31-day months – to stay competitive within your specific market.
ADDITIONAL PRICING LEVELS The Rental module allows you to set up to four additional pricing levels above and beyond the standard pricing level. Whether the added price levels are for your best customers, municipalities or referrals, this flexibility and customization allows users to automatically adjust pricing without having to worry about calculating prices manually.
When it comes to rentals, you're either in
or you're out. If you're in, you'd better have the customizable, full-featured software to do it right and give yourself a competitive advantage.
See this article in the Summer 2007 Password
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