RM Online - RM asks vendors: What's special about YOUR system?

Rental Management invited all the computer companies that serve the rental industry to respond to the following question:

Understanding that practically all systems on the market perform the basic, necessary rental functions of contract writing and counter management, what makes your system distinctively different and particularly worthy of a rental company's attention?

We started from the assumption that all systems do the necessary basics, but that all vendors have made intelligent choices about how to do those things and what to add to make their systems unique. We asked them to tell us how they differ, why they do things as they do, and ultimately: What does the rental company gain from your way of doing it? We received the following responses.

ALERT

(Interactive Management Systems)

Colorado Springs, Colo.

Bill Veneris, president

While rental software does many tasks, the most important task of all is writing a rental contract. ALERT EasyPro's intuitive design means you'll be writing contracts faster and more easily than ever before. And because every task is easier to accomplish on ALERT EasyPro, your staff will end up using more of the system. This translates into greater productivity and, ultimately, more profit for your company. We encourage you to see for yourself what a difference easy-to-use software can mean in the daily operation of your business. A free demo is available to all interested rental stores.

ALERT Computers has also taken the important step of rewriting our software from the ground up, using the latest modern programming technologies. What does this mean for you? Our software is ready for the year 2000 (not merely "patched") and runs on multiple platforms, including Windows, Windows NT, Windows-based networks and UNIX. Our easy-to-use report writer provides quick access to the valuable data stored in your computer. We also provide data-conversion services for those upgrading to ALERT EasyPro from competing systems.

Over 20 years of experience, we have developed a comprehensive portfolio of services, including computer-based training, Web-based support, application consulting, built-in marketing tools, users' group meetings and monthly newsletters. Our president, Bill Veneris, won the [1995] A.R.A. Special Service Award for his leadership in helping rental stores become more profitable through better management and marketing of their businesses.

JK Data Systems

Upper Saddle River, N.J.

Kalki Joisher, vice president

JK Data Systems prides itself on state-of-the-art technology on all our rental software products. Our software products enhance the productivity and profitability of our clients. Our products are very user-friendly, and we have caring software engineers who promptly respond to your service question. Our products are continuously upgraded to meet custom-tailored, individualized requirements. From a cost-benefit standpoint, we have an excellent reputation from our existing client base. At JK Data, Internet-based software is in the late stages of development. When available, it will be a transparent link to your Web site as it pertains to your inventory and pricing structure.

MTA

Scottsdale, Ariz.

M. Sue Ligeros, implementation consultant

The key to successful industry software is industry knowledge. If your software vendor has industry experience, the software will reflect industry standards while, at the same time, provide options to meet specific needs of your organization. This is not easy to accomplish and precisely why MTA software stands out in the equipment rental marketplace. MTA has industry experience dating back to 1976, and has collected information from hundreds of rental equipment businesses while designing industry-specific software solutions. This allows our customers the ability to choose among many different dealership policy options that are based on rental industry best practices.

The Management Technology America (MTA) suite of software choices, functions and reporting options, combined with industry experience and longevity, allows software users to make choices that enable them to change with their business and operate as if they are using a "custom" software package. This kind of flexibility enables MTA customers to easily respond to the changing demands of their business.

Point-of-Rental Systems

Grand Prairie, Texas

Bob Shaffer, marketing manager

Most rental software was designed by a committee or by programmers unfamiliar with the rental business. This system was created by programmers who hand-wrote contracts in their own store prior to designing the system. This "behind-the-counter" design approach quickly differentiates it from other solutions.

The Point-of-Rental system is fast. New cash customers can be added quickly without typing by using our exclusive License Swipe technology that "reads" information from driver's licenses with magnetic stripes. Contracts complete with safety and operating instructions can be "written" and printed in as little as 32 seconds.

The Point-of-Rental system is flexible. Mistakes made at the counter are corrected easily, logically and quickly. An item or even an entire contract that is "closed" by mistake can be "reopened." Tough situations such as partial quantity closes (scaffolding) and balance-dues for cash customers (his "buddy" brings it back with no money) are handled quickly and easily. The Point-of-Rental system has been used since 1983 and is currently used by nearly 400 equipment and party rental stores from Alaska to Africa. An up-to-date user's manual is provided and telephone support is available seven days a week by a team of professionals with more than 40 years of combined "behind-the-counter" rental experience.

The Point-of-Rental system is available complete with full counter processing, inventory control, quotes, reservations, accounting, inter-office e-mail, safety sheets and a slew of options designed to analyze and market rental businesses. It is frequently updated with new features and is available in single-screen, multi-screen and multi-location versions. Information may be obtained at (800) 944-7368 or <point-of-rental.com>.

Solutions by Computer

Springfield, Mass.

Jack Shea, president

A Solutions rental-management system is uniquely different in that our software design is based on the belief that your computer system should proactively maximize revenue on your investment in inventory. Only Solutions has approached the software development process from this direction. Most other rental systems view the rental transaction from the standpoint of record-keeping because they were initially designed to automate accounting functions. Their main objective is keeping score, not maximizing revenue. Unless you want record-keeping to drive your business, this fundamental difference in Solutions' software design is extremely important. And we've consistently found that the longevity, financial stability and industry leadership of Solutions cements a rental business' decision to purchase our software.

Tristar Systems

Destin, Fla.

James Coughlan Jr., vice president

Tristar's greatest advantage is service and support. Tristar is A.R.A.'s oldest exhibiting vendor, and is a company made up only of employees who have a minimum experience of more than 15 years in the rental industry, plus computer knowledge. This allows us to handle support problems, should they arise, with an expertise that almost no other company can offer. More than 75 percent of our support calls are handled and completed on the incoming call, in less than three minutes.

We install systems loaded with the customer's data, train onsite for one week with two experienced rental professionals, and support with the same competent rental-experienced and computer-knowledgeable staff. We encourage our users to not only call for software problems, but also for hardware and phone situations that might be causing an interruption to your business. Our goal is to keep your rental center operating smoothly and competently at all times. Your employees may call at 6:45 p.m. Eastern time any Saturday with a question about the end-of-the-day close-out function, and you will be assured that even though you, the owner, may be away, your company will still be operating with maximum effectiveness.

In the rental industry, service and support make the basics of the best and most profitable rental companies. At Tristar Systems, we took this same approach, utilizing fast, dependable hardware, and menu-driven software "custom written" for the rental industry, to provide a complete package to make your rental center a winner, with you, your employees, and - No. 1 - your customers.