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Hi Mark,

This is a good question and I'd like to address some of the differences between QuickBooks (which is a good accounting system) and towing specific software.

QuickBooks does not allow:

1) Automatic Driver Commission Calculations - With towing software, as calls are entered, a commission is automatically calculated for the driver based on the commissionable services selected on an invoice. This reduces the manual calculation and potential errors related to payroll and commission.

2) Vehicle Impound Lot Management - With towing programs, as calls are entered into the the system and vehicles are placed in your impound, the calculated daily storage rates begin to track the length of time and auto-price the storage fees.

Lot inventory reports can be produced for inventory checks or police reporting purposes plus reminder notifications can be configured for lien processing purposes.

Putting police holds on vehicles prohibit those vehicles from being released from the impound until the Police Department has authorized the Release.

Barcoding of vehicles as cars come into the impound for even better lot control can be implemented.

Managing your impound and lien process is vital to the success of the storage yard. Much money can be lost or stolen from improper management and "lose rules" surrounding the management of your yard.

3) Color Coded Dispatching - As calls are received via phone or web-based customer direct call requests, the active calls can easily be managed by the dispatcher in a color coded dispatch window. The dispatcher knows the status of each call, what calls are overdue, what calls are future dated, the active and available drivers and trucks.

4) Integrated Mapping and Messaging with Drivers - As a dispatcher enters call information, integrated Mapping allows the dispatcher to find the call location quickly. They can find route information, calculate both EnRoute and Intow mileage and send driving directions and call details directly to driver cell phones, pagers, Blackberry's or in-truck laptops. This communication layer with drivers GREATLY reduces the amount of radio or phone traffic in the office.

5) Searching the Database - Being able to quickly find information in your database is key to good customer service. Being able to lookup information based on Plate, VIN, Invoice Number, etc, etc. and supply information quickly to customers or management helps reduce time in finding information in the office.

6) Service Rate Setup and Custom Price Book per Customer - Being able to setup Services based on your contracted rates with each customer eliminates the manual calculation of invoices. For example, being able to select a LIGHT DUTY TOW and having the system automatically know the price for the customer means anyone in the business can enter calls. In addition, being able to setup different types as services such as a FIXED RATE so it can't be over-ridden, or a CALCULATED RATE SERVICE so you can simply enter the billable miles on an invoice and the math is done for you and added to the invoice. This reduces errors inherent in the manual calculation of invoice totals. No more will you need pieces of paper hanging on the wall or a price book with various contracted rates that needs to be referenced every time an invoice needs to be created.

7) Driver Tow Ticket Management - Being able to assign a book of tickets or invoices to a specific driver or truck, allows you to properly manage your invoices. Knowing what tickets have been used and are still outstanding can help to eliminate the misuse of your invoices. Each driver is assigned a book of tickets and dispatchers will know the next ticket that should be used before the driver even calls the invoice number into the office. If a discrepancy occurs, it can be addressed immediately.

8) Tracking Call Times and Driver Efficiency - Being able to track the Call Time, Dispatched Time, OnScene time, Into time and Cleared time of each call can assist with reporting to Motor Clubs, Police Departments and indicate whether you need to re-evaluate your Eta's or a specific drivers training requirements. You can run reports based on Driver Call Efficiency or Customer Call Efficiency. Being able to produce reports for a customer to show them your performance is a nice marketing tool and contract negotiation tool.

9) Associating Pictures to Call Records - The ability to assign a photo or multiple photo's of an accident scene can help you to justify your invoice price with insurance company's or to defend fraudulent claims of damage from disgruntled customers.

There are multiple other benefits to running a properly architeched towing software application over simply running QuickBooks. Running QuickBooks on it's own is great for Accounting, but it was not desiged specifically for running towing operations. Some application's (including ours) integarte with QuickBooks so all invoice, payment and credit information can be synchronized with your QuickBooks database, but the information and business requirements of a towing company is much better managed in towing specific software.

Dennis...