Costs are RisingTechnology to the Rescue?

If you could increase revenues, reduce expenses and improve profits without adding a single truck,
employee or computer, would you do it? Of course you would. And many of your competitors are
doing that now, but how?

A new technology has been quietly gaining acceptance in home comfort in recent years, but most
fuel delivery and field service companies are only just catching on. Are you aware of how much more
your business can accomplish with the latest smartphones and mobile devices than with the older
cell phones that they are replacing?

Potential Cost Savings

The advent of smartphones and tablets is ushering in new opportunity for fuel delivery and field
service companies. Programmed with the new delivery and field service software, these low-cost
devices are helping small and medium-size businesses squeeze more profits out of their operations
than they had thought possible. Get a lot more information about Digital Age Apps

Can technology really help small companies obtain more benefit from a business that has already
carefully fine-tuned each part of the operation over years of dedicated efforts? Well, ask the small
oil/gas drilling companies who installed new fracking technology and saw their profits multiply by
10. Ask FedEx, the granddaddy of fast delivery, who is in the midst of transitioning from expensive,
single-function handsets to a smartphone with a FedEx app. They expect to save $70 million on the
devices alone and make more than that in efficiency improvements. Ask the dairy farmer who went
from milking cows one at a time to 10 at a time via new technology.

New technology can be a major change agent in an industry. Imagine what it must have been like
years ago to be the delivery guy with a trusty horse and buggy while some upstarts were starting to

use trucks and cars. Technology can create new winners and losers overnight. Can new technology
really improve revenues and cut costs? Yes and Yes.

Powerful Devices

So what is the new breakthrough and how can it help your business? First, consider the laptop or
desktop computer you regularly work on now. If it is over three years old, then it has less power
than the newest smartphones and tablets. This means that when we equip our driver and techs with
a smartphone or tablet, they essentially have more computing power than most anyone in the
organization all in a ruggedized, and often waterproof package that can fit in their pocket or hang
on their hip. With the right software this can enable them (and us) to do more a lot more in less
time.

The new revolution in smartphone/tablet computing lets us combine several important

dispatching/distribution/field management tools all on a single device. As the illustration shows, only
the biggest and most profitable companies in fuel delivery traditionally could afford point-of-sale
invoicing equipment, route optimization software and fleet tracking solutions. Those software
packages provided benefits, but they ost a lot a d did t al ays i terfa e ith eters, registers, or
back office software.

Now with the computing power present in a smartphone or tablet, all these solutions can be
combined. So with virtually no hardware costs and virtually no installation costs, small and medium
size businesses can leverage technology in a way that even the biggest companies have not been
able to do.

Using software designed for smartphones and tablets, small and mid-size fuel companies can obtain
the same benefits that have helped larger companies obtain higher profits per customer. Many
independent studies show that only 20 percent of delivery and service companies have implemented
a point-of-sale or fleet tracking system, but the adoption is expected to change dramatically with the
rise of this new, lower-cost model.

Diagra 1: Costs a d e efits do t al ays

dedicated devices.
Numerous Benefits

at h up he

o pa ies deploy soft are o

ultiple

So what are the benefits to this solution? There are many. For starters, with route optimization
installed on a smartphone, not only can you save 10 to 20 percent in mileage, fuel, maintenance and
delivery payroll (think 2-3 extra deliveries per driver per day), but you can now re-optimize routes
on-the-fly, making unexpected deliveries profitable rather than costly. Clerical work gets eliminated,
as all end-of-day work is electronically batch uploaded. An hour per driver per day is saved in routing
and dispatching time, freeing dispatchers and drivers/technicians to perform more profitable work.
Dispatchers also have another couple of hours freed up every day via electronic dispatch, and they
can improve routing and forecasting, further improving customer delivery and service efficiency.

Most companies that implement the multi-function field management system available via new
mobile smartphone/tablet technology are able to improve profits by an average of $20,000 to
$40,000 per driver or technician. Most of these savings come from improved efficiencies that help
companies reduce payroll and fleet expenses.

Best of all, with smartphone apps for point of sale invoicing, route optimization, fleet tracking,
i e tory tra ki g a d ore, youre usi g a de i e that you a get irtually for free! Most
companies that go this route find that by re-subscribing for their present field cell phone plans, their
cell phone carriers subsidize the costs associated with purchasing a new smartphone or tablet. They
are able to get the newest military spec, ruggedized smartphone or tablet for next to nothing, and
can do it again in two years when their contract is up.

Diagram 2: Consolidating multiple applications on a tablet or smartphone reduces equipment costs

and increases number of cost saving tools.
Lower Operating Costs

Imagine a five-truck operation getting an additional $150,000 in bottom line profits via the new
mobile technology that is available now. This is the new way businesses in our industry are going to
grow profits and fend off the ever-increasing costs of doing business. Some companies that
implement smartphone apps are finding an opportunity to invest more in sales, marketing, customer
service and growth, while others are taking the profits as a windfall.

This new software can be used on smartphones and tablet computers, which are readily available
and relatively inexpensive, making upfront equipment costs as little as one tenth of what they used
to be. Employees only need to learn one device and software system, and the company can upgrade
software quickly and easily. Some of the solutions and benefits are as follows.

 Route opti izatio soft are e a les o pa ies to o plete

per day.

ore deli eries a d/or ser i e alls

Real-time wireless dispatch software increases safety, because drivers and techs automatically get
all e jo s dire tly o the pho e/ta let so they do t ha e to stop ork, dri e to the side of the
road, or play phone tag with the dispatcher.

A o i atio of ele tro i dispat h a d i sta t route opti izatio a free up dispatchers to
perform other functions, because the time they spend routing is cut from hours to a few minutes.

Poi t-of-sale invoicing from a smartphone or tablet means no more lost paperwork; reduced
customer invoice issues; fewer invoice errors; and faster customer payment. The system can connect
to a printer on the truck and record all delivery/service information, prints exact costs, discounts,
taxes, additional fees, time, date, special messages, etc. It helps your drivers/techs work faster and
makes their jobs easier.

You a si plify your o oard te h ology a d eli i ate the eed for ultiple syste s like GPS
fleet tracking equipment, single function point-of-sale computers, route optimization solutions and
inventory tracking systems.

Good Screen Sizes

Some wonder if the viewable screen on new smartphones or tablets are large enough. In fact, the
newest smartphones have larger screens than the best handhelds being sold today. Here is a quick
comparison of the Samsung Note 3 and the leading handheld sold in our industry, the Intermec CN3.

Samsung Note 3 Intermec CN3

S ree Size 3.

RAM 16,000-64,000 MB 128 MB

Speed 1960 MHz (Fast) 520MHz

Weight 182 grams 454 grams

Cost $200 $3,000 to $5,000

Year of release 2013 2006

Can act as full time cell Yes No (typically drivers and techs carry

a cell phone and plan)

Live Real Time Updates Yes Maybe (requires additional costs)

Signature capture Yes Yes

Turn-by-turn directions Yes (included) ? (may require additional fees)

Access to online apps Yes (included) No

Battery life 21 hours talk time 13 hours (no talk time)

Barcode scanner Yes (included) Yes (may require additional fees)

New smartphones actually provide an upgrade from the best handhelds presently used in the
industry, and the new tablets have even bigger screens.

Another important advantage is the ability to consolidate all the mobile software on one device,
which can mean lower expenses for hardware and training, compared to multiple-device solutions.
There is no downside to the lower equipment costs associated with smartphone-based apps,
because the smartphone apps can support features similar to those supported by costlier handheld
devices.

Additional Advantages

Another benefit of using smartphones is that they are easy to protect with after-market protective
cover solutions that make the devices waterproof and shockproof. These are available online or
from a local store. Also, with the growing popularity of smartphones, companies are finding their
employees to be familiar and comfortable using the devices. Get additional details about Internet
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Additionally, insurance policies for smartphones are inexpensive in comparison to a few years ago. A
company can purchase insurance on smartphones and tablets through their cell phone company for
pe ies e ery o thtry to do that ith the old ha d held or i - a o puters. Do t tell the
competitors but you can replace all your smartphones virtually for free every 2 years! No more
capital replacement costs 5-10 yrs down the road.

Smartphones and tablets are helping delivery and service companies connect to their field
employees and improve their performance and bottom line like never before. Do t get left
behind. Check out the new smartphone and tablet technologies today.