Anonymous wrote:
Can someone please tell me the best system out there for a 60 vehicle fleet?
I don't want sat nav, but do want data. If the drivers don't know where they are, then I don't want them on my circuit.
Hi Mr Guest,
There are various suppliers of data systems in the UK all offering you various ways of dispatching a job from your office to a car.
You have said that you dont want SatNav, well thats fine then as that means that you can look at a lot more systems on the market place then.
Please consider these other options for a system:
1. Caller Identification - this may require you to purchase a nice phone system and install digital telephone lines but other some systems can pick up this information from standard lines.
2. Callback/Ringback - used to alert the customer that the car is approaching the address. This can cost you money on ANY of the data systems due to the fact that people will pick up the phone in one ring and you will be charged for that call so be aware there can be charges but its a very good product from the various suppliers.
3. Radio Coverage - When you go data you will only be given around 5watts of power (10 if your really lucky). This will certainly have a major impact on your radio coverage and might mean that you will have to re-engineer your antenna system (better quality cable (not this so called low low rubbish RG213 that most radio dealers try and get you to use), better antenna installations in vehicles etc.
I recently sorted out an Autocab site which had major problems with the system running slow, poor coverage etc. One visiting their remote radio site I found that they were using an old antenna and this so called low loss cable. Once we re-engineered the site, not only did the coverage improved but the data system started to preform a lot better, they had been have problems since day one of the system going in but no one had advised them on the best solution for their radio sites. Its something that companies dont spend enough money on and I see it all the time.
Costs of systems
Systems prices vary a lot in the UK, even more so if they are competing against each other for the business, it certainly brings the price down by 1000s of pounds.
When your looking at costs take into consideration the following:
1. On going maintenance and support costs for year 2 onwards, try and get them to give you a fixed price for a period of 3 years.
2. Costs of addtional/replacement units (Inc radios and all other bits). Get bundle prices off them for 1 unit, 5 units and 10units plus and have that put in the contract.
3. Trade in price, dont be too quick in agreeing a trade in price. You might have some really good kit which could eaisly make you some decent money (cash) from adverts in PHM, but if you have a lot of old junk then get the best trade in price possible.
4. Additions to computer system. Get fixed prices for additional operator positions just in case you need them for the future, it might suprise you how much it will cost between suppliers.
5. Prices for current NON-Warranty repairs of equipment (also watch out for the bit where this does not inc p&P and you start getting hit with large charges).
Apart from that, visit a few sites, dont just go to the one that the sales man wants you to visit, try phoning around and asking questions etc.
Also look at what they are brining out in the future, dont buy the old system with a promise of a new one in a few months time..........that few months may turn into a lot longer time than you may think.
Another thing to watch out for is anyone offering Card Readers with their system, make sure you talk to them about "Chip & Pin", as this will be the new thing from 2005 and a lot of banks etc are pushing the new cards out, no use having a system that cant handle "Chip & Pin" unless its going to cost you a lot of money to upgrade.
Last bit of advice, take minutes of your meetings with the sales people and if you really want, tape the meetings. Once you get the contract go thru it with a fine tooth comb, every bit of it. If you have any doubts consult others about it. If you want any changes made then get them down and new contracts issued, not just a just a little pencil change on the back of the page.
Buying a data system for your company will be one of the most espensive purcharses you will make and one your cheuqe has been cashed or you have signed that credit agreement acceptance form to say that your happy with the system, then you will find it hard to do much without drastic measures.
Anyway, thats my 2p worth on things. If you have any other questions then drop me a line.
regards RadioMan
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