The system is a state of the art dispatching system. It combines the power of the internet with the reach of the mobile phone network (GPRS) to provide what is arguably the most sophisticated, yet cost effective, dispatching system available today.
A key feature of the system is that the booking Operator, the dispatching computer, and the cars are all seamlessly linked using the internet. The Operator can be anywhere there is an internet connection and the vehicles can be anywhere there is mobile phone coverage. The system is ideally suited for call centres as an Operator anywhere can handle any number of fleets.
The system consists of four main components. These are briefly described below:
The Dispatching component uses complex algorithms to fairly dispatch jobs based on a number of rules. Dispatching utilises existing mobile phone networks to communicate between the call centre and the vehicles. This component also tracks vehicles using GPS where they can be displayed on maps giving Fleet Managers an instant bird’s eye view of the location of the vehicles.
The Booking component allows users to book a taxi through several methods. Bookings can be made by a call centre Operator via the user friendly Dispatch Client. Customers can book by sending a Simple Message Service (SMS) from their mobile phone with their pickup location details or via the internet using the system’s Express Booker website.
The Reporting component utilises the high bandwidth available from using GPRS to collect and record data such as the position of the Vehicle and significant events (e.g. meter being switched on/off). With the data being able to be stored indefinitely, reports can be produced for analysis by vehicle owners, Fleet managers, drivers, industry regulators and law enforcement agencies.
The Docket Killer component takes the burden out of everyday bookkeeping tasks. If drivers record payments onto the system as they are made, what were traditionally manual tasks such as generating customer invoices and end-of-shift/bailment reports are now automatically generated with a few clicks of mouse, saving time and money.
