Before You Invest in Software...

Astute business people recognize that you don't buy software for what it can do for you today, as that could place their company at high risk tomorrow. Purchasing personal or business off-the-shelf software for the here and now may be suitable, but a business system is something upon which an entire company is dependent and something that in all likelihood you'll be using for a long time.

The Problem With Software

And therein lies the problem when investing in software. How to choose software for tomorrow when you don't know what tomorrow may bring. Until the last few years purchasing was based 80% on past and current knowledge of your company and industry. The other 20% was basically a swag with best guess estimates based on industry trends.

Customer Expectations Changing

Today we know that customers want instantaneous information, improved service and lower cost. That really doesn't give you much to base a purchasing decision on as that's what customers want today. What you're interested in is what they want today and will demand tomorrow.

The desire for instantaneous information coupled with the technology flowing from Internet social networking sites has created a new breed of customer. Today's customer is increasingly becoming open-ended in their allegiances and that open-ended loyalty is becoming a challenge for any carrier wishing to entice new business while holding on to current customers. In short, technology has significantly changed---and will continue to change---customer expectations.

While virtually any software on the market today will enable a carrier to manage its resources more effectively, not taking advantage of the leading edge technology currently available may decrease business opportunity and cause profit loss in the future.  The reason is that carrier technology is driven by shipper demand and shipper demand is changing more rapidly than it has at any time in the past. That change is not something which has recently surfaced, but something that has been slowly evolving for the better part of the last decade. All indications are that change will continue to evolve and become even more robost. So the question is which technology is suitable for your business in a rapidly evolving environment?

Legacy vs Smart Client

Attempting to second guess what shipper demand and expectations will be 1, 3 or 5 years from now is folly. If you decide to head down that path, you probably should choose one of the many legacy systems from the 1980s and 1990s that are on the market today as most will supply some level of efficiency to meet current needs. However what you should do is choose a system that is based on Smart Client Technology. These systems are not the purchased static-based systems of the past, but are subscription services designed to evolve as technology evolves. The bottom line is that you are always guaranteed to have the latest technology regardless of customer demand.

Smart Client Technology uses the Internet backbone as the pathway for data and information. This communication channel enables real-time information about your entire operation to flow between  management, drivers, dispatchers and customers in real time. Having this information means the ability to provide unparalleled service and benefits to your customers; benefits to guarantee your customers' loyalty and your company’s continued growth.

Web Applications vs Smart Client

Don't be fooled by so called “web applications” that are touted by a variety of companies. A web application is basically a fancy web page, and while it does have advantages over a traditional server based system, it also has many inherent problems and limitations. Smart Client Technology on the other hand, combines the productivity and performance of desktop applications with the real time connectivity of the Internet. 

The OnTime Dispatch and Management tools are not web applications or web pages, but are “real” applications that run on your local computer, providing a rich and responsive user experience. We designed the OnTime System as a suite of applications, each designed with the best technology for each specific application. The applications automatically exchange real-time data over the Internet to other users, partners and customers.

OnTime Smart Client Technology

What makes the OnTime Smart Client Technology even better is it offers reliability impossible with any other system. If you temporarily lose your connection to the Internet, your Mobile and Dispatch systems will gracefully fall back to offline mode while you continue to perform critical business functions. That's why OnTime Mobile even works on a cell phone that is in a dead zone.

OnTime's Smart Client Technology is quickly becoming the method of choice for companies that require critical data and information flow between entities. OnTime's use of superior technology provides your company with the flexibility it requires for future profit and growth.

Software & System Providers

We are confident that OnTime provides not only the greatest value in Carrier Software, but also provides the quickest ROI in the industry. We encourage you to review the software and services of our competitors as we are confident that you too will see the OnTime value. You will find a listing of those providers here: Software & System Providers