Pre-made? Custom? Or SaaS? It’s a never-ending battle of pros and cons when trying to find apps that will make your rental business run smoother while giving you the best bang for the buck.
Pre-made? Tempting. It costs less up front but choosing this one-size-fits-all solution may leave you addled with useless features and not enough functionality. Custom? Seems costly but will definitely meet your needs. With SaaS (software-as-a-service), you remain at the mercy of your vendor for feature upgrades, and as fees add up over the years you may find you could have paid for a custom-fit solution instead!
Luckily, when it comes to rental business software applications, there’s another way …
eXcelisys has released a new eX-File, the eX-RentalTracker — a FileMaker Pro jump-start solution for the equipment rental industry. The app tracks inventory, bookings, returns, customer contacts, invoices and payments and includes an availability calendar. Because the basics are already there, customization is quick and easy.
The eX-RentalTracker is the best of both worlds, offering clients a software solution that’s part ready-made and part custom.
“After working with multiple customers constructing tailor-made rental tracking solutions for their businesses, we decided to build a jump-start solution for the masses,” said Doug West, eXcelisys VP for product development. “The eX-RentalTracker comes pre-built with many of the standard features our rental business clients have been requesting.”
The eX-RentalTracker is for rental businesses who’ve found out-of-the-box software solutions too clunky and custom-built systems too expensive. The eX-RentalTracker can be used on a desktop PC (Mac/Windows) with certain task-based functions available on iPads.
See the eX-RentalTracker in Action Today
Businesses interested in the eX-RentalTracker can request a FREE demo copy via the eXcelisys website. After receiving the eX-RentalTracker demo, you can tool around in the app to see how easy and intuitive it is to use. You won’t need a tutorial to figure out how the eX-RentalTracker works because the tabbed interface makes navigation a cinch. Check out the “home” screen, which includes “Quick Tasks” tabs that provide rapid access to the tasks most frequently used in rental app solutions.
The eX-RentalTracker simplifies daily processes. Features include:
- Kitting (allows multiple items to be packaged in a single rental kit)
- Barcodes/handheld scanners (for quick check-out/check-in)
- Instant invoicing (no more entering long strings of product numbers)
- Equipment tracking (prompts users to select the condition of returned items at check-in so broken inventory doesn’t get placed back on the shelf)
eX-File FileMaker Pro Templates Save Tons of Time & Money
eXcelisys has been designing jump-start FileMaker Pro template solutions since 2004 when the first edition of the FileMaker Pro BizTracker was released. Since then, the BizTracker (for sales-driven businesses) has evolved into a full lineup of eX-File solutions, including the eX-TruckingTracker (which tracks trips, mileage, and expenses) and the eX-EvalTracker (used to archive employee performance).
The eX-BizTracker has been a popular and steady jumping-off point for countless eXcelisys customers requesting software development. Ever proactive, eXcelisys developers modified the tried-and-true eX-BizTracker to create the eX-RentalTracker by adding features and functionality common to and frequently requested in the rental industry.
Recently, Birnn Chocolates of Vermont contracted with eXcelisys for a biz-tracking solution. After four generations and 101 years in business, Birnn Chocolates was ready to join the 21st century with a software upgrade to smooth daily operations. Owner Mel Fields had been using a hodgepodge of paper record-keeping, Excel spreadsheets and Google documents to keep the truffles flowing. Fields needed an up-to-date system to manage the production process, ensure order fulfillment and track the ingredients and finished goods for FDA compliance.
Instead of starting from scratch — like he does with his truffles — Fields started the process using the eX-BizTracker as a foundation for his business solution. During his hands-on experience with the eX-BizTracker demo, Fields discovered that many of the features he needed were already built into the software. “Being able to demo was essential for being able to pull the trigger and make the decision,” said Fields. Utilizing the pre-built mock-up allowed Fields to zero in quickly on modifications needed to make the software fit his unique business needs.
Fields is still awaiting his software solution as eXcelisys developers finish tweaking the eX-BizTracker build. Fields is certain he’s getting a great deal. “We spent some hours taking away features, but in the grand scheme of things, I’m quite sure we got a lot more for the money by starting with BizTracker.”
Like Birnn Chocolates, Cinema Camera Rentals recently came to eXcelisys seeking a custom inventory management app and used the eXcelisys BizTracker5 as the foundational template. “This approach helped me the most from a time standpoint,” said Cinema Camera rental manager Matt Stemmley. “Instead of dedicating the energy to figure out how I wanted the system to be laid out, I instead hit the ground running on envisioning functionality.”
Stemmley advises business owners to take advantage of the eX-RentalTracker. “Future customers of eXcelisys in any sort of rental capacity will ideally be able to start with the eX-RentalTracker base and add features as they see fit.” Stemmley says he “highly recommends” the eX-RentalTracker to anyone considering a rental app based on the FileMaker Pro platform. “In my opinion, it will save them countless hours that could be dedicated to other areas of design and functionality.”
Demo the eX-RentalTracker today. Like Birnn Chocolates, discover how pre-built FileMaker Pro templates can sweeten the deal in the search for the right and perfect software solution for your equipment rental business.
To request the eX-RentalTracker demo, click here.
To read about the Cinema Camera rental-tracking solution, click here.
To read about another eXcelisys-built rental-tracking solution, click here.
