Technological advancements enabled the towing industry to improve its reputation by becoming a first responder and a service provider to the general public. There was a point in time, when the industry suffered from a tainted reputation as a business that mainly preyed on unfortunate motorists faced with a car trouble; or at worst, a vehicular accident.
Generally, tow trucks before were regarded as a source of distress rather than relief. Prior to the advent of information and digital technologies, towing as a business simply meant responding to phone calls requesting for removal of vehicles from a private property or a tow zone, and to impound them in a storage facility.
Today, especially in San Jose and other Silicon Valley communities where many of the towing software and applications originated, towing companies successfully changed their business model into a service-oriented entity. A towing company san jose car owners would likely call on, is one that is connected to them by way of a smartphone app.
The following are some examples of how information and digital technologies have made towing service an important sub-group of the transportation industry.
Route-Creation and Location Tracking Systems
Getting a tow truck to quickly arrive at a site from whence a request for assistance originated is no longer a major problem. Through a dispatch software with GPS support, dispatchers and drivers are able to maintain constant communication that allows quick deployment of the crew nearest the customer. Using real time traffic data feeds, the company dispatcher will create or identify routes that can further lessen the travel time it will take to reach the customer.
By the way, today’s calls for assistance include troubleshooting to make the vehicle operational again. In cases where the vehicle had completely bogged down, a crew tows the vehicle for delivery to the customer’s car repair shop rather than a storage facility.
Digital Documentation with the Help of HD Cameras
It’s now standard operating procedures for tow crews to clearly document the actual condition of a vehicle before hooking it up to the tow truck. Some tow trucks are equipped with high definition cameras linked to the towing headquarters.
The built in camera and recording tools enable the company to create instant and real-time documentation that prevents unscrupulous customers from making unfounded claims of damage caused by the towing company.
Broadening Payment Systems Beyond Cash Basis
Towing companies largely operated on purely cash basis before, as its business model is one that must always have ready cash to pay for fuel, truck maintenance and repair, as well as for payment of daily and weekly wages. Fortunately, digital technology has enabled towing companies to keep up with modern payment systems. Having the capability to receive and transfer funds online, or by way of app-supported mobile banking, has made towing operations more financially manageable. After all, not all customers who suddenly find themselves dealing with roadside trouble have cash on hand to pay for emergency towing services. Setting up a digital payment system is the most practical solution for both the customer and the towing company.