Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL)
Overview
Shafer's Service Systems is excited to introduce a powerful new vehicle tracking system called AVL. This new technology enables dispatchers or
other back office personnel to locate vehicles, live and in real-time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week right from the Shafer's Dispatch Board.
GPS coordinates are stored (speed, travel times, etc.) and analyzed for vehicle abuse and will send alert notifications to designated system
users if fraudulent behavior is detected. Alerts may be sent for technicians who are speeding or who are traveling out of a designated zone and more. The exciting news, and what sets Shafer's apart from many third-party vehicle location providers, is that we integrate AVL into your existing system so new data is received with minimal effort in the back office. This powerful new system integrates with Dispatching, Accounts Receivable, and more!
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· Back Office Integration
Shafer's has integrated AVL with our own software management program to provide you with a powerful fleet monitoring system right at your
fingertips. You'll be able to access AVL directly from the main menu or the dispatch board (images shown at right). No third-party software is required to locate your vehicles and there are no monthly fees.*
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· Hardware
The AVL hardware is easily installed into your service vehicles. The small (102 x 128 x 41mm) black box is easily hidden or placed out of the technician's way and a small antenna is placed
on the roof of the vehicle. Simply plug the box into the vehicle's cigarette lighter and away you go! The box may also be connected to the main battery.
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· Image and Color Coordination
Shafer’s AVL Map continues the same image and color schemes found throughout the Dispatch Board. When the map is opened, industrial, residential and commercial customer icons will easily be recognized. In addition, colors indicate the type of call (green indicates a maintenance agreement, etc.). Completed calls and billed calls are also distinguishable.
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· Vehicle Location
Locate your vehicles in real-time, directly from your Shafer's Dispatch Board. Shafer's Map Link will display a small truck icon on a map along with the technician number, current date and time.
If the last received gps coordinate was stored over 5 minutes before a user requests the location of a vehicle, the truck icon will be displayed in red, alerting users that the technician has most likely stopped and remained stationary for a period of time.
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· Crumb Trail
As the technician travels, his GPS coordinates are accumulated and stored within the AVL system. This allows the technicians
trail to be captured. Use AVL to show the day's complete trail or break up the trail in to am/pm sections. You can also use
Shafer's Map Link to show the trail for a specific call.
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· Landmarks
Most third-party vehicle location systems require manual entry of landmarks (service locations). Because Shafer's AVL system is truly integrated,
customer addresses are already in the database. Service calls display according to the address that is already listed with the master file.
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· Create Technician Groups
Shafer's AVL will allow you to create technician groups in order to locate more than just one vehicle at a time. If groups are set up similar to your department settings (plumbing, electrical, etc.), when a service call needs to be dispatched, it will be easier to view all of the technicians who are qualified to provide service and then who is closest to that service location. Or you can use these settings to monitor a specific group of technicians who you may suspect of fraudulent activity.
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· Integrated with Mobile Office
Shafer's AVL was also designed to integrate with the Shafer's Mobile Office software package. So, if your company is currently using Mobile Office, you'll be amazed with what you can do. Knowing where your technicians are located or if they arrived late to a job helps you create better policies which in turn help you provide better customer service. This entire package will enforce the security of your fleet while making the technician's job easier, not to mention your back office personnel.
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