The PODFather
and robust PDA ePOD system
with integrated tracking.
And there's a portal for your customers to log in to.
What would your staff be doing if they weren't shuffling job sheets ?
Are you sure you're invoicing every job you complete ?
Would it help if your customers paid you sooner ?
Have you lost contracts to competitors ?
Know where your field staff are and their current status.
Receive their signed sheets & photos back within seconds of completion.
Automatically forward a PDF with signature to your customer.
eMail your PDF invoice the same day.
The PODFather is more than proof of delivery
Backoffice
You access the secure backoffice system using a web browser.
Dashboard
A view of your business in real time, showing busiest customers, sites and drivers. Plus jobs not yet allocated to a driver.
Customers & Sites
Customers have one or more collection/delivery sites. Upload a list of your customers/sites from CSV, or create them on the fly as you create a job.
Depots & Users
Set up backoffice Users so they only see jobs from a specific depot and backoffice Administrators who can see all jobs.
Vehicles & Tariffs
The vehicle database keeps a tab on MOT and insurance dates, and lets global and customer-specific tariffs be set up per vehicle type.
Products
Products are in Merchandising Groups, and may be priced globally or per customer.
Jobs
Choose one of our existing job templates to capture all the information you need your driver to know, or let us customise one to your specification.
Creating Jobs
Selecting details from dropdown boxes (Customer/Sites/Tariffs etc) means creating a job is quick and painless. Give your customer a priced quote, including mileage calculation, on the spot.
Job Allocation
Allocate jobs to drivers in four ways: drag'n'drop jobs into runs; drag'n'drop jobs onto a calender; visualise on a Google map and plan a route; view jobs at all statuses and select a driver from a drop-down.
PODs
View PDF proof-of-delivery (POD) or job sheets within seconds of your field staff completing them. Use one of our existing layouts with your uploaded logo, or let us customise the look of the POD to your specification.
Automatic eMail of PODs
Your customer receives an eMail with the PDF POD attached within seconds of the job being complete.Invoicing
Batch PODs together into invoices. Produce PDF invoices using your logo and one of our templates, or let us customise the look of the invoice for you. Post the invoices directly into Sage.
Subcontractors
Using subbies ? Have to pay them ? Tag drivers as subcontractors. Group their PODs into one payment. Send them a PDF of completed PODs.
Customer Services
Create a Customer Services ticket and log a history of actions taken. Tickets can be created automatically when a driver ticks a box on their PDA.
Importing Jobs
The PODFather open application program interface (API) allows jobs to be imported to The PODFather from existing IT systems. More info hereTracking
Where are they now ?
Current GPS positions of PDAs shown on an integrated Google Map, with driver names and status.
Snail trail
View part or all of drivers' route, including waypoint markers showing jobs.
"On Our Way" eMails/texts
Configure automatic eMails/texts to customers when driver is approaching site.PDA
Your drivers access The PODFather using a Windows Mobile PDA.
No signal - no worries
Once the PDA has downloaded job details to its onboard database, it doesn't matter if the driver goes out of mobile coverage - the job can still be completed on the PDA including photos and signature capture.Secure
The PDA talks to the PODFather using the same SSL secure encryption technology that your bank uses, so your customer and job details are safe from snooping.Job list
View the list of jobs grouped by Run/Route name. Re-sort the order of the jobs on the screen.Job details
Default job details shown include Customer, Address, For Attention Of, special instructions and delivery due by time.Job status
Notify the backoffice of a status change to the job (eg "Freight Onboard").Complex or Simple
The PDA allows simple information to be captured, such as quantity delivered, confirmation of barcode scanning of products, up to a complex logic-based question-and-answer set grouped in multiple tabs.Confirm Items
Barcoded products can be scanned to confirm them, or the product list tapped with the stylus on the screen (if the PDA doesn't have a barcode scanner).Add items
Extra items to be signed for (eg Van Sale spares) can be added to the job on the fly.Photos
Take photos attached to a specific item (eg to show damages) or to the job.Timesheet
Enforce completion of timesheet information before job is signed off.Name and Signature
Capture the recipient's name in a text field, and get them to sign on the screen with the stylus. Read an opinion on the legality of electronic signatures here.Completion
Complete the job and queue it up for transmission to the backoffice.Create job
Create a job on the PDA, and notify the backoffice of it.Vehicle Check sheets
RHA-approved vehicle check sheets - enforce one to be completed at the start and end of a shift, and store the captured details in The PODFather.Customer Portal
