Choosing the correct route accounting system for your company is one of the most important things you can do to increase the efficiency of your business. With over 17 years of experience, helping several propane companies improve their office and route operations, we understand the unique nature of your business. We have the knowledge and expertise to seamlessly help you automate your operations.

After many hours of development, feedback, and enhancements, our Route Manager software is the best Windows-based route management systems on the market. Route Manager has been specifically designed to meet the needs of the bulk and cylinder exchange operations in the propane industry. They make this happen by utilizing handheld computers on-route.

RMA (Route Manager Advanced) Software

RMA was designed to automate office operations and make field data collection easier through the use of powerful desktop software and handheld computers. RMA software tracks customers, inventory, merchandisers, products sold, and much more. Below you will see how customer information is stored, and also a few of the 200+ associated reports. This is just a glimpse of the capability of the software. Contact us at 888.294.7688 for a personal demonstration, or fill out the short form on our contact page.

Storing Customer Information

• The Customer Information screen is the most often-used screen in the software
• Divided into 6 tabs, each controlling a different function of the customer’s account
• The “Info Tab” is highlighted below to show billing information for this account
• It is also possible to assign sales representatives to the account
• This sets up an email address so that statements, invoices, and remittance notices can be sent quickly and efficiently.

Note: The toolbar on the right side of the screen allows you to easily lookup and browse through customers as well as edit, save, delete, cancel or print customer information.

Keeping Track of Payments and Balances

On the Finance tab there is a variety of information available including the account balance, past due amounts, returned checks, last transaction and payment, as well as any finance charges that have been applied.

The Invoice Lookup

Under the “Totals” heading you will notice a button that reads Invoice Lookup. This feature automatically stores invoices electronically and eliminates the need for them to be stored in a filing cabinet. Easily allowing you to look up and maintain your customer records. If you click on the date of the desired invoice, an image of the invoice including the customer signature will be displayed. From this this screen, with one button you can print, fax or email the selected invoice to your customer!

While on route the delivery driver will collect the customers signature after a stop is made. You can easily view this receipt with the customers signature from within the software.

The Credit Tab

Here you can manage many different aspects of your customers account. Bank and credit card information, service contracts, credit terms, and service charges are all easily utilized within this screen. You can also use customer retention tools like promotional pricing and reward points.

The Contacts Tab

This tool tracks all contact that your company has with your customers. Keeping notes every time a delivery is made, an order comes in, a change is made to their account, or even if they just call the office to ask a question. This will help your company to provide superior customer service. Follow up calls can also be scheduled from this screen and reminders sent to make sure you don’t miss an important call. Notes from the drivers can also be displayed to improve communication between employees in the field and in the office.

The Route Tab

This tab allows you to easily dispatch and schedule any customer and gives you the flexibility to meet any request. Each customer can have up to 100 stops to give you ultimate flexibility in servicing your accounts. Service any customer any time!

Our powerful software is designed to give your drivers the tools to access any customer any time, even those off route! This allows them to service any customer without retrieving additional information from the office.

Route Calendar

Notice the calendar icon on the screen above. When pressed, our intuitive scheduling system allows changes to be made to the schedule in moments and provides easy access to your customers next scheduled delivery date.

 

The Products Tab

This tab will allow you to accurately track which merchandiser is at each customers location. You will also be able to easily manage rents. Take advantage of 10 default pricing levels, quantity discount pricing, and many other tools that will increase profits, simplify the delivery process, and eliminate mathematical errors. Each customer can have their own unique default products menu so that drivers can quickly and easily access the products that are specific to individual customer needs.

Route Optimization

Another great feature is our Advanced Mapping with Route Optimization feature. Using the information that is already in RMA the Advanced mapping program will generate the most effective delivery route including turn by turn directions. Driving less allows your drivers to make more stops in a day and save on gas thereby increasing your profitability and your customer service.

Reporting

Route Manager Advanced has the most powerful reporting features allowing you to track all aspects of your business. It is broken down into reports for Accounting, Management, Communication, Route, Equipment, Warehouse, Inventory, EDI, Statements and more. Below is just a few of the more than 200 reports available from within the software.

 

Handheld Computers

The handheld computer and software is what will make your life easier. With the handheld, you will almost eliminate driver errors, equipment will be tracked better, you will be able to eliminate route tickets and that means a much happier office staff that no longer has the tedious data entry tasks and can focus on growing the business. Combined with a small portable printer, you will now have your customers signature, be able to take orders and everything will be organized. Your driver has access to several capabilities while on route with their handheld. Below is a brief explanation of the options available to them from the handheld’s main menu screen.

The driver can access and service their routes.

View product and inventory on their truck.

Use this to load or unload product from the truck.

 

Quickly jot down notes or reminders.

Change the current route schedule.

Get GPS directions. (Tom Tom is required.)

 

Quick access to a calculator.

The tools and utilities menu.

Exit and log off the handheld.

 

A Typical Route Stop

Below are actual screens from the handheld that your driver will use on a typical stop.

When your driver clicks on the service route button a list of the scheduled stops appear in the order that they should be serviced. When they select a customer they will receive directions and site instructions.

In the bottom right corner there is a picture of two roads splitting. This is the off route feature. After clicking on that button, the driver can search for any customer by account number, name, etc.

 

1. Then they select the products and items that the customer is going to purchase. They also have the ability to apply payments and change quantities.
2. After they select their choices, they can review the transaction with the customer.
3. Once satisfied, the customer signs their name on the screen. The driver can then print a receipt and leave it with the customer. The customer’s signature is stored with the invoice and the office staff can pull it up if necessary at a further time.
4. The driver then proceeds to the next stop on the route.

Always be in contact with your Driver

Have you ever wanted to send your driver a customer order or want to delete an order, RM Live allows you to manage your routes in real time.
The office can send and receive work order to and from the drivers handheld for absolute control of your route enabling you to manage your business better.

 

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Click here to learn which version of Route Manager would fit your company’s needs best.Call us toll free at 888.294.7688 to be shown a full demonstration of the software or fill out the form below and a representative will contact you.

“We needed a solution to better track equipment and other fixed assets in the field while also storing customer information in one centralized location. With 11 employees and two locations I feel I have better control of the company now since implementing RMA. With just a few clicks I can access vital and accurate company information.”
-Morris, Mobile Propane