As we mentioned in our earlier blog posts, any equipment rental business not currently using rental software is likely doing itself a serious disservice. At this point, your competitors are already offering their customers the flexibility, convenience and buying experience they are looking for through a software solution.
Not only is offering customers the ability to book their equipment online the new industry standard, the business benefits of using a software solution are considerable. Software enables your business to take reservations at any time of the day or night (rather than only when staffed), it also delivers faster payments, improved time management, improved insight into performance, and frees up your team to spend more time with customers. Beyond that, this software also provides a frictionless method of offering upsells to customers to increase your margins.
Below, we take a look at the two most popular solutions:
EZ Rent Out
A popular choice, this software gains points for an intuitive UI and attention to tracking every last piece of equipment.
Pros:
- Ease of Use
- Customer Support
- Robust Features
- Free trial offering
Cons:
- Less flexible than other options
- Reporting can be cumbersome to customize
- Invoice printing options are limited
Zozi Advance
An all-in-one platform that boasts the claim “The #1 Online Booking Software for Rentals.” With excellent customer onboarding and robust features, Zozi offers month-to-month invoicing, avoiding long-term contrats.
Pros:
- Low credit card processing fees
- Unlimited users
- Ability to automate emails to customers
Cons
- No POS features for merchandise
- No calendar view to gain insight into larger time frames
While these are two of the more popular options, there are dozens of others that will likely help you to accomplish the same end goal. Ask the software providers to send examples of current customers’ portals within your industry, so you can walk through the process from your customer’s perspective. Many providers also specialize in certain activities, so be certain to select one that understands the needs of your business.
