Blog Post

Record360 for Small Businesses: Leveling the Playing Field

March 13, 2025 by record_360

Whether you’re a small business leasing out rental equipment or operating in the trucking industry, managing your fleet of vehicles or equipment without inspection software can be challenging. Inconsistent inspection management, lack of compliance, or the inability to leverage powerful analytics can hinder your company’s growth.

Fortunately, there are many solutions you can invest in to manage your rental equipment efficiently and scale your small business. Record360 offers robust and affordable inspection software that addresses the most common problems rental operators face, helping them save hundreds of thousands of dollars and improve customer relationships.

Why Are Digital Inspections Important for Small Businesses?

Most small rental businesses use outdated tools and techniques to record data and inspect their equipment. Manual paperwork can be tedious to manage and error-prone, negatively impacting data collection and, in turn, affecting strategic decision-making.

Another challenge faced by businesses using traditional checklists for inspections is the lack of data visibility. Small rental operators cannot access real-time information about their vehicles or heavy equipment, which hinders their ability to conduct timely maintenance and save thousands of dollars in repair costs.

Companies can streamline operations, build trust, and ensure growth by adopting rental business solutions like digital inspections. It offers an extensive checklist that reduces inspection times from one hour to just a few minutes.

Digital inspections also lower the risk of human errors, letting small rental operators view data about their vehicles or equipment whenever they want on their mobile devices.

How Record360 Is Affordable and Scalable for Smaller Operations

Record360 is revolutionizing the heavy equipment, truck and trailer, and auto rental industry. It is a robust software that allows cost-effective inspections by cutting down on manual paperwork and digitizing the entire inspection process (before and after rental contracts).

Unlike other rental business solutions, Record360 is a user-friendly, affordable platform with a first class onboarding process and continuous support by a team of experts, making it an excellent option for small business owners.

Key Features of Record360 That Can Benefit Small Businesses

Record360 offers a wide range of features to monitor and track your fleet of vehicles or equipment. These include the following:

Digital inspections: Record360 replaces manual paperwork by digitizing the inspection process via our mobile app and displaying information on a single platform for your team members.
Integrations: Record360 integrates with many tools small businesses are already using, some of which include Procede and TSD Rental, among others. If you need specialized integration, our team of experts is here to help!
Consistent service requests: Rental operators and their customers receive notifications to carry out scheduled maintenance or preventative service to improve the lifespan of the assets and reduce repair expenses.
Efficient communication: Rental companies can use Record360 to connect with customers via emails or texts. This is an important thing for small businesses, as it’s much more convenient than phone calls and saves a lot of time.

Are you in the transportation or rental equipment industry? Record360 helps small businesses by leveling the playing field, allowing them to improve operational efficiency, enhance asset security, and reduce unnecessary expenses at a fraction of the cost.

Call us at 206-489-3290 or schedule a free demo online and learn how we can help scale your operations in the same way as other more expensive tools!

The ROI of Record360: Real Numbers, Real Results

March 11, 2025 by record_360

When rental businesses consider advanced solutions to digitize pen and paper checklist, store photos and videos in one centralized mobile platform, decrease damage disputes, and improve customer relationships, they’re looking for a higher return on investment (ROI) to offset the potential costs of using innovative tools. Monitoring and tracking ROI can help companies with strategic decision-making processes.

Record360 began in 2013 by promoting video captures and checklists for the rental industry before launching a robust application to digitize equipment inspections, contracts, and more. We have helped many businesses unlock their true revenue potential, improve fleet inspections, and reduce operational costs with in-depth analysis of key metrics.

Material Handling Inc. Achieved 30% More Efficiency with Record360

Material Handling Inc. (MHI) has been a leading supplier of material handling and forklift solutions across North Georgia, Middle Tennessee, Southeast Tennessee, and Southern Kentucky. The company has more than six locations and 46 service vans, providing timely repair services.

With thousands of pieces of rental equipment, MHI was using digital cameras to capture visual evidence and USB drives to track the condition of its assets. Due to a lack of data points and inefficient processes, a single inspection took the company over an hour to complete.

MHI decided to work with Record360 to record data and track key metrics across the six locations. The company gained insights into the assets at each of its branches and automatically sent invoices or documentation to clients via email.

Record360 has taken our entire physical inspection process down from about an hour to about 15 to 20 minutes. – TJ Bryant, Rental Coordinator, MHI-Chattanooga Branch

According to TJ Bryant, a rental coordinator at one of MHI’s locations, the intuitive application:

Reduced the inspection process from one hour to just 20 minutes
Saved $5000 in repair costs at an MHI branch, as the company was able to show proof of damage

Komatsu West Scaled Their Equipment Rental Revenue to $60 Million with Record360

Here is another effective case study showcasing how investing in Record360 solutions can boost ROI.

Komatsu West is an equipment rental company with a fleet of over 700 construction and mining machines. The business expanded to 11 locations and invested in more than 600 attachments to enhance its offerings.

However, as the company continued to grow, Komatsu West faced a serious concern that affected its bottom line. A lack of oversight and traditional visual capturing methods made it challenging to identify issues with the equipment, resulting in a lower sale value.

It was actually very easy to implement. Everybody was excited to have it and I never heard any complaints from employees. – Joel Cook, EVP of Mining, Construction, and Rental Sales

Komatsu West partnered with Record360 to:

Automate rental documentation
Document damages to outgoing and inbound heavy equipment
Expedite the completion of repairs
Build additional trust among renters

This partnership helped achieve tens of thousands of dollars in cost savings and scale the business’s rental sales from $5 million to $60 million.

Midway Chevrolet Achieved a 100% Damage Expense Recovery with Record360

Midway Chevrolet is a local dealership with a Rent-A-Car program that allows prospective customers to rent a new vehicle while their car is in for service or maintenance. It’s an excellent solution for those who need a temporary replacement and can’t be without an automobile for a few days.

When handling insurance claims for rental vehicles, Midway Chevrolet faced obstacles along the way. Due to low-quality documentation, the company struggled to recoup expenses or dispute damages.

With Record360, no insurance company says “no” to my claims. – Nina Cosiano, Dealer Rent A Car Manager

By working with Record360, Midway Chevrolet was able to:

5x time savings on insurance claims
16,850+ successful inspections runs through Record360
Achieve a 100% damage expense recovery

Key Takeaways: An Overview of Record360 ROI Potential

At Record360, we’ve helped create compelling case studies and avoid exaggerating the specific benefits of our solutions just to grab the reader’s attention. Instead, our innovative app delivers real, measurable results for partners across different industries, enabling them to:

Create fully customizable workflows for faster, more efficient inspections.
Capture crystal-clear images of asset conditions before and after rental contracts.
Automatically send service status notifications, ensuring quick corrective actions and reducing response times.
Optimize fleet management with hard data-driven insights and instantly share reports with team members.

Tired of the Same Results? Let Record360 Help Manage Your Fleet!

With Record360, many companies have built trust with their clients and potential customers, improving brand recognition and achieving their business goals.

Use our robust app to take your own business to the next level. Visit our case study page to explore more success stories, and call us at 206-489-3290 to schedule a free demo of our innovative solutions today!

Beyond the Checklist: How Record360’s Data Analytics Improve Decision Making

March 6, 2025 by record_360

Gone are the traditional days of filling out lengthy checklists and forms before rental contracts. Businesses are adopting innovative solutions that capture details about rental equipment and use powerful analytics to drive actionable insights.

Data-driven decisions enable rental operators to tackle challenges in operations, inspections, and damage claims. Record360 is the leading app for digital inspections with many key features for recording rental equipment data and tracking key equipment inspection analytics.

What Data Does Record360 Track?

Record360 allows rental businesses to tackle many data points to complete inspections faster and eliminate damage disputes. These include the following:

Equipment or vehicle inspection results: Record360’s rental software allows businesses to capture photos of the equipment before and after the rental contract. It provides guided prompts to take pictures from different angles, ensuring high-quality images every time.
Proof of signatures: With Record360, businesses can take e-signatures using the digital application. It sends auto-generated emails of signatures and copies of inspections to the clients and stores them online.
Maintenance: Scheduling maintenance with Record360’s intuitive software is easy. It lets businesses capture data regarding the condition of their equipment, allowing them to identify issues and perform preventative maintenance.
Inventory management: With Record360, rental companies can record and track rental equipment conditions, allowing for better and more efficient inventory management.

How Can Record360 Visualize and Analyze Data?

Record360 offers a comprehensive dashboard with easy-to-read downloadable metrics and insights, including total checkouts, inspection duration, total damage, and damage over time. On the same page, it provides line graphs and pie charts to illustrate important details, allowing businesses to make data-driven decisions.

Practical Examples of How Rental Businesses Can Use This Data

Companies can leverage rental inspection, maintenance, and real-time data in various ways. They can:

Identify problematic areas and address issues before they arise with a particular piece of equipment.
Optimize maintenance schedules to minimize excessive wear and tear, ensuring better fleet management.
Predict equipment failures and take immediate action to reduce downtime.

Don’t Just Take Our Word for It—Here Are Some Case Studies Showcasing the Power of Data-Driven Decisions!

The following are some of the success stories shared by business owners using Record360 rental software:

PDQ Rentals Improved Inspection Data with Straightforward Interface

PDQ Rentals, a leader in the Southern California rental market since 1909, manages six locations, 300 employees, and a busy schedule of 180 deliveries and 125 pickups daily. Moving away from paper-based inspections, they found in Record360 a way to enhance how they document and share equipment conditions.

With Record360, employees no longer need to switch between systems to upload photos or manage inspection data. The app’s intuitive features, such as thumbs-up/down checklists and integrated GPS, make it simple for every team member to use from day one.

Midway Chevrolet Achieves 100% Damage Expense Recovery

Midway Chevrolet faced a serious issue with its Dealer Rent a Car program, which provides new vehicle rentals to customers having their cars serviced. The rental business team reported an increase in claim disputes due to poor documentation quality.

Since adopting Record360’s software, Midway Chevrolet has been better equipped with photos, videos, and geo-tagging, allowing it to effectively pursue damages in case of accidents. This has helped the rental business save time and money.

Aim Transportation Strengthens Client Relationships

Aim Transportation, a large fleet rental company, relied on a paper-based inspection process that required discussing uncomfortable details about damages with clients. This traditional approach was time-consuming and often strained customer relationships.

Since partnering with Record360, Aim Transportation has been able to accurately document asset conditions and leverage equipment inspection analytics to expedite claims and build client trust.

Record360: Rental Inspection Software

Regardless of your industry — heavy equipment, truck & trailer, or auto — there is room to increase billable claims, reduce damage expenses, and deliver superior customer experiences with accurate, well-documented photos and videos.

Ready to upgrade your rental inspection processes with Record360? Request a demo today or give us a call at (206) 489-3290.

Unlock Your Record360 Potential: A Guide to Record360 University

March 4, 2025 by record_360

Heavy equipment, truck & trailer, and auto rental management is a complex industry with large volumes of data and equipment to handle. The demand for a comprehensive platform for capturing images, inspections, schedule management, and much more is high- which is where Record360 comes in.

Record360’s track record for improving workflow, efficiency, damage collections, and productivity is undeniable, and it is crucial to adopt modern solutions to stay competitive. That said, onboarding and training is essential and must be a focus. Record360 places significant emphasis on this area.

What is Record360 University?

In short, the University is Record360’s learning hub. It covers various software elements and how to use them. The web-based platform gives people the detailed guidance they need when learning how to use the technology.

What Training Resources are Available?

The Record360 University training material collection consists of:

Detailed tutorial videos
Full walkthrough of our platform
Zapier integration instructions

The Benefits of Record360 University

We want you to get the most out of Record360, best practices, how-to’s, and that is what the University feature provides. The core advantage of this feature is that it enables a person or company to have a better understanding and more control over how they use the software after the initial Record360 premium onboarding process.

Here are just some of the ways Record360 University benefits its users:

You can tailor the way you use the software to your business better if you have a deeper understanding of its features.
A guide can quickly point users toward the solutions they need to deal with real-life situations.
It makes training new staff much easier and streamlines the post-onboarding process.
Reduce the risk of mistakes with proper, ongoing, and accessible training.
More efficient and productive workflow.
The overall return on investment for the platform is greater due to additional training resources with continued, updated training for new Record360 features.

How to Access Record360 University

All you need to do to access Record360 University is to navigate to our Zendesk home page and go to the “Record360 University” tab. A selection of reading materials is always available, and you can walk through the guide. Management can also share this page to their team members for further knowledge.

Example of Training Materials

A recent example of Record360 training is the “Full Walkthrough & Training” video guide which demonstrates a detailed and comprehensive look at Record360’s mobile app and online dashboard. This nearly 17 minute detailed video quickly explains the entire inspection process from start to finish. Great for anyone who needs a refresher after the initial onboarding process from our team of experts.

Additionally, we offer a step-by-step guide to Zapier Zaps. It’ll walk you through how these automated workflow triggers work and help them set up actions for sending data to their Record360 accounts. There are many other resources available, this is just two examples of the exclusive training that Record360 University provides!

Get More from Record360 for Your Teams and Clients

Experienced rental companies and early stage startups alike can benefit from having an informative and detailed communication channel dedicated to help them learn more about the features and functions of Record360.

Whether it’s onboarding new team members or keeping your technicians and service writers up-to-date on the latest features, using the training and support provided through Record360 University can make a huge difference. Use it to get more from the Record360 platform. Benefit your organization from the inside out, starting with your team members and spreading out to your customers. Try it today!

Documentation Feature Leap: OCR Technology in VIN Barcode Scanner

February 27, 2025 by record_360

Record360 is the leading provider of all things asset documentation. Our fully customizable platform specializes in digital documentation, inspections, and paperless signatures for heavy equipment, truck, trailer, and auto rentals. This helps to decrease damage disputes and lower monthly costs for businesses with pen-and-paper inspection processes.

All our iOS (and soon Android) users across all plans will have access to our newest documentation feature: Optical Character Recognition (OCR). What does that mean for your rental business? Let’s talk about it!

Scan, Identify, Extract

The Record360 app’s VIN barcode scanner now incorporates OCR technology, enabling rental businesses to scan, identify, and extract text from images quickly and accurately using pattern recognition. No additional add-on or training is necessary for this functionality. Simply scan and let OCR do the rest!

Who Benefits?

If you are in the rental business industry, OCR is a big game changer for detecting VINs. Inspectors no longer have to painstakingly manually enter the entire VIN number on their device or second guess whether they entered the VIN number correctly into the reference capture screen.

With OCR integrated into our VIN barcode scanning, inspectors can scan, identify, and extract all the information without additional mental work.

OCR is Completely Free

OCR is free for all iOS users across all plans. An Android release is currently in development and will be announced once a release date has been confirmed.

Need additional help? Reach out to our support team at support@record360.com.

One Step Operations: Record360’s New Integration API for Tasks and Scheduling

February 25, 2025 by record_360

The Record360 team is excited to announce the latest feature of our new Integration API: simplified inspection tasks and scheduling. Now is the perfect time to migrate with our Integration API which offers a complete feature set for 360, full-circle integrations. Streamline your inspection tasks with a more powerful and efficient integration. Simply, making custom integrations with Record360 is now easier than ever.

Keep reading to learn more about it!

Simplifying Your Complex Workflow

Previously, creating an inspection task required following a very convoluted, multi-step process: finding a location, picking a location, choosing a workflow, creating a draft, and then creating a task.

API integration with tasks and scheduling makes this a thing of the past! Creating an inspection task is now one step: create a task. We have also added functionality to support future features and other integration touch points such as locations.

Key Features That Drive Business Value

With a custom integration using our new API tasks, your operations will never miss a beat:

Task & Inspection Scheduling: Assign and schedule tasks for inspections to drive your core business processes.
Inspection Integration: Pull data, share PDFs, and connect inspection results directly to your existing systems.
Schedule tasks: Get tasks on the calendar in advance and keep your personnel accountable
Unit Management: Keep meters up to date automatically and autofill data for inspection checklists.
Document Critical Information: use Integration API to retrieve inspection details, photos, videos, signatures, as well as keeping units up to date.

Who Benefits?

Integration API for tasks and scheduling is a perfect match for software partners and advanced customers who have the resources to dedicate IT personnel or developers to achieve their integration goals. However, if you are interested in implementing this without a dedicated IT team, please feel free to reach out to our support team: support@record360.com.

Additionally, we simplified the API’s integration process by ensuring compatibility with low-code, UI-based platforms, streamlining implementation for your dedicated IT team.

Upcoming Webinar

Want to learn more about the next generation of Record360 integration tools? Sign up to our upcoming webinar and ask us your questions live with our team of experts.

Ready to Implement?

No more complicated, multi-step process. Record360’s New Integration API for Tasks and Scheduling makes data extraction and daily operations easier than ever!

For more information and comprehensive guides on Integrating our APIs, check out the 360 developer portal at docs.record360.com.

Need additional help? Reach out to our team at jpearlstein@record360.com or call us at 206-489-3290 to get started with streamlining your tasks and scheduling.

New to Record360? Get a demo with our experts today and discover why the best rental companies have already made the switch.