How does the Cheetah System increase margins?
The Cheetah system makes more money for any business and greatly increases efficiency by:
Making it possible for one dispatcher to smoothly interact with 100 vehicles
Increasing stops per day/per route/per driver and reducing miles driven
Implementing web-based solutions that reduce the number of customer service reps required to answer customer calls.
By streamlining operations, profit margins are increased and the system pays for itself quite often within a few weeks of its installation. LTL and Distribution & Delivery companies utilizing Cheetah software report a 20 to 30 percent price advantage over competitors due to dramatically reduced overhead.
What is meant by “real-time” logistics?
“Real time” is all about getting the right product to the right person at the right time for the lowest cost. It means that the information you operate on is current, rather than representing conditions as they may have existed 30 minutes or several hours before. In the past, dispatchers operated on manually created charts or boards that approximated the locations of each driver. Such systems were prone to error and delays, changes of sequence or break downs quickly rendered them out-of-date.
Real time, on the other hand, means that the precise location of every driver is known and that locations shift as drivers move on their various routes. Cheetah’s real-time dynamic routing allows a user to effortlessly enter an "on demand" (not previously scheduled) pickup. The Cheetah system immediately recognizes the new stop, automatically geo-codes the customer location, determines which route to put the pick up on, automatically places the stop on the route in the appropriate sequence, updates all subsequent ETA's, sends wireless messages to drivers informing them of “added” stops and does all this in under 10 seconds.
What makes the Cheetah System so accurate and efficient?
The Cheetah system takes into consideration literally hundreds of business rules, including; least miles to be driven by a vehicle, time window desired, available space on truck for the load, least impact on subsequent ETA dependent stops, driver skill level and customer to driver preference, if applicable. If Cheetah recognizes that a delivery is going to be late, it automatically notifies the CSA, who can call the customer. If a customer cancels a pick up or delivery, the driver is automatically informed, the remaining stops are automatically rerouted and ETA’s are updated.
What makes Cheetah unique from other logistics software companies?
Cheetah Software has consistently led the way in real-time logistics applications. The milestones that best demonstrate Cheetah’s leadership role are: 1) Cheetah was the first to incorporate dynamic real-time routing; 2) The Cheetah system is the only product that can simultaneously deliver real-time information to dispatch, drivers, customer service, shippers and customers; and 3) Only Cheetah provides an integrated customer workflow and product logistics system, with all necessary functions for managing dispatch, delivery and customer service in real-time, in a business-ready, application suite that nearly any company can use and afford.
What does ASP mean and what are its benefits?
ASP is short for “Application Service Provider.” Small to medium size companies can rent the Cheetah system on an ASP basis for a low monthly fee per truck. Cheetah ASP gives you the ability to add or remove drivers based on seasonal fluctuations of your business—and you can be up and running in 60 days! An ASP offers access to applications and related services via the Internet. ASP services make sense for small companies, those with a low technology budget, or those who wish to outsource technology services. Through Cheetah’s ASP service, companies experience an immediate Return on Investment (ROI). They become able to expand without increasing administrative or operational costs.
Larger companies can benefit from Cheetah ASP by being able to get up and running without in 60 days with minimal impact to their existing IT resources.
How does the Cheetah System provide driver directions?
Most home delivery drivers face delays trying to find locations on maps or in the Thomas Guide while en route. Cheetah Delivery greatly increases driver efficiency by offering instant driving directions via handheld display. By pressing a couple of keys, the driver can instantly view text-based directions on his handheld for the next stop on his route. Drivers can also access the Cheetah System and print out maps prior to leaving the terminal.
How will the Cheetah System make life easier for my customer service reps?
The Cheetah system includes two E-Commerce features that put any logistics company on a par with FedEx® and UPS® for a fraction of the cost. Cheetah Web-based Customer Tracking allows customers to track their shipments in real time by visiting your website. The Cheetah Email Notification Subsystem automatically notifies customers of delivery status via email. This includes pickup/delivery completion, revised ETA's and more.
How does Cheetah integrate with my existing computer systems?
The Cheetah system integrates seamlessly with existing order entry, point-of-sale, inventory, warehouse, accounting and many other systems. Once an order is entered, Cheetah manages the entire pickup and delivery process. It also sends real-time status and event updated back to other systems. Integration is carried out by Cheetah technicians in conjunction with your transportation management system or internal technicians and typically takes a day or two to set up.
What hardware does the Cheetah system support?
The Cheetah system runs on a wide range of mobile devices including cellular phones (WAP and Java® versions) and handheld devices running Pocket PC. Cheetah also works with satellite based networks like Qualcomm. Hardware partners currently include:
Nextel®
T-Mobile®
Symbol®
Intermec®
How easy is it to get started with the Cheetah System?
We've made it very easy both financially and with respect to ease of integration.
1. Contact us via phone or email.
2. Ask for an online product demonstration
3. Request a cash flow analysis to determine the cost/benefit equation and see if it is right for you.
4. Order the system.
5. Arrange for Cheetah technicians to set up and configure the system to tailor it to your organization.
6. Set up a DSL network and 19-inch screens for the dispatchers.
7. Conduct a brief period of on site training – about 20 minutes per driver are required. Training for Dispatch and Customer Service takes about 2 days.
8. Go online with your Cheetah System within 60 days of placing the order.
What are the minimum requirements for Cheetah Delivery™ and Cheetah Freight™ software?
The minimum hardware requirements for Cheetah Delivery and Cheetah Freight are:
Pentium® II computer or better
128 MB RAM
Windows NT/2000/XP
19-inch monitor (or larger)
High-speed internet connection
What are the requirements for Cheetah Tracks™?
Cheetah Tracks can be set up in minutes in any organization. The only requirements are:
A GPS-enabled mobile phone
An Internet connection from the office
A PC running Microsoft Windows® and Microsoft MapPoint®.
