Monthly Archives: March 2012

Family-Owned Small Business Essannay Credits VehiclePath With Recovering Stolen Truck

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Chicago-based small business Essannay generated an immediate return on its VehiclePath GPS Monitoring and Tracking investment when the company used the system to recover a stolen truck. A family-owned and operated audio/visual rental company, Essannay operates a 2002 Ford Heavy Duty Van to transport equipment to and from its customers’ meeting sites and locations.

“Our fleet consists of one truck that is vital to our business,” says Essannay President Christopher Chambers. “The VehiclePath system we installed on our truck paid for itself the moment the stolen vehicle was located and recovered, before any damage was done to it.”

Chambers installed VehiclePath on the Essannay truck one year ago to promote route compliance among his drivers. “I kept getting gas receipts from places where the truck wasn’t supposed to be,” recalls Chambers. “I wanted to keep better track of where my drivers were going, as well as how they were driving.” VehiclePath provided the solution to his challenges.

A powerful, flexible and highly scalable GPS Vehicle Tracking and Monitoring system developed by Spireon, Inc., which emerged in 2011 as the industry-leading Mobile Resource Management (MRM) company developing Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) based tools, VehiclePath provides continuous real-time visibility for local fleets. For a small business like Essannay, VehiclePath offers a cost-effective way to improve driver productivity, increase driver safety, ensure route compliance, and enhance on-time delivery as well as customer satisfaction.

“VehiclePath allows me to set up a Geofence, a geographical boundary that extends beyond our normal service area,” Chambers explains. “The instant one of my drivers takes the truck outside this Geofence, I get an instant alert on my cell phone and via e-mail. So I can call my driver to find out why they’ve veered off the route. I can keep track of my drivers anytime, even when I’m not in the office.”

Chambers says that VehiclePath has been a useful tool in reducing unwanted driver behavior, including excessive idling and speeding. But he most values having instant access to real-time intelligence. “VehiclePath tells me exactly what I need to know. Now I can see where my truck is every day, at any given moment. I can see when the truck arrived at a customer location, what time the equipment was delivered, what time the truck left, and if the driver had to go back for some reason. Before VehiclePath, I had to call the customer for this information, which wasn’t the best for customer service.”

VehiclePath has also allowed Essannay to control costs related to fuel consumption and maintenance. “The system sends me alerts when it’s time for a tune up or oil change, or when the battery’s gone bad, so I can take care of it in a timely fashion,” says Chambers. “And I expect to see a reduction in my auto insurance as well.”

But perhaps the biggest return on his VehiclePath investment came from a surprising use of the system. “When our truck got stolen from our back lot, it took me a few minutes to realize that I could use VehiclePath to find out where it was,” Chambers recalls. “Sure enough, we pinpointed its exact location and sent someone down to keep a set of eyes on it until the police could arrive. Within four hours of noticing it was gone, we had our truck back, fully operational.”

Adds Chambers, “I would have loved to see the expression on the thief’s face when he realized that the truck he’d stolen had been stolen back.”

Chambers says that by recovering the company truck, VehiclePath instantly paid for itself, “and for years to come.” He adds, “I didn’t have to waste time to file any reports, or buy a new truck. All I had to do was click my mouse, and there was my van. If I had more cars, I’d get one for every vehicle. I’d tell anyone to install VehiclePath, install lots of them. It’s well worth it.”

To learn more about Essannay, visit www.essannay.com or call Christopher Chambers at (312) 773-5511. To learn more about VehiclePath by Spireon, Inc., visit www.VehiclePath.com or call 1-877-299-6544.

Contact:
Amelia DiMesio
949-246-3265
ameliad@procongps.com

VehiclePath is dedicated to connecting companies with local fleets to their mobile assets and workforce through game-changing information platforms, giving them the power to manage actionable business intelligence. Inspiring companies with local fleets to reach new heights with its powerful Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) based tools, VehiclePath is one of the most cost-effective and easy-to-use solutions on the market, enabling rapid deployment and optimization of local fleets.

About Spireon

Spireon, Inc., is at the summit of business intelligence and committed to going higher. Headquartered in Knoxville, TN, the company emerged in 2011 as the industry leading Mobile Resource Management (MRM) company as a result of the merger of ProconGPS, Inc. with Enfotrace and PFS, LLC , the top three providers in the MRM space. Spireon connects companies to their mobile assets and workforce through game changing information platforms, giving them the power to manage actionable business intelligence. Inspiring companies to reach new heights with powerful Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) based tools, Spireon provides a sturdy foundation on which to optimize performance.

With leading market positions in the Subprime Automotive Finance industry, Local & Enterprise Fleet Management and Trailer & Logistics markets, Spireon, Inc. specializes in developing strong business relationships with leading companies worldwide, enabling it to offer affordable world-class risk mitigation, mobile asset management and location-based services to its customers. Spireon, Inc.’s patented array of GPS products and information platforms provide business intelligence solutions through industry brands for automotive dealers, lenders, service and delivery fleets and transportation and logistics companies. Spireon currently has over 1.2 million active devices in the marketplace and forecasts to deliver 800,000 units in 2012. With offices in North America, Spireon has a proven track record in innovation, customer-focused service, financial stability, powerful vertical distribution networks, and a strong customer base.

For additional information, please visit Spireon, Inc.’s website http://www.spireon.com.

Corporate Identity Shift- Brian Boling, CEO

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What’s in a name? If done properly, everything! ProconGPS was born in an era when GPS was something only found in the oceans of the world as part of maritime navigation and safety equipment. In 2001 the founders of the company introduced the first commercialized integrated analogue cell phone / GPS functionality in the USA designed for landlubbers, A Protect and Connect™tag line used for that product finally grew into a descriptive name used to define the device and its security focus: ProconGPS, Inc.

Fast forward about a decade and we find that while the cellular + GPS combination has thrived in this new digital age, the name of the game is no longer simply providing a working combination device. Data can now be gathered from a multitude of sensors in the mobile world. That data can be analyzed on the device or pushed to a server environment where it is sliced and diced and evaluated such that the information forthcoming can be valuable and critical to customers that are trying to improve mobile workforce and asset management. Today our mission is to connect companies to their mobile assets & workforce through game changing information platforms; putting the power in their hands to manage actionable business intelligence. So we needed a proper name - one that covers this territory without suggesting a device bias.

After months of deliberation with our partners & shareholders, along with extensive research done by our marketing team, we are ready to announce that name to the world. Our passion is to climb to the summit of mobile business intelligence. So we wanted a name that would work off of a root word like “spire”. Our goal is to remain tightly focused on customer needs. So we desired a name that was based on a word like “spear”. We wanted to sustain our rapid growth and leadership therefore a suggestive word like forever or “eon” would be a nice add. Drum roll please… Spireon will be the new corporate name. Pronounced (“Spear” and “eon”) we believe the name captures our passion to excel and stay focused. And with the tagline, Guiding Business Intelligence, the name plainly states our purpose in the world.

Today, Thursday March 22nd, is the day we announce our new corporate identity - Spireon Inc, and coined the tagline: Guiding Business Intelligence. Along with the name change, ProconGPS has adopted a new logo. All of these changes are effective immediately, and all future business activity will be undertaken with the new name, logo and ultimately our new identity. We’ve created a new corporate website www.spireon.com, which includes information and links to all our brands in each of our segments: Dealer Services, Fleet Services and Lender Services.

VehiclePath Convenes First Customer Advisory Board To Shed Industry Insight

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Knoxville, TN, March 12, 2012 — VehiclePath, developer of affordable, real-time fleet and asset GPS tracking solutions used by local fleets across North America, announces the formation of a new Customer Advisory Board (CAB). The Board’s inaugural meeting will take place March 21st through the 23rd at the ProconGPS Tech Center in Irvine, CA.

Composed of leading resellers and distributors who provide VehiclePath devices to customers to track, monitor and maximize their fleets, equipment and other assets, the CAB is a continuation of our commitment to meet the local fleet market’s evolving needs and challenges while remaining on the forefront of industry developments.

“The CAB represents a dynamic collaboration between our top executives at VehiclePath, and our reseller and distributor partners,” says Gary Schneider, Vice President and General Manager of VehiclePath. “The first-hand insight shared by CAB members will allow us to continue innovating and enhancing our solutions to better anticipate the needs of customers and strategically direct resources for the growth of our company and our partners.”

CAB members will convene regularly with the purpose of:

  • Providing objective, continuous feedback and perspective on core business, industry and technology issues.
  • Identifying and addressing common business and product challenges.
  • Providing insight into changing industry and fleet management trends.
  • Informing VehiclePath’s strategic and operational decisions, including the launch of products and services.
  • Strengthening business relationships and collaborations.
  • Supporting the continued growth of VehiclePath, its partners and customers.

 

Participating members of the CAB bring decades of experience in fleet management and operations to the communal table. Current CAB members are:

  • Dan Ashman, CEO, AC Global
  • Andrew Chermark, President, Smart Fleet
  • Eric Counts, President, GPS Fleet Management Solutions
  • Travis Hillman, President, Pro-Traq
  • Kelly Jensen, General Manager, Shaffer Communications
  • James Krane, President, Advanced Fleet GPS
  • Dick Krasne, President, Alamo Industries
  • Victor Krstec, CEO, Affordable GPS Tracking
  • Terry Ottinger, President, United Security Alliance
  • Joe Wolfinger, Director of Development, Quarles Petroleum
  • Malcolm Rosenfeld, President, GPS Technologies
  • Skip Chandler, President, SC Communications

 

“We are looking forward to kicking off the CAB’s first meeting, and anticipate walking away from the discussion with greater actionable insight into the future of our industry and our company,” says Schneider. “The CAB group represents a truly unique collaboration of professionals who share a common vision: enhancing business performance by enhancing the way companies track, manage and maximize their fleets and assets.”

About VehiclePath

VehiclePath is dedicated to providing one of the most effective and easy-to-use GPS fleet and asset tracking services for local fleets. The GPS-based tracking technology developed by VehiclePath is one of the most cost-effective and easy-to-use solutions, enabling rapid deployment of vehicle tracking capabilities for customers’ fleets. Located in Irvine, Calif., VehiclePath has been in the vehicle tracking business since 2003 and proudly develops and manufactures vehicle tracking units in Southern California, mostly within its own facilities. Learn more at VehiclePath.com.

About ProconGPS, Inc.

ProconGPS, Inc., headquartered in Knoxville, TN, is a leading service provider of MRM products and services designed to help businesses better locate and control their assets worldwide. ProconGPS, Inc. has expertise in integrating products, content, communication networks, map databases, and service technologies to deliver business intelligence. With leading market positions in the Subprime Automotive Finance industry, Local Fleet, Trailer Tracking Management and Enterprise Fleet markets, ProconGPS, Inc. specializes in developing strong business relationships with leading companies worldwide, enabling it to offer world-class risk mitigation and location based services to its customers. ProconGPS, Inc.’s patented array of GPS products, call center
Center systems, commercial tracking platforms, web tracking platforms, telephony solutions and customer service systems offer a fully integrated solution to its partners. For additional information, please visit ProconGPS, Inc.’s website at www.procongps.com.

 

Contact:
Amelia DiMesio
949-246-3265
ameliad@procongps.com