Rental management software

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Rental business computerization in the American tool, equipment, party and specialty rental industries (called the hire industry in Great Britain and Europe) had its early start in the 1970s with the development of software and systems by Taylor Rental Corporation (TRC), a large rental business franchisor at the time under the guidance of one of its senior executives, Jack Shea. In 1987 he was awarded the Special Service Award by the American Rental Association for contributing to advancements in an industry which previously had little experience with automation.

The rental and hire industries are extremely diverse in terms of the types of rental businesses they encompass. Operations range in size from small, single locations to large, multi-store chains and national players. National companies are primarily concentrated in the heavy equipment, aerial and general construction sectors. In total, the industry offers rentals and sales for homeowners, contractors, industry, municipalities, special event stagers, lawn, garden and professional landscape needs, facility management, lighting, broadcast and audio-visual equipment, prop rental, and other specialties.

Typical software offerings available to the industry include automation of contract writing, reservations, quotations, asset management, availability data on rental inventory (called kit or stock in some countries), customer relationship management, rental rates management, accounting, reporting and analysis, resale and parts management, and maintenance and repair services management. In recent years, the technological possibilities within the rental industry have expanded to include GPS tracking and predictive technology such as yield management of rental inventory levels.