United Rentals presents five ways mobile apps improve equipment management

Keeping tabs on dozens or hundreds of pieces of rental equipment on a job site, including what’s used, what needs to be returned, and what’s awaiting delivery or pickup, is a big job. As construction project timelines get underway, contractors see the use of mobile technology as an important tool for making smart decisions and taking quick action regarding equipment resources. United Rentals today explained how contractors can use mobile equipment rental apps to improve fleet management, keep projects on schedule and improve job site performance.

Mobile equipment rental apps provide jobsite crews with consumer-like experiences and make day-to-day fleet management tasks easier. They allow contractors to rent and manage equipment, including excavators, trenchers, aerial lifts, backhoe loaders and more, no matter where they are. Mobile apps allow workers on job sites to stay informed while on the go and allow them to take control of equipment resources to get the job done.

“Mobile apps help contractors create high-performing jobsites by letting workers quickly know what equipment they have, where it is, how much they’re paying for it, how often it’s used, and when to return it,” said said Paul Maddison, Director, Digital Innovation, United Rentals. “Construction crews can see their fleet’s performance in real time and make the right equipment moves to keep project performance on track and save money.”

Here are five ways mobile apps can improve jobsite equipment management.

Find and order materials. Contractor teams can use mobile apps to browse, search and rent equipment inventory directly from a mobile device, 24/7, whether on the job site, in the office or at home. Mobile apps can display a company’s contract prices during the ordering process and provide users with confirmations after equipment rental orders are placed.

See all equipment. Construction crews can use their mobile devices to view all of their rented equipment listed by status, chat category, and construction site. Mobile applications may include search functionality to locate specific equipment. They can help contractors bridge the “communication gap” that can occur between an equipment order and the machine arriving on site. Mobile apps provide visibility into the delivery status of orders, from pending to in-progress delivery.

Control rental equipment. Mobile apps can allow workers to extend or rent equipment in seconds and with just a few clicks. Contractor teams can use their mobile devices to schedule equipment pick-ups and receive confirmations, reducing the risk of discrepancies in returning equipment. Apps can be used to adjust equipment rental dates, giving contractors windows of leniency to find ways to cut costs. For example, if a company has several scissor lifts for hire and work is ending, a contractor can decide which ones to return in order to properly size their fleet and minimize rental costs.

Monitor and manage equipment. Site teams can use the GPS technology of their mobile applications to know the precise location of rental equipment at all times. They can track telematics equipment usage in real time and use this actionable data to make decisions on how best to deploy the fleet and save money on the underutilized fleet.

Ask for a service. Mobile apps can allow contractor teams to request service on rented equipment from anywhere, including the jobsite. In the app, users select the equipment issue, such as a tire or hydraulic leak, add descriptive information about the issue, and attach photos of the equipment. Users receive a service confirmation number which is also sent to the local branch of the rental provider, who will then contact the contractor to schedule the service. From a mobile app, users can see all of their active equipment service requests in the app’s dashboard.

United Rentals Mobile App Solution

The United Rentals mobile app provides 24/7 access to the world’s largest equipment rental fleet and makes it easy to rent and return equipment from a mobile phone or tablet . The app can help businesses improve consumption management, including reporting rental expiration dates, extending rental duration, displaying clemency windows, and requesting equipment pickup. The United Rentals mobile app allows contractors to take control of their equipment, improve project management, reduce waste and save money.