TranAir™ (Automatic Mobile Phone Digital Dispatch)
TranWare Enterprise is the only fully featured Taxi Dispatch system available in North America with the capability to provide automatic digital dispatch, with seamless GPS tracking, in-vehicle payment processing and taxi meter integration using standard, readily available Android cellular phones. Android, developed as an open archtecture operating system by Google, is now the top selling smartphone operating system worldwide.
TranAir™ leverages the latest 3G and 4G cellular data, BlueTooth and touch screen technologies available in popular Android cellular phones from leading manufacturers such as Samsung, Motorola, HTC and Research In Motion to bring digital dispatch and vehicle tracking within reach of even the smallest transportation companies.
Unlike text messaging or email, TranAir™ is fast and reliable due to the use of true two-way high-speed packet data technology. Using TranAir™ is simple and very straight forward. TranAir™ works in conjunction with the TranWare Enterprise Dispatch system, so that trips booked in TranWare are dispatched directly to your drivers, without the need for voice communications. Basically, TranAir™ provides the functionality of an expensive MDT (Mobile Data Terminal) at a much lower cost. The speed of TranAir™ is impressive, taking only 1 or 2 seconds to send complete trip details to a driver and receive an acknowledgement back. Every transmission is confirmed in both directions, providing a high degree of reliability.
Digital dispatch has never been more driver friendly, with large touch screen buttons and rich graphics making menu navigation very simple and intuitive. Drivers may accept or reject trip offers, load and complete trips, query zone activity, send and receive messages and a wide range of other functions in simple one-button key presses. Powerful turn-by-turn driver navigation is built in, using best of class Google maps, which are rendered live and therefore always up to date.
Benefits of TranAir™
- Reduces driver frustration in "chasing dispatch"
- Reduces voice traffic by over 80%
- Decreases dispatcher workload by a minimum of 40%
- Reduces post administrative processing by over 50%
- Increases driver and vehicle productivity
- Reduces errors that can occur with written and verbal communications
- Simplifies administration
- Drivers are not tethered to the vehicle, therefore they can be dispatched and can update their job status even while away from or outside the vehicle
- These devices are typically subsidized by the cellular companies, making the capital cost outlay substantially less than purchasing an MDT solution
- Because public cellular networks are used, coverage is superior to traditional radio-based MDT systems
- Portable units are easier to replace in the event of failure or theft and do not require installation
- Obsolescence is not an issue. If the original product purchased is discontinued, it really doesn't matter because new improved products using the same global data standards will be available to replace it at a low cost
- Wireless data substantially extends the coverage area for a taxi company over what they would have with a two-way radio system. Wireless data will automatically retry if the vehicle is in a poor coverage area, until it gets through
- Drivers do not not have to stop and write down information, saving time
- Drivers can update their status with a single button press, indicating whether they have "Accepted" the assignment, are "Loaded", or the trip is "Cleared"
- Drivers can book into a specific zone, request their current status, query how many trips and vehicles are available in each soon, request a soon-to-clear, book busy for a flag, receive messages from dispatch, send canned messages to dispatch and a number of other high-level functions
- Dispatchers and Call Takers can observe the status of jobs on a real-time basis. This improves customer service as customers can be given more accurate ETA's. Dispatchers are able to make more informed decisions about which vehicle and driver to assign a ticket to
- Integrated driver navigation improves customer service while increasing driver earning power
TranAir™ for Android Phones -More Details
Android Smartphone
A suitable Android wireless phone is provided that meets your needs for coverage, durability and battery life. The provided Android phones incorporate always-on packet data capability and a large touch screen display drivers can easily read and operate. A suitable mount will be provided that holds the phone in landscape mode at eye level when in a vehicle.
- Packet Data Service
In order for the TranWare system to be able to send and receive data to and from the phone, it must be subscribed to a wireless data plan for a wireless carrier. Costs per month for this service will vary depending on whether the phone will be used strictly for digital dispatch or for both voice and data. TranWare and its wireless carrier partners can provide a wireless plan suitable for most any situation.
- Optional GPS Mapping
To fully extend the power of your TranWare system, you may add automatic vehicle tracking, which uses the GPS capability already built into compatible phones listed above. GPS allows the location of your fleet to be tracked real-time, enabling dispatchers to make highly informed decisions about the most efficient vehicle assignment alternatives. TranTrac shows not only the live movements of your vehicles on a street level map, but also color codes their status -whether they are clear, assigned or loaded. In addition, TranTrac shows the location and color coded status of the pickups (trip locations).
- Taxi Meter Interface
Industry leading Centrodyne Meters are now fully integrated to TranAir, allowing the Android phone to be plugged directly into the Model 610/620 Meter. This allows meter on/off and fare information to be electronically passed through the phone to the TranWare system at the office. This interface also automatically creates a trip on the dispatch screen when the driver turns the meter on. (Auto Flag Trip) This ensures the dispatcher is always aware of all ongoing passenger trips in real time. -
Credit Card Integration
TranAir can be provided as a seamless solution that includes In-Vehicle Payment Processing. BlueTooth wireless technology inherent in Android phones is used to connect the phone wirelessly to the BlueTooth capable credit card device, allowing both devices to share the same data plan, while permitting a fast and simple installation. TranWare's passenger friendly terminal is designed such that the customer never has to hand their card to the driver. The taxi fare passes from the meter directly to the credit card device. Then, the passenger swipes their own card, chooses the preferred tip from one of the Instant Tip buttons. Simple and professional!
- Enterprise Taxi Software
- Taxi Software Overview
- Getting Started
- Features
- Order Entry
- Dispatch
- Billing and Accounting
- Cashiering
- Vehicle Maintenance
- Digital Dispatch Options
- Wireless Dispatch Overview
- TranPage Alpha Paging
- TranAir Phone Dispatch
- TranMDT Mobile Data Dispatch
- Optional Modules
- GPS Tracking
- Credit Card Processing
- Taxi Meter Integration
- TranWare News
- Desktop Dispatcher For Small Fleets
- Mobile Credit Card Program
- TranAir Features Released
- TranWare Deployed On Virtual Server
- Master Distributor Announcement
- TranAir Revolutionizes Dispatch
