Phase One involves a one-way communication from CARS+ to the rental customer through Carcloud. This "Carfirmation" message is sent to each client who has a reservation with a pick up date of tomorrow. The program which generates these messages can be scheduled so that it is run automatically or can be run manually using this program from the menu. Carcloud apon receiving the reservation data from CARS+ then sends a SMS (Short Message Service) message to each renter's smart phone. The message contains:
- basic reservation data (pickup date/time, location, vehicle class, return date/time, etc.)
- rates for up to 3 options that are not already reserved or excluded (defined in Edit Carcloud Controls)
- class codes and upsell rates of the next 3 available classes in the hierarchy
- an optional photo of the vehicle class reserved
Hertz locations doing Gold service: For gold reservations the message is sent when the RA is preprinted (all non-gold reservations are sent the day before pickup). The Gold message includes all the information listed above plus the vehicle license plate number, color, model, and stall number for the assigned vehicle.Phase Two will involve accepting a message back from Carcloud of any options and/or an upsell requested by the renter (in response to the Phase One message). It will update the reservation accordingly.
A reservation must have a the phone number for a smart phone (iPhone, Android Phone, etc.) as either the renter's cell phone or main home number in order for a message to be sent. The program will first try the cell phone number given and then try the renter's "home phone" number.
As of this moment, only Phase One is available.
Phase Three will involve some type of communication from CARS+ to Carcloud and, therefore, to the renter, once the RA is opened.
There may be more phases developed beyond this.
To use this feature:
- Contact Carcloud to set up an account with them. They can be reached at: chris@carcloud.com
- Then contact your Thermeon Customer Support representative to have your CARS+ system configured for the feature.
II. SET UP
Define up to 3 Optional Items that will be offered to the renter when the reservation data is transmitted to them via Carcloud. Also used to define the upsell presentation.
Two fields on page 7 of Edit Miscellaneous Control Fields must be set up for the service to work.
A field is provided for a url address so that a photo of the class reserved can be sent in the message.
D. GVT RECORD
To provide the changes to RA Open for Carcloud, Thermeon's Customer Support Dept. needs to set up the GVT record "CARCLOUD" for each location. Note the GVT record must be set up with a location code.
III. TRANSMITTING DATA TO CARCLOUD
The program Export Carcloud Data is used to transmit the reservation information to Carcloud. This can be scheduled to run automatically each day by Thermeon's Support Dept., or it can be be run manually.
IV. CHANGES TO RA OPEN
User tip: The GVT record 'CARCLOUD" must exist for each location. (see "Set Up" section above.)
The Carcloud Control file can be used to choose the 'alternate classes' subwindow for upsells instead of the normal upsell window.
The upsell rate can be defined as fully editable - that is, the user may be allowed to increase or decrease the amount of the upsell.
If the location is set up as a dispatch location and the reservation has a cell phone number, if RA is preprinted (saved with F4) the transmission program will be run automatically for the single transaction.