Ownersite.com Makes Fuel Economy Recommendations Says Fleet Operators Can Save More Than They May Realize

ROSWELL, GA - April 16, 2012 - With gas and diesel prices hovering near $4.00 per gallon nationally (and expected to go higher), fleet owners are bracing for an expensive summer. The damage can be mitigated, cautions Steve Eppinger, if fleet owners and operators implement focused strategies that target excessive fuel consumption. Eppinger is the Founder and CEO of Ownersite.com, the cloud-based vehicle asset management platform optimized for small to medium-sized fleet owners.

"Fleet owners often hear how much fuel they can save by driving conservatively or using cruise control, and indeed these two tactics can reduce fuel consumption by up to 25%," says Eppinger. "But there are many other steps owners can take that cumulatively have just as much value—and also extend the life of their vehicles, These include not only better maintaining their vehicles but also implementing tracking and reporting systems that keep them apprised of fuel efficiency breakdowns."

In a 30-vehicle fleet with an average MPG of 27.3 (the corporate fuel economy standard in 2011) and an average mileage of 25,000 per vehicle per year, a one-dollar increase in gas prices equates to nearly $28,000 yearly in added fuel cost. Improving that number of 15% nets the fleet owner more than $4,000 in lost revenue, Eppinger points out.

"Some methods of improving mileage may appear negligible, given the amount of manual effort they require," says Eppinger. "However, dismissing these "lesser" improvements can be a fleet owners' biggest and most expensive mistake."

Eppinger offers these advanced strategies for fleet owners alarmed by the spike in fuel prices:

• Look at MPG reduction potential cumulatively, not individually. The MPG loss from an out-of-tune engine (4%), under-inflated tires (1.5%), and the wrong oil (1.5%) combined is greater than driving at high speeds 20% of the time (6%). Run with increased rolling resistance tires and you’ll net another 4% increase in MPG for a total of 11%.
• Evaluate fleet vehicles as a group and not just individually. Rank vehicle fuel economy (compared to what you expect) and then examine the worst underperformers more closely. If two 2006 Ford Econoline vans are 25% apart in fuel economy, the poorest performer—or its driver—needs serious help.
• Track mileage with each fill-up individually, not just averaged over time, to pinpoint the underlying causes of bad fuel economy. Reasons for poor MPG can be very specific. For example, a driver who fills in on the weekends may have a lead foot or not know how to use the GPS efficiently, throwing off a vehicle’s figures for the entire week.
• Get help in the form of tracking software. It's not easy to stay on top of fuel-saving strategies unless you run an easy-to-use (preferably mobile) vehicle maintenance and management solution. The best programs not only track mileage and remind you to do important maintenance; they also generate reports that help you identify problems.

Source for all statistics in this news release: Transportation Research Institute at The University of Michigan, September 2011

About Ownersite Technologies
Ownersite Technologies, whose customers have maintained 225 million miles of records using the solution to date, provides comprehensive web-based and mobile solutions to enhance the safety, reliability and value of its customers’ personal and commercial assets and vehicles. Our low cost asset management tools put the advantages usually reserved for large fleet owners into the hands of small business owners for a fraction of the cost. Ownersite.com is distributed directly to businesses and consumers online as well as through our channel of financial service and insurance providers, automotive service shops, and enthusiast networks. Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Roswell, GA, Ownersite Technologies is a privately held technology company formed by the original creators of http://www.F150online.com. For more information, visit http://www.ownersite.com.

Announces New Bulk Vehicle Import Feature Expanded Ownersite.com Vehicle Asset Management Platform Import Feature Streamlines Setup and Operation; Reduces Errors

ROSWELL, GA - March 21, 2012 - Ownersite.com, the cloud-based vehicle asset management platform optimized for small to medium-sized fleet owners, today announced support for bulk import of vehicle data. The new feature— included at no additional charge—will enable users to import vehicle lists with multiple fields including year, make, model, VIN, mileage, nickname, purchase date and license/tag information.

"Ownersite.com has long included the ability to import fuel and maintenance records stored in universal data formats such as .csv and .txt," said Ownersite.com Founder and Owner Steve Eppinger. "However, our software previously required users to manually enter vehicle data before they could import other information. Now, users can import vehicle data with a few clicks of the mouse. Users can also add vehicles to the preventive maintenance schedule during import."

This feature streamlines data input and reduces the potential for errors, especially for companies with numerous vehicles. It is also beneficial for companies adding new or used vehicles to their fleets. Furthermore, the new vehicle import feature works exactly like the current fuel and maintenance record import process, so existing users will be able to reap its benefits with no additional training.

"Bulk import is a top feature requested by users of software, and the goal of Ownersite.com is to make vehicle asset tracking as easy and productive as possible," says Eppinger. "We are constantly seeking ways to make the product easier to use. With the new feature, even companies that do not use spreadsheets can speed the setup process by having employees aggregate all the paper-based, vehicle-related records into a spreadsheet or delimited format and then importing it into Ownersite.com with a few easy steps."

About Ownersite Technologies
Ownersite Technologies, whose customers have maintained 200 million miles of records using the solution to date, provides comprehensive web-based and mobile solutions to enhance the safety, reliability and value of its customers’ personal and commercial assets and vehicles. Our low cost asset management tools put the advantages usually reserved for large fleet owners into the hands of small business owners for a fraction of the cost. Ownersite.com is distributed directly to businesses and consumers online as well as through our channel of financial service and insurance providers, automotive service shops, and enthusiast networks. Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Roswell, GA, Ownersite Technologies is a privately held technology company formed by the original creators of http://www.F150online.com. For more information, visit http://www.ownersite.com.

Fleet Managers Embracing Cloud Technology Enjoy Faster Migration; Enterprise-Grade Features and Security

Findings by Ownersite.com Mirror Studies That Indicate Escalating Benefits of Cloud Technologies to Small and Medium-Sized Businesses

ROSWELL, GA - December 6, 2011 - Steve Eppinger, founder of cloud-based vehicle asset management solution Ownersite.com, announced today that fleet managers implementing the firm's software are reporting substantial reductions in migration time and effort compared with premise-based applications, plus beneficial decreases in personnel expense associated with premise-based data security, backup and recovery.

"Prior to implementing Ownersite.com, we used our reservation system to store maintenance records," said Daniel Sutich, VP of Montvale, New Jersey-based Perfect Limo Service, Inc. "We exported our data into an Excel spreadsheet, and using Ownersite.com we were able to import it quickly with no problems. It saved us from having to enter four years' and 30 cars' worth of data."

"Fleet managers are reporting times of as little as an hour to migrate their data to Ownersite.com from their existing platforms," said Eppinger. "Furthermore, Ownersite.com maintains all its data â€" more than 200 million miles of fleet maintenance records -- on secure, cloud-based servers that adhere to the strict PCI-DSS standards originated by credit card providers to ensure application integrity and data security. As a result, our clients no longer have to worry about securing, maintaining or backing up their data in the office."

These findings dovetail with a 2011 report sponsored by the Society for Information Management's Advanced Practices Council, which found that top vendors of Software as a Service (SaaS; where businesses access applications remotely over secure Internet connections) incorporate best-practices backup, security and recovery procedures with their solutions, often giving them the edge over many SMBs' on-premise software installations.

A parallel study by the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University found that the 'monthly fee for full access' approach of SaaS solutions such as Ownersite.com enables SMBs to save money through reduced capital and maintenance expenditures. "For SMBs in the 5-99 user segment, cloud-based solutions offer greater savings," said Greg Potter, Research Analyst with In-Stat. "There is no software to license and you only pay for what you use."

Enterprise-grade functionality and ease of use are added benefits companies gain when using cloud-based solutions such as Ownersite.com. "We found Ownersite very easy to use," said Sutich. "The reports are much more comprehensive than with our old software."

While Ownersite.com adheres to best-practices standards for SaaS solutions, Eppinger warned business owners that not all SaaS solutions are created equal. SMBs should ask tough questions of any prospective vendor, he noted, including whether or not automated backup and recovery are included with the fee and whether the solution is designed for easy migration, setup and use. "SMBs just starting with SaaSâ€"especially those who don't have in-house IT staffâ€"should look for products that offer clear and easy migration, setup and training paths," Eppinger said.

About Perfect Limo Service
Perfect Limo Service, Inc., has been serving the diverse ground transportation needs of Bergen County, Rockland County and New York City for more than two decades. From our base in the historic Octagon House in Montvale, New Jersey, we have convenient access to the entire tri-state New York, New Jersey and Connecticut area. For more information, visit www.perfectlimo.com.

About Ownersite Technologies
Ownersite Technologies provides comprehensive web-based and mobile solutions to enhance the safety, reliability and value of its customers' personal and commercial assets and vehicles. Our low cost asset management tools put the advantages usually reserved for large fleet owners into the hands of small business owners for a fraction of the cost. Ownersite.com is distributed directly to businesses and consumers online as well as through our channel of financial service and insurance providers, automotive service shops, and enthusiast networks. Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Roswell, GA, Ownersite Technologies is a privately held technology company formed by the original creators of www.F150online.com. For more information, visit www.ownersite.com.

Vehicle Asset Management Solution Provider Offers Winterization Tips for Fleets; Promotes Maintenance Management to Combat Effects of Cold

ROSWELL, GA - October 27, 2011 - Vehicle maintenance management solution provider Ownersite Technologies is urging fleet owners to take winter seriously and accelerate their efforts to implement a comprehensive vehicle maintenance management program and policy. To assist fleet owners in tackling winter head on, Ownersite Technologies' flagship product, Ownersite.com, has been developed to be fully "season-ready."

The comprehensive, web-based and mobile vehicle records management platform incorporates full support for individual season schedules and enables customers to establish reminders for non-routine checks that help avert costly winter breakdowns.

"Winter is extremely hard on vehicles of all types, and especially on fleet vehicles that are under heavy use," says Ownersite Technologies founder Steve Eppinger. "Yet, fleet vehicles are frequently driven by multiple operators with little to no coordination of effort. Without a clear program and policy, not only for winterization but also for cold-specific vehicle maintenance and operation, fleets may suffer an unusually high failure rate in cold weather."

In winter, Eppinger notes, it's particularly important to adhere to recommended preventive maintenance schedules and stay to the low end of the mileage recommendation. Key core activities include replacements such as oil changes, fluid top-offs, aging battery and spark plug replacement, and even scheduled checks for excessive wear on crucial equipment like brake pads and belts.

As part of its season-ready approach, Ownersite.com enables fleet operators to set up automated reminders for both odometer-based and date-based maintenance activities and adjust reminder intervals to account for the harsh realities of winter.

The customization features of Ownersite.com also allow a customer to establish periodic reminders for non-routine operations that can substantially improve winter reliability. Eppinger's "Top Three" most beneficial non-routine operations are:

1. Fuel Up. Maintain fuel levels at no less than a half a talk of gas at all times. Water vapor that collects in the bottom of a tank can be drawn into the fuel line and freeze, preventing engine start. In areas of extreme cold, gas-line antifreeze is a beneficial additive.

2. Clear It Up. Inspect vehicle wipers and consider switching them to heavy-duty blades in areas prone to frequent snow showers and storms. Heavy-duty blades also can cut through some ice buildups. Check each vehicle to make sure every light is working at full beam.

3. Roll On. Drastic temperature changes can cause substantial tire pressure fluctuation. Drivers should check tire pressure several times a month. Improperly inflated tires can reduce gripping action when drivers need it most.

About Ownersite Technologies
Ownersite Technologies provides comprehensive web-based and mobile solutions to enhance the safety, reliability and value of our customers' personal and commercial assets and vehicles. Our low cost asset management tools put the advantages usually reserved for large fleet owners into the hands of small business owners for a fraction of the cost. Ownersite.com is distributed directly to businesses and consumers online as well as through our channel of financial service and insurance providers, automotive service shops, and enthusiast networks. Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Roswell, GA, Ownersite Technologies is a privately held technology company formed by the original creators of http://www.F150online.com. For more information, visit http://www.ownersite.com.

ColumbiaCare Services Chooses Ownersite to Manage Maintenance of 25-Vehicle Fleet

ROSWELL, GA - September 13, 2011 - Ownersite Technologies, developer of Web-based maintenance management solutions for small to medium sized fleets, today announced that ColumbiaCare Services, a non-profit system of behavioral healthcare facilities and service programs serving eastern Oregon, has selected Ownersite's Vehicle Maintenance Management Application to help manage its 25-vechicle fleet.

Ownersite for Fleets is one of the only SaaS solutions purpose-built for fleet vehicle maintenance management. In addition to comprehensive maintenance and expense tracking, Ownersite customers can track driving and ownership information plus schedule alerts for a broad array of vehicle-related activities—from service reminders to insurance claims. 

"The software we were using before wasn't providing us with regular updates, so our vehicles weren't getting serviced in a timely manner. Ownersite's software sends us updates so we know exactly when a vehicle needs an oil change or registration," explained Patricia Trepanier, accounts receivable and vehicle maintenance manager, ColumbiaCare Services. "Ownersite's software also makes it easy for us to evaluate how much we're spending on vehicle maintenance, which comes in handy when we need quarterly reports on that data. We just click a button and there it is." 

Ownersite's reporting capabilities include multiple vehicle analysis of total cost of ownership, cost per mile and comparative fuel costs. Driver-directed reminders, multi-user support and user-defined access groups are among the functions Ownersite offers to fleet managers. New mobile capabilities provide authorized users and drivers with direct access to vehicle records and maintenance management information -- from the road -- for entry of vehicle servicing as well as fuel purchases.

"Ownersite Fleet Management enables our customers to look at vehicle maintenance records once a month or once a day and quickly and easily see the information they need to service vehicles so that their fleets are working at peak performance. which translates into cost savings for organizations," said Steve Eppinger, CEO, Ownersite Technologies. 

About ColumbiaCare Services

ColumbiaCare has been providing a full range of mental health and residential services for citizens of Oregon since its inception in 2003, and has since expanded services into Idaho. ColumbiaCare has extensive history and experience in designing, developing (building or remodeling), and/or operating residential treatment programs including 13 licensed treatment facilities providing 24-hour residential services to adults with a primary diagnosis of mental illness. ColumbiaCare also owns and operates 6 supportive housing apartment buildings; owns a children's foster home-based crisis respite home and has 3 other facilities under development. More information is available at http://www.columbiacare.org. 

About Ownersite Technologies

Ownersite Technologies provides comprehensive web-based and mobile solutions to enhance the safety, reliability and value of our customers' personal and commercial assets and vehicles. Our low cost maintenance management tools put the advantages usually reserved for large fleet owners into the hands of small business owners for a fraction of the cost. Ownersite.com is distributed directly to businesses and consumers online as well as through a channel of financial service and insurance providers, automotive service shops, and enthusiast networks. Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Roswell, GA, Ownersite Technologies is a privately held technology company formed by the original creators of http://www.f150online.com. For more information, visit http://www.ownersite.com.

Vancouver Sightseeing Specialists: Controlling Preventive Maintenance Through Technology

OWNERSITE FOR FLEETS CASE STUDY

Vancouver Sightseeing Specialists: Controlling Preventive Maintenance Through Technology

For many fleet owners, preventive maintenance is a continual recordkeeping nightmare. Even firms with in-house maintenance staffs report difficulty staying on top of this crucial task. Yet, failing to keep buses maintained on the proper schedule reduces fuel efficiency, shortens vehicle life spans and can potentially leave customers stranded on the side of the road.

Tim Bourassa, Operations Manager of Burnaby, BC-based Big Bus LTD (which operates Vancouver Sightseeing Specialists), recognized the role preventive maintenance plays in keeping his buses operating at peak performance. He also realized that manual coordination of maintenance schedules and service records—or even informal, computer-based recordkeeping—was not an efficient solution for the 50+ bus operation.

Yet, while plenty of firms offered to perform maintenance on his buses, there were few realistic solutions for streamlining management of the process. "We had been looking for something for several years to fit our bill," says Bourassa. "A simple Google search brought Ownersite to our attention."

For Bourassa, preventive maintenance tracking was more than a financial necessity—it was a regulatory requirement. Canada has strict guidelines for bus owners to meet regarding safety and preventive maintenance programs.

After evaluating Ownersite and its offerings, Bourassa selected Ownersite for Fleets. This software suite is an enhanced and customized version of Ownersite's vehicle lifecycle management solution, a Web-based maintenance, expense and records tracking, alerting and reporting solution for vehicles of all types.

Ownersite for Fleets supports such fleet-centric features as driver-directed reminders, multi-user support and user-defined access groups. Its reporting capabilities include multiple-vehicle analyses of total cost of ownership, cost per mile and comparative (pre- and post-maintenance) fuel costs. In total, this "Swiss-army knife" of tools provides some 75 utilities for recording, tracking and reporting on vehicle records, including maintenance schedules and service records.

Bourassa says his shop manager uses the preventative maintenance component of the program to assign duties to the shop staff (Big Bus has an in-house maintenance shop). To use Ownersite for Fleets, Bourassa or his staff logs into the interface from any Web browser (PC or mobile). Although Bourassa's staff enters data manually on a daily basis, Ownersite also supports upload (in several formats) of vehicle records data ranging from mileage logs and service records to driver information, accidents, recall and vehicle histories, and more.

Data entry screens are custom-designed for vehicle records, making it easy and quick to record the correct information. "Ownersite has helped save us time and confusion with keeping records," says Bourassa. "And the customer service is amazing. Ownersite representatives are very helpful and understanding about our needs. The service alone tipped the scales to Ownersite."

Bourassa is looking forward to Ownersite's upcoming smart phone integration, but is very content with the current solution. "The program helps keep us on track and offers a simple and easy-to-understand audit trail," says Bourassa. "Ownersite is without a doubt a great investment. The program gives us a sense of security knowing that our fleet is being looked after and operating safely."

About Big Bus LTD

Big Bus LTD operates guided, "hop-on, hop-off" sightseeing tours of Vancouver, Canada. Although the tour takes 90 minutes from start to finish, ticketholders can leave the bus at any or all of the tour's 22 stops around the city and rejoin at their leisure. Tickets are good for two days, consecutive or non-consecutive, and ticketholders have two weeks from the first date of use to take advantage of the second day of travel. Each ticket also includes one ice cream treat. For more information, visit www.bigbus.ca or call 604.684.5605

Ownersite.com Helps Fleet Managers Control Fuel Expenses During Gas Price Spike

ROSWELL, GA – May 18, 2011 – Ownersite Technologies, developer of asset management software for vehicle and home owners, today announced that fleet managers utilizing Ownersite.com to track the maintenance of their vehicles are feeling less pressure from rising fuel prices because of the greater fuel efficiency of their vehicles. Ownersite.com, the maintenance reminder and expense tracking system popular with fleet owners, has been shown to help car and truck owners who keep their vehicles in top condition achieve a measurable reduction in fuel usage.

When fuel prices rise, service-based businesses are often the first to feel the pinch at the pump. Businesses who can maintain the same level of quality service with a smaller increase in the cost of doing business gain a competitive advantage.

"We depend on Ownersite's technology to remind us when to service our vehicles – from oil to air filter changes," stated Paul Hartnett, president of Axis Coach, LLC. "Keeping our fleet well maintained has saved us between five and ten percent on our fuel costs."

Ownersite.com's developers recognize that in some fiercely competitive service industries that five to ten percent savings may contribute straight to the profit margin of a sale. Business owners recognize that with gas at $4/gallon, they could potentially recapture $500/year for each vehicle averaging 20,000 annual miles.

"Our software is designed to help vehicle owners operate their vehicles more efficiently and extend their lifetime on the road," said Steven Eppinger, President and CEO of Ownersite Technologies. "Ultimately we're helping them gain more value from their vehicle investment."

Ownersite.com users range from limousine and car services to pest control providers and landscapers. They drive a wide assortment of cars, trucks, vans and buses but are all searching for ways to deliver their service or reach their destination more efficiently.

Ownersite.com capitalizes on what automotive manufacturers have long advocated: that well maintained vehicles will experience better performance – including seeing better gas mileage – and have greater resale value when it comes time to upgrade.

About Ownersite Technologies

Ownersite Technologies provides comprehensive web-based and mobile solutions to enhance the safety, reliability and value of our customers' personal and commercial assets and vehicles. Our low cost asset management tools put the advantages usually reserved for large fleet owners into the hands of small business owners for a fraction of the cost. Ownersite.com is distributed directly to businesses and consumers online as well as through our channel of financial service and insurance providers, automotive service shops, and enthusiast networks. Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Roswell, GA, Ownersite Technologies is a privately held technology company formed by the original creators of http://www.f150online.com. For more information, visit http://www.ownersite.com.

Ownersite Celebrates 10 Years of Helping Customers Enhance Their Vehicle Safety, Reliability, and Value

Offers a Best Practices Lesson on Building a Web Company that Lasts

ROSWELL, GA – January 18, 2011 – Ownersite Technologies, a developer of asset management software for vehicle and home owners, today announced the ten-year milestone of helping customers enhance the safety, reliability, and value of their vehicles through their web-based vehicle maintenance and management solution, Ownersite.com.

Launched in January 2001, the idea for Ownersite.com was born from the Founder's ownership of the highly popular F150online.com community site. Starting as an online alternative to the traditional spreadsheet method of documenting fuel usage and vehicle maintenance, the Ownersite.com solution has been continually enhanced throughout the years.

"Although there was initial skepticism that this innovative subscription-based system for vehicle owners had enough traction to last, it's clear that we stand as a best practices lesson on how to build a successful web company," said Steven Eppinger, President and CEO of Ownersite Technologies. "And, even better is the fact that we are continuing to grow and expand our offering as an invaluable service for thousands of consumers and fleet organizations."

Eppinger added, "There are so many highlights that stand out. One of the first is being recognized in July 2001 as an 'Incredibly Useful Site' by Yahoo! Internet Life Magazine shortly after our launch. Then, in 2004, we launched our private-label model, also known as Ownersite OEM, which licenses the core Ownersite.com technology to companies, such as credit unions, financial service providers and maintenance providers, who are interested in providing our technology as a value-added service to their customers."

Over the years, Ownersite has had numerous successes that have enhanced the company's brand equity and solidified its credibility as a viable web-based business driven by a passion for driving and for detail. Here are some highlights:

* From 2005 to 2007, Ownersite initiated promotional strategic partnerships that incrementally increased revenue, including a stint in NASCAR sponsorship.
* In 2008, recognizing that vehicle owners are also often homeowners, Ownersite expanded its model under the label, Home Ownersite, to help provide the same level of safety, reliability, and value from their homes.
* In 2009, Ownersite formed many strategic affiliate relationships that deepened its revenue stream and provided a solid foundation for growth.
* In 2010, Ownersite reached the milestone of tracking 100 million miles of service records and introduced major product enhancements for fleets and consumers.
* To kick off 2011, Ownersite will reach out to auto enthusiasts by sponsoring Adam Carolla's popular CarCast podcast.

Going forward, Eppinger is excited about the possibilities: "We have a clear strategy laid out for the next few years about how Ownersite will continue increasing the value, savings, convenience and intelligence that a web-based service organization can offer customers. We plan to expand our efforts in social media, improve our mobile offerings, and continue to develop innovative product features for consumers and fleets. We look forward to the new opportunities that await over the next ten years."


About Ownersite Technologies

Ownersite Technologies is a privately held technology company based in Roswell, GA. Launched in January 2001, it is the mission of Ownersite Technologies to provide the most comprehensive web-based and mobile solutions to enhance personal asset lifecycles, aimed at increasing the safety, dependability and value of our customers' homes and vehicles. We do this through direct relationships with the owners themselves as well as through financial service and insurance providers, automotive service shops, and enthusiast networks. For further information, please visit www.ownersite.com.

Ownersite Introduces Operational Process Efficiencies for Fleets and Enhanced Functionality For Consumers

Celebrates One Hundred Million Mile Mark for Stored Maintenance and Fuel Records

ROSWELL, GA – June 18, 2010 – Ownersite Technologies, a developer of asset management software for vehicle and home owners, today introduced greater functionality for their steadily increasing small and medium-sized fleet customer base (including limousine and chartered fleet operators, ambulance and EMS providers, computer and network assistance providers, home theater and automation companies, and landscaping and HVAC companies) and service enhancements for their growing consumer following.

"Ownersite is beginning its tenth year of offering a comprehensive web-based vehicle maintenance management solution to consumers and fleets," said Steven Eppinger, President and CEO of Ownersite Technologies. "Over the years, we have helped our customers log more than one hundred million miles worth of maintenance and fuel records. In our continuing quest to discover creative ways to add further value for all of our customers, we have been working tirelessly to develop our most comprehensive product enhancements to date to answer specific challenges that our customers face."

Eppinger added, "In developing the new functionality for our innovative solution, we focused on features that would enhance our value proposition of safety, reliability, and value that are the hallmarks of our success. For consumers and fleet customers, the new features offer unparalleled ease of use and convenience. In particular, our fleet customers have been hit with some critical challenges due to the recessionary environment, including volatile fuel prices, increased costs, and residual values on used vehicles. They are looking for ways to keep the vehicles in service for a longer time to contain costs associated with vehicle replacement. Our new features will help fleet companies handle these pressures by offering a more concise way to track maintenance and costs associated with those vehicles."

New Features for Fleet Users

* Multiple Users – As one of the most frequently requested features, Ownersite now includes multi-user capabilities, which will enable administrators to create groups with specific product access rights as well as assign users to specific vehicles.
* Work Orders - Fleet users now have a tool to create work orders, which improves their workflow and helps track revenue and costs.
* Preventive Maintenance Schedules – The PM Schedule feature allows users to group services along with their frequencies and assign them to vehicles rather than entering each service individually, one vehicle at a time. This is an excellent way to reduce time and costs.

New Features and Enhancements for All Users

* Accident Manager – Though the professionals behind Ownersite hope users never have to take advantage of this feature, it provides a centralized place to record accident details, including photos, files, notes and driver information when necessary.
* Improved Data Imports - The performance of the fuel record import has been improved and a maintenance record import, payment record import, and trip log import have been added. This will make it much easier to import data that is already maintained in other applications or spreadsheets.
* List Management - For areas where users can add their own entries to the drop-down lists, such as maintenance types, service reminder types and parts and accessories, those entries can now be edited and removed. Users also have the option of adding custom payment types.

Many of these new features are currently in beta mode with many of them coming online in full production in the near term. This public beta can be accessed with the user's existing email address and password at http://beta.ownersite.com. Although Ownersite enjoys a more than 80% subscription renewal rate, customers do not renew from time-to-time, so the company is extending an offer to try this beta version for thirty days to experience these exciting improvements.

About Ownersite Technologies

Ownersite Technologies is a privately held technology company based in Roswell, GA. Founded in 2000, it is the mission of Ownersite Technologies to provide the most comprehensive web-based and mobile solutions to enhance personal asset lifecycles, aimed at increasing the safety, dependability and value of our customers' homes and vehicles. We do this through direct relationships with the owners themselves as well as through financial service and insurance providers, automotive service shops, and enthusiast networks. For further information, please visit http://www.ownersite.com.

1st Advantage Federal Credit Union Selects Ownersite Technologies as an Affiliate for its Drive1A.com Automotive Site

Affiliate Relationship Provides Compelling Value Proposition

ROSWELL, GA – August 12, 2009 – Ownersite Technologies, a developer of personal asset management software for home and vehicle owners, today announced that it has formed its first affiliate partnership with 1st Advantage Federal Credit Union. The Virginia-based credit union is promoting Ownersite as a valuable automotive resource on the financial institution’s dedicated automotive site, Drive1A.com, which offers loans for all types of new and used vehicles, including autos, watercraft, RVs and motorcycles, as well as offers helpful tips and articles geared toward helping their members get the most out of their vehicles.

Ownersite's affiliate program builds on the company's comprehensive vehicle management capabilities by offering greater revenue-sharing and co-branding opportunities for 1st Advantage. The credit union receives a commission for every client that signs up for this valuable web-based service while Ownersite benefits from an expanded customer base.

"We are excited to partner with 1st Advantage because they share our philosophy of helping maximize the safety, reliability, and value of our customers’ assets, such as their vehicles and their homes," says Steven Eppinger, President and CEO of Ownersite Technologies. "Our affiliate program provides 1st Advantage with an expert vehicle maintenance partner that can be beneficial to their members in terms of a convenient, low-cost online maintenance tracking system."

1st Advantage will be able to offer to connect its members to a number of Ownersite's online vehicle maintenance tools, including documenting service histories, tools for tracking business and personal vehicle expenses, immediate access to recalls and technical service bulletin summaries, pre-established and/or customized service reminders, and a central and safe location for maintaining all important vehicle information.

Eppinger added, "The co-branding aspect of the program enables these organizations to strengthen their brands by including their logo and website link at the top of each member's online vehicle maintenance pages after they sign up for the Ownersite program. The affiliate relationship, therefore, enables 1st Advantage to create ongoing value and lasting interaction opportunities between them and their members that can carry on much longer than just offering them a vehicle loan."

In addition to enhanced revenue and co-branding, 1st Advantage also can take advantage of insightful vehicle maintenance articles that they can use on their Drive1A.com website and in their member newsletter. This educational material will help to stimulate interest, educate their members, and build loyalty to the 1st Advantage brand. For more information on the benefits for credit unions and its members, please visit www.ownersite.com/CU.cfm.

About 1st Advantage Federal Credit Union

Headquartered in Newport News, Virginia, 1st Advantage Federal Credit Union has approximately 60,000 members serviced by 11 branch locations. The credit union offers checking and savings, business services, loan services (home, car, and personal) and credit cards, credit counseling, online banking and investment services. For more information, please visit www.1stadvantage.org.

About Ownersite Technologies

Ownersite Technologies is a privately held technology company based in Roswell, GA. Founded in 2000, it is the mission of Ownersite Technologies to provide the most comprehensive web-based and mobile solutions to enhance personal asset lifecycles, aimed at increasing the safety, dependability and value of our customers' homes and vehicles. We do this through direct relationships with the owners themselves as well as through financial service and insurance providers, automotive service shops, and enthusiast networks. For further information, please visit www.ownersite.com.

Great article on Ownersite in the July issue of LCT Magazine

One of Ownersite's fastest growing audiences is the small to medium fleet market. It's great to see such a fantastic article about Ownersite in this space. Many thanks to the folks at LCT Magazine, a publisher for the limousine and chauffeured transportation market, for the great job.

Ownersite PDF -- LCT July

Ownersite adds better maintenance & reminder integration, mpg per fuel record

We are in the process of wrapping up our customer survey and we wanted to thank everyone for their support, feedback, kind words and suggestions. Several hundred people replied, so I think the information we have collected is going to serve our users very well. Of the suggestions, two items were requested more frequently than any other:

1) add a column to the fuel display page that shows fuel consumption by record
2) better integrate the maintenance record and reminder functionality

I am happy to say that we have listened to your feedback and have made these very useful enhancements to Ownersite as a result.

There is now a column on the fuel display page that shows your fuel consumption by record. (we have maintained this information in the past on the fuel graph and text-based fuel usage report, but not on the main page) The column will include a value only if two consecutive fuel records are both fillups. (if they are not fillups there is no way to know accurately how much fuel was used for the calculation)



In what was probably the number one request, we have enhanced how maintenance records and reminders integrate with each other. Ownersite has been able to detect if a reminder already exists for a maintenance, tire or oil change record that has been added for a couple of years now, but it was handled by popup messages, which we suspect were simply not being seen as a result of popup blockers being on by default in most browsers now. We have done away with the popup and the functionality is now handled by standard screens. Combined with the recently introduced reminder reset feature, we suspect this will accomodate the needs of 95% of our users.

Here is the existing reminder...


Now let's add a maintenance record...


Ownersite detects if there is a reminder scheduled for this service..


The reminder has been updated to reflect maintenance record...


There are a couple of caveats to the integration right now, in that it only works for odometer-based reminders. It will also do its best to detect user-defined reminders, but in some cases differences between the maintenance labels and reminder labels will not be detected.

We hope these features enhance your experience with Ownersite. We are always looking for ways to improve the product and we are listening to your suggestions. (and we have more things in the works) As always, thank you for your support!

Ownersite adds Twitter support for quicker entry of fuel records

A lot of technology and website trends have come and gone since we launched Ownersite back in 2001. We have incorporated some of the more useful ones, like a mobile interface (including a specific iPhone version) and this blog, for example. But we had held off on creating a Twitter interface until now. Some of the more useful fuel logging sites/social networks (like MyMileMarker, FuelFrog & FuelClinic come to mind) have had this kind of functionality for a while, but our users had not requested it until recently. I am happy to announce that we now have it and I must say that it really is a time saver. I may be a bit "old-school" but by using OutTwit (Outlook Twitter client) I can enter my fuel records in seconds, without having to login to my Ownersite account (mobile or otherwise). I believe this functionality may convince some Ownersite users that are not logging fuel economy to start doing so. More information can be found here. Can we say that we are Web 2.0 compliant now?

Ownersite, Home Ownersite and Personal Asset Management

I admit it, I am one of those people that logs in every day to check my bank account for cleared checks, see what charges have posted to the old AMEX card and how the family investments currently stand. Based on the increased use (and trust for) online banking and personal finance tools, I suspect I am not alone. Desktop software products like Quicken have been around for years to satiate the desire to know what your money is doing (I even had my free copy of Microsoft Money 1.0 back in the day) and now thanks to powerful web-based products like Mint, you can go online and do something very similar. In my opinion, having that kind of focus on personal finances is important in this era of increased dependence on credit.

But what if families applied the same principals they apply to their money, credit and retirement accounts to most expensive items they are likely to ever purchase, their homes and their vehicles? Corporate America has recognized the importance of applying this kind of focus for years to protect and value their assets, with fleet management software and asset tracking tools, but little focus has been placed on doing something similar at the consumer level. That is, until now.

With Ownersite and Home Ownersite, we are starting to get people to think more critically about the overall importance and value of their vehicles and their homes, a paradigm shift that we refer to as "personal asset management."

We all know that a vehicle immediately loses value when driven off the lot, yet we still continue to make payments on it for several years. How can we maintain as much value as possible, while at the same time keep it in peak operating condition. Ultimately, it is incumbent upon the owner to have maintenance performed, but Ownersite reminds its users of when and why, provides an online repository to store service information and ultimately makes it simple to share that history (and receipts) with a potential buyer online come resale time. Fuel economy tracking, trip logging and comprehensive reporting tools help manage the ownership life cycle.

For most of us, our home is the most expensive thing we will ever own, but few of us take the care to document all the important contents within the home. In the event of a flood, fire or break-in that makes recovering a challenging process. Thanks to Home Ownersite, it is easy to document, and ultimately share with your insurance agent, what was taken or destroyed and get on with your life as quickly as possible. But inventory is just one component of Home Ownersite, with task reminders (change those smoke detector batteries!), an online journal, photo and file store, mortgage and tax document repositories and much more, the product is intended for the complete ownership life cycle of your home.

And what if you are a renter or own multiple properties? It is important to keep track of all the assets in your life, wherever they are, especially if they are out of sight most of the time.

Let's be honest, some of us check the balance of our 401k every day, but we don't rely on our 401k to drive our kids to school or provide our family shelter. Thankfully, more and more people are understanding the importance of applying this mentality to their homes and vehicles, as evidenced by the number of products out there competing with Ownersite Technologies on the desktop, for PDA's and online.

Online banking has now become ubiquitous. Web-based tools to track our personal finances are gaining popularity every day. Our goal since 2001 is to educate consumers on the importance and value of "personal asset management" with Ownersite and Home Ownersite.

Ownersite Recognized as "Top Tool" on Mashable

Even though Ownersite has been around since 2000, growing and improving every day, it still receives little ongoing recognition (with the exception of the always incredible Autoblog and the review noted below from Gear Diary) in the "Web 2.0" world. In part, this is likely due to our subscription-based revenue model in a world where so many people feel that if it's online, it should be free. Of course, the fact that we've been online and growing (and expanding our product line) for more than eight years, while others have tried and failed, I would say that the model works pretty well.

Anyway, with that in mind, I was overjoyed by the recognition and a resulting jump in traffic last week from a couple of very useful blog posts on Mashable. Many thanks go out to Sean Aune for including Ownersite in his collection of resources: 18 Tools to Track Car and Fuel Maintenance and 200+ Tools for Surviving the Economic Crisis.

Thanks, Sean!

Multi-tasking...a guiding principle behind Ownersite's products.

Much like Food Network's Alton Brown, we are big fans of "multi-taskers."

When we set out to develop Ownersite, our intention was not to merely build the best fuel log or the most useful reminder system, but to look at the entire life cycle of vehicle ownership and provide a comprehensive suite of tools to enhance it. The result is Ownersite. While it's possible that no two subscribers approach the use of Ownersite in the same way, it is likely that each any every subscriber finds functionality to get a better handle on their respective vehicles.

We approached the initial launch of Home Ownersite in the same exact way. Ownersite Technologies is not a developer of "personal finance" products (the industry already has Quicken on the desktop and Mint on the web), rather we see ourselves as developers of "personal asset management" tools, not for our subscribers money, rather for the most expensive items they will likely purchase with that money.

With all of that in mind, I am excited to announce even more functionality forHome Ownersite. In the past two weeks we have rolled out a Journal module and an Insurance module. Home Ownersite is more useful than ever as a repository for all aspect of home ownership, from a complete and sharable home inventory product, a log of maintenance, repair & renovations to a centralized location to store details on tax records, mortgage(s) and insurance.

In addition to all this, we have also expanded the Home Care articles section of the main website with even more educational content, with even more to come in the coming days.

Ownersite has grown and improved over the years thanks to the feedback of our dedicated subscribers. We believe that Home Ownersite will grow and improve in the same way.

Incredible review of Ownersite on Gear Diary

Judie Lipsett just posted her very thorough and informative review of Ownersite on her blog, Gear Diary. I had the opportunity to meet Judie a couple months ago at a Ford media event and I can tell you that she is definitely a car person, something that shows through in the review. Thank you very much for the kind words, Judie!