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 Empowers Drivers with Mobile Edition of Affordable Vehicle Maintenance Management Application, Now in Beta

ROSWELL, GA – June 30, 2011 – Ownersite Technologies, developer of Web-based maintenance management solutions for small to medium sized fleets, today announced the public beta release of its mobile edition, with a target for general availability of August 31, 2011. Access to the application will be free for all Ownersite.com subscribers.

Ownersite Mobile will give authorized users and drivers direct access to the Ownersite.com vehicle records and maintenance management information for their vehicles, allowing them to enter data on vehicle servicing (both scheduled and unanticipated), fuel purchases and other information from the road. Integration with geolocation services will reduce data entry for trip logging, fuel and maintenance stops by automatically capturing the event location.

Panchero's Franchise Corp., which uses a small fleet of Hummers to advertise its business in the Midwest, has been testing the release. "Since we began using Ownersite's mobile platform, it's easy for our drivers to log in and enter their miles on trip reports," says Nanette Boyer, director of real estate. "Ownersite's solution has made it more convenient to keep track of mileage logs, maintenance, insurance and registrations."

Ownersite for Fleets, one of the only Web-based solutions purpose-built for fleet vehicle maintenance management, gains powerful new functionality with the release of Ownersite Mobile. Additional features include setting user access policies, automating maintenance alerts to drivers, capturing trouble tickets from the road at the time they occur, and generating mobile reports that show administrators which records are being entered by drivers.

"The mobile solution not only empowers drivers to input data so someone in the back office doesn't have to; it also puts the maintenance schedule and vehicle history in the hands of the driver at all times," says Steve Eppinger, founder of Ownersite Technologies. "With this history at hand, they can take better care of the vehicle and make better decisions when faced with maintenance issues on the road, ultimately saving the company time and money."

Ownersite Mobile is available as a native Android app that can be downloaded from the Android Market, and as a website optimized for access by mobile devices like iPhones and iPads, and smartphones and tablets that run Android, Windows 7 and Blackberry OS. Ownersite pricing is tiered based on the number of vehicles, with no additional charge for adding users or access to Ownersite Mobile.

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 www.f150online.com. For more information, visit www.ownersite.com.