NEMT dispatch software: Why it’s essential for every NEMT business
Technology has given nearly every industry the ability to work faster and smarter, and non-emergency medical transportation is no exception. As the United States population continues to age, more and more people are depending on NEMT services to get to and from their healthcare visits. A growing number of trip requests means better business for NEMT providers across the country, but it also means a better trip management process is needed. NEMT dispatch software is by far the best solution for improving the way your transportation business is run. If you don’t want to fall behind in this industry, it’s important to switch to an automated trip dispatching, scheduling, routing, and billing process as soon as possible. Here’s why:
Save time during every step of the process
When you’re running a business, managing your time properly is essential. When you’re planning a trip by hand, there simply isn’t a way to maximize your time. NEMT dispatch software saves you time by automating every step of the process. For instance, every trip request coming from a broker is automatically imported into your system. When those details are received, the system immediately analyzes that information in order to find the right driver and vehicle for the trip. When the trip is ready to be dispatched, the system finds the best available vehicle and identifies the fastest, most efficient route for the driver. Once the driver hits the road, the system continues to adapt as the trip unfolds, effectively automating the trip process from start to finish.
Get from point A to point B faster
When all is said and done, transportation dispatching software gets you from the pick-up point to the drop-off point faster than ever before. The intelligent system finds the fastest route for each trip based on a variety of factors—traffic patterns, accidents, dangerous road conditions, etc—and maps the route that will get the driver to their pick-up point fastest. If something changes while the driver is en route, the system will adjust the route in real time to avoid risking a late arrival.
Track your fleet in real time
Having the ability to see where your vehicles are at all times is important when it comes to adapting to changing road conditions. With dispatching software, dispatchers can easily see where every vehicle is in real time. This allows your team to make sure every passenger arrives safely and on time. Plus, if a driver is en route to a pick-up or drop-off point and a better route comes up, dispatchers can redirect the drivers in real time to make sure they arrive on time and avoid poor traffic and road conditions.
Seamless communication with brokers and drivers
The majority of your trips likely come from transportation brokers who help Medicaid recipients book rides. If this is the case, you need a reliable way to communicate with brokers about these trip requests. The best way to do this is with NEMT software, which allows trip details to automatically import into your system so that once you accept the request, the software can automatically search for the best vehicle, driver, and route for the trip. If you have a question about the passenger or the trip, it’s easy to communicate with the broker from the system. Additionally, the best dispatch software makes it simple for dispatchers and drivers to communicate as trips unfold. If something about the trip changes or the dispatcher has a specific question, they can call or send a message to the driver, which the driver will receive on their mobile driver app. Seamless communication is the key to running a successful business. Once you find a way to guarantee that, you’ll immediately see the difference in the way your operations unfold.
Give your passengers control with a passenger app
Your passengers want to feel like they have control over their trip requests. When you use software with a built-in passenger app, they do. A passenger app gives your private pay clients the ability to book trips directly from their smartphones. It also makes it possible for all clients to watch the trip unfold in real time on their phone, so they can see when a driver is arriving, where they are on the route, and when they’re approaching the drop-off point. Your passengers can even communicate via messaging with their drivers if needed. These passenger app abilities promote transparency and trust between your organization and the passenger.
Stay on top of fleet maintenance
If your vehicles aren’t receiving regular maintenance, you could run into trouble quickly. It can be difficult juggling multiple aspects of your business at once, and it’s not difficult to see how you could miss an oil change here and there when you’re dealing with so many different projects. Luckily, fleet management software tracks important maintenance appointments and alerts you when they’re due. The system tracks oil changes, inspections, and alerts you of any other maintenance needs, so as soon as there’s an issue, you know right away.
Develop detailed reports
If you want to continue bettering your business, you need a way to track your analytics. Investing in software that boasts robust reporting options is your best bet when it comes to reviewing your data in the future. The right software allows you to create reports in dozens of different formats, choose the data you want to see organized, and gives you a clean outlook on the future of your business. NEMT reporting software does the tedious work for you and helps your business thrive with useful insights. This may not seem like the biggest need when you’re starting your software search, but it’s something you’ll be glad you have down the line.
Move your business forward
Now that you know how important NEMT dispatch software is, it’s time to find a system that best suits your business’s needs. The best way to see whether a system is right for your business is by seeing the platform in action. If you’re ready to take this step, we’d love to set up a time for your free demo. Get in touch with our expert team today to book your RouteGenie NEMT software demo!