Hire and Rental News - February 2018

72.6% – Storm 6.5% – Theft/Burglary/Malicious Damage 6.4% – Fire 5.5% – Impact/Accidental Damage Average claims cost = $27,822 Property claims breakdown* 81.8% – Personal injury 18.2% – Property Damage Average claims cost = $36,837 Liability claims breakdown (2010-2017) related property damage as an example. We’ve identified storm losses are one of the biggest cause of claims for hire businesses – and among the most costly. At the same time, we’re seeing Australia increasingly being affected by storms and other extreme weather events – and that threat is likely to grow in coming years, not diminish. Making sure plant, machinery and property is insured for its full replacement value becomes critical. A knock-on effect from many insurance claims that too few business owners consider is inability to trade. If your yard gets flooded and hirers can’t access equipment for two weeks, how does that impact your business income? If you run a small hire business and a key piece of equipment is stolen or damaged, how will that affect your bottom line? The right insurance program can factor that in and cover those lost profits. That can make the difference between staying in business or closing your doors for good. Gallagher offers HRIA members a no- obligation insurance review. Contact: 1800 572 145 or visit: info.ajg.com.au/hria Windward Software has been in Australia since 1996, but has only recently begun its foray into the rental sector,Windward Software Australia Managing Director, Mark Rutter said. “Our US operation has been working in the rental space for the past five years and has developed success especially within the heavy equipment rentals market,” Mark said. “In Australia Windward Software has been working with the medical rental sector across rental products like wheelchairs, beds, and other medical equipment. We see this as very much a niche rental market and now we are keen to build on our success in rental in Australia and extend to encompass the equipment rental markets too.” Windward System Five is an end-to-end business management solution, Mark said. It features a series of modular Business management software supplier focuses on rental The business management software market will see more of a new player in 2018 when Windward Software turns its attention to focus more fully on the rental market in Australia. components from accounting (including accounts receivable/payable), ordering, selling, with POS, inventory control, CRM, rental and service management and more. “Windward’s Business Management Software is adaptable and will handle simple payment processing or specialised functions like bar code scanning, serial number tracking, unit tracking, labour costs and signature capture. “Windward System Five will organise staff, customers, inventory, and operations with a comprehensive tool set. Our software grows with your business. Modules can be added as required and it will integrate with other software, permitting you to go cloud-based, multi- store or to sell globally online,” Mark said. Offering financial and customer reporting with customised reports designed to specific requirements so clients can analyse the details that matter most, whether that’s staff in multiple locations, inventory levels, or another area of interest Mark said. Windward System Five is available in two versions: SMB choose the modules required or Enterprise comes fully loaded to provide a comprehensive business management system. Windward System Five point of sale software supports a range of optional hardware including scanners, printers, computers, touch screens, and more. “We do hire very well but it’s the extra things we bring that make the difference,” Mark said. “Being an end-to-end system means all your information is in the one place and there is one truth, one area of information management. We bring it all together in one system.” Contact: 1300 137 066 or visit webite: www.windwardsoftware.com 23 HIRE AND RENTAL NEWS • FEBRUARY 2018 INDUSTRY in FOCUS