Why TrashBolt is the Best Online Signup System for Waste Haulers
Why is TrashBolt the best Online Signup System for Waste Haulers on the market?
(And why it’s not cheap)
Since TrashBolt’s introduction to the market in 2018, we’ve seen several online signup products come and go, and/or fail to gain a foothold in the online signup space. Why? Additionally, we’re now seeing new so-called “All-in-One” software systems enter the market, claiming to have online signup capabilities in addition to billing and/or routing functionality. Do these new softwares really have full-featured online signup, or are they cutting corners with their online signup capabilities (short answer: yes)?
TrashBolt was the waste industry’s first online signup system for the waste hauling space. It’s also the most widely used, both by small mom and pop shops, and by the big guys with 100’s, even 1000’s of trucks. Why has TrashBolt succeeded where others are failing?
This article will explain why TrashBolt stands apart from every other online signup system on the market, and what a waste hauler should look for when it comes to an online signup system.
Good Software Costs Millions of Dollars to Develop
First off, it’s worth mentioning that software development is expensive. Very expensive. To make matters worse, specialty software, say the stuff that’s written specifically for use by waste haulers, is even more costly to develop. And because there are only a few thousand waste haulers in the country that may buy a specialized software, the high development costs have to be amortized across a relatively small group of users (as opposed to, say, Quickbooks, which is a generic software that can be used by millions of companies). For a deeper understanding of why hauler software is so expensive: https://trashbolt.com/why-is-hauler-software-so-old-and-expensive/
TrashBolt is a specific software designed for use by waste haulers. Our software cost, literally, millions of dollars to develop. Why so much? Because we knew from the onset what an online signup system must do to be useful, not only for smaller haulers, but for national waste haulers with enterprise level requirements.
How do you build a quality company, with high quality products, and a high level of customer service, spending millions of dollars to do so, when the software will be used by a couple or few hundred haulers?
The most important rule when buying software:
The most expensive software is the one you have to replace prematurely. Buying an inferior software based on price will, inevitably, bite the user in the butt. The cost of buying, implementing, training staff, changing processes, all for a software that doesn’t fit your business, and will eventually be replaced is far more expensive than buying the right software from the onset, even if that product costs more.
Take it from me: I’ve been in software since 1998. Our CTO, Martin Euerle, has been in software since 1989. We don’t just know software. Our core team came from a successful waste hauler, so we know the space very well. https://trashbolt.com/meet-the-team-behind-trashbolt-software/
Understandably, most waste haulers know waste hauling, not software. We do. We built our company, products, and customer service model to ensure your success. And because TrashBolt is the best Online Signup System on the market, we’re worth the small premium over lesser products. To find out why, continue reading.
Parcel Perfect Mapping vs Zip Codes
At the heart of TrashBolt’s Online Signup System (“OSS” for short) is a sophisticated mapping software. Mapping out the service footprint is required to determine whether or not a customer lives within a hauler’s service area.
Haulers don’t always service based on a zip code, so a table of zip codes won’t work. Why? What if a zip code overlaps into a municipality where hauling is controlled by the city, or some other hauler? In this case, an OSS that uses zip codes won’t work because customers in that zip code, but also within a city boundary, would be able to sign up for service, resulting in a false positive (and an expensive call-back/cancel contract scenario).
TrashBolt’s mapping software is “parcel perfect”, meaning that exact geo-fences are created to represent a hauler’s actual service footprint. This means that a customer living on one side of the street, outside the city boundary, can sign up for service, while a person living on the other side of the street cannot, even if they share the same zip code.
Product Availability & Pricing Based on Service Address
Once the service footprint is established in TrashBolt, Data Attributes are added to the map. Data Attributes can be products, taxes, Route ID, Billing Cycle, on and on. This means that once a service address is entered in TrashBolt OSS, the products available at that address will be the only products available. When the customer selects from available products, TrashBolt calculates the price based on that location.
Sales vs Operational Polygons
A polygon is a geo-fenced area of any shape. TrashBolt establishes polygons where the hauler wants to sell, which may be different from where a hauler currently operates. We call those
“sales polygons”. To cut costs, the new-comer “all-in-one” softwares tend to allow customers to sign up within an area where the hauler currently operates a route. But what if the hauler wants to sell in an adjacent neighborhood where they currently don’t operate a route? Or, perhaps the hauler is establishing a new service area where they will operate at some point in the future?
Without specifically defined sales polygons, a system that only allows sales within an operational area may be inadequate. Therefore, it’s essential that an OSS allows a hauler to define where they want to sell, not just where they currently operate.
Website Widget vs Redirect
Keep YOUR Customer on YOUR Website!
This is, perhaps, the biggest failure of every other OSS TrashBolt has evaluated, namely: Every other system redirects the customer off of the hauler’s website. In order to cut costs, when a prospective customer clicks a button to sign up for service, the other OSS softwares redirect that customer off of the hauler’s website, and into their system. That ends the user’s session time on the hauler’s website, and begins a new session in the other software. Google watches this, and assumes that the hauler’s website doesn’t have relevant content.
Consider this example. A prospective customer uses Google to search “garbage service near me” or “dumpster rental near me”. Then, that user clicks on a hauler’s website, noticing the
“buy now” button. When the customer clicks that button, there are two scenarios. One, where the OSS keeps the customer on the hauler’s website, and the second where the OSS redirects the customer off of the website into their own software.
In the first scenario, the “session time” for that user is maintained on the haulers website. As the customer uses the OSS, the time spent on that website is somewhere around 5 minutes, the time it takes to view a quote, signup, and pay for service. Google’s wizardry interprets that long session times as “this website must have relevant content” with respect to the search phrase used by the customer (“garbage service near me”). The result: Google will rank that website higher in the organic search rankings the next time that search phrase is used in that area.
Compare this to the second scenario where the OSS software redirects that new customer off the hauler’s website. The customer enters the search phrase, clicks on your website, then clicks the OSS button, and poof! Session time ended. Google will interpret that as “well, geez, this website must not have relevant content” with respect to the search phrase. This method, redirection, literally damages the waste hauler’s search engine rankings, and is the opposite of common SEO strategies.
Why do the other OSS softwares redirect? It’s way cheaper to design, deploy, and support a software that’s all in one place. It’s also much easier to shift the customer off of your website, than to design a widget that functions on all of the different website softwares out there (e.g. Word Press, GoDaddy, Custom Websites, etc). So, their cost-cutting comes at the expense of YOUR search engine ranking and SEO. They just hope you don’t know that.
As of this writing, TrashBolt is the only OSS that embeds a widget in the hauler’s website for the
Lead Generation
In our research of other OSS products out there, whether stand-alone, or part of an “all-in-one” software package, TrashBolt stands apart in the way we handle leads. First off, many of the other OSS products out there do not collect a lead at all. That means a customer can view your price, but if they don’t sign up for service, there’s no lead to follow up. That opportunity has come and gone, with no record.
Secondly, TrashBolt was designed to create the lead before the customer sees their quote. This means there’s always an opportunity for more business, even if the customer did or didn’t view a quote, or sign up for service.
Lead Source Tracking and Google Tag Management
Haulers are becoming more advanced in how they market their services. Tracking the efficacy of marketing campaigns is becoming increasingly more important. There are any number of ways a hauler might market digitally: Social Media, QR codes, Email blasts, cross-linking to other websites, Google Ad spends, on and on. So, how does a hauler track the efficacy of a particular campaign?
TrashBolt is designed to track a lead’s source. This means a hauler can track what leads, and what sales, came from a specific campaign. This is particularly useful when assessing whether or not a campaign spend was worthwhile (e.g. $5000 was spent, $15,000 revenue was generated). As of this writing, no other OSS does this.
In addition to lead source tracking, TrashBolt also utilizes Google Tag Management, or GTM. Because TrashBolt is embedded in the hauler’s website, it can track each user session utilizing Google Analytics GTM. This means a hauler can see how customers interacted with TrashBolt. Did the customer view their quote? Did they leave after they saw the price? Did 100 people click the button, but only 50 went past the quote (implying that the price might be too high?). As of this writing, no other OSS does this.
At TrashBolt, we’ve always believed “you can’t manage what you don’t measure”. One must measure lead source and session activity in order to make smart business decisions.
Promo Codes
We all know what they are: a code that unlocks a discount or special offer. As of this writing, no other OSS has promocode functionality. Why? Because it can be tricky! Here are a couple examples:
- 13 months service for the price of 12.
- First month free
- 10% off
- $25 off
- Waived delivery fee
- 12 month contract gets free yard waste service
- What’s your promotion?
There literally is no end to the types of discounts and promotions TrashBolt has encountered. Each Promo-Code may have specific formulas and/or rules associated with them. As of this writing, no other OSS supports promo-code functionality.
Customizable Customer Interview Form (Expert Form System)
The goal of TrashBolt’s OSS was to emulate the phone conversation a new customer might have with a sales representative. When TrashBolt’s OSS is set up, we ask our clients “what questions do you ask your customers on the phone when providing a quote?”. Then, we design our Expert Form system to ask those same questions.
An Expert Form System is flexible, and can be complex. To illustrate this, what if how a customer answers question #1 determines the choices available in questions #2? (These scenarios assume the customer’s address has already been entered) For example:
Dumpster/Roll Off Rental Scenario:
Question #1: “What type of material will you put in your dumpster?” Answer: “Roofing Shingles” Question #2: What size dumpster do you need (with size restriction to 20 yard).
Commercial Dumpster:
Question #1: “What type of business are you?” Answer: “Restaurant”
Question #2 opens up: Is your dumpster in a locked corral? Answer: Yes
Residential Service:
Question #1: “Would you like walk-up service?” Answer “Yes”
Question #2: “Is the cart in a locked corral?” Answer: “No”
Creating a quote for a prospective customer can be complex. TrashBolt has experienced virtually every type of question a hauler might ask to establish a quote. Our Expert Form System has always been able to accomplish this. As of this writing, no other OSS has this capability.
Service Contract
TrashBolt is the only OSS that creates a Service Contract, an executable document that collects the customer’s signature and payment. A Service Contract allows for all of the hauler’s Terms and Conditions to be placed on the agreement itself, often with an “I Agree” checkbox (especially for dumpster rentals). That Service Contract is emailed to the customer, and the Haulers as a PDF.
Multiple Service Types
Because TrashBolt utilizes a sophisticated mapping system, and an Expert Form System, we support virtually every service type a waste hauler provides. The process is the same, no matter the service type: Map out the footprint, design the Customer Interview Form, and Design the Service Contract.
- Weekly Residential Service
- Temporary Dumpster Rental
- Commercial Dumpster Service
- Porta-Potty and Wash Station Rental
- Composting Service
- E-Recycling
- More
This flexibility is extremely important, especially with regard to the so-called “All-in-One” systems. If those systems are built for, say, dumpster rental, then how will a hauler break into a new service type (like Residential waste hauling)? Again, TrashBolt is the only system that truly handles every service type in the waste hauling space.
Data Integration
Most of the legacy billing and routing softwares on the market available to waste haulers do not have an API. An API is basically a doorway into a software that allows another software to push and/or pull data from one software to the other. TrashBolt is the only OSS with a sophisticated Data Sync Application (DSA) that allows data to be entered into and pulled from virtually any software. This means that when a sale is made in TrashBolt’s OSS, the data collected can be automatically entered into the hauler’s billing system.
In this way, the “All-in-One” systems have an advantage, as their OSS is presumably integrated into the billing system they provide. However, most waste haulers are still on the legacy systems. Why? The legacy systems often have considerably more functionality than the new kids on the block, such as in-cab computing/tablets, scale software, and more robust billing capabilities. As such, many haulers have remained on these older systems despite the “new look” of the newer systems trying to gain a foothold in the hauling space.
This is why TrashBolt’s Data Sync Application is so important: the hauler can keep their backend systems in place. And we’re the only stand alone OSS to offer DSA.
Sales Entry System
TrashBolt’s Sales Entry System puts the power and simplicity of the Online Signup System in the hands of your CSRs and Sales Reps. SES:
- Speeds up onboarding of new CSRs/Reps
- Replaces legacy system’s ancient screens with new, intuitive, browser-based UI (which allows a remote workforce)
- Reduces call center mistakes
- Tracks who made what sale
Offers a selection of available discounts and/or promo codes to help close more sales - Connects to Data Sync Application to push data into your back-end software system(s)
Customer Service Portal + Bulky Pickup System
Self-Service customer service is growing in popularity. Customers want to be able to manage their account, make changes, or even additional purchases. When TrashBolt’s OSS is combined with TrashBolt’s Customer Service Portal, customers can:
- Add extra services, such as yard waste, recycling, an extra cart, and pay
- Order a dumpster, porta potty, or more, and pay
- Schedule and pay for a bulky pickup
- Much more
TrashBolt’s Data Sync Application can push the data into a hauler’s backend billing/routing system, including work order data.
Most of the hauler softwares on the market, new or old, don’t even offer this functionality. None of the standalone OSS products do either, making TrashBolt a hauler’s best choice for self-service customer service options.
Phone App
TrashBolt’s phone app duplicates the Customer Service Portal’s functionality, and can receive push notifications (from the Customer Notifications System below). No other OSS software has a customer facing phone app.
Customer Notification System
TrashBolt’s Customer Notification System is quite simply the best, and most robust notifications platform available to a waste hauler. Why? It combines email, text, the customer service dashboard, and the phone app into a powerful communications suite. This is more functionality than most CRMs on the market, let alone other OSS software options. When combined with the Data Sync Applications, customer notifications can be partially or completely automated.
Read this article to learn why customers communications is The Next Big Thing in waste hauling:
https://wasteadvantagemag.com/customer-communications-software-the-next-big-thing-in-the-waste-hauling-space/
Lead Management System
TrashBolt’s Online Signup and Sales Entry Systems generate sales and leads. What should a hauler do with the leads? Our Lead Management System allows the hauler to create automated followup campaigns for continuous contact. When combined with OSS, a “buy now” button, revenue is generated, automatically. New campaigns can find even more revenue. Here are some examples:
Follow Up Campaign: When a customer views a quote, but doesn’t sign the agreement, LMS sends steady reminders to sign and pay.
Follow Up Campaign: When a customer buys weekly waste service, that customer will receive automatic communications to sign up for waste service, or a discounted dumpster rental, etc.
New Campaign: A filtered list allows the hauler to identify all customers who don’t have yard waste service. A new campaign, with a “buy now” button, is sent to that list.
The results are tracked by LMS, with the ability to follow up with inquiries. As of this writing, no other OSS software does this.
Stable Company with an Excellent Reputation for Quality:
There are ways to build software, and a software company, to save money, offering a lower price to its users. Since 2018, we’ve seen that kind of “competition” come and go. They skimp on their product, one way or another, leading to the failure of their product in the marketplace. It’s sad to see. But, it’s even worse for the haulers who could have bought TrashBolt instead of spending time and money on a dead end.
Then, there are ways to build an excellent product, supported by high levels of customer service, resulting in a more expensive, but vastly superior product and customer experience. TrashBolt did it the right way. We’re not the cheapest, but we are the best. This is why TrashBolt has received recognition and awards for its products and high level of customer service. And this is why it’s the most widely used Online Signup System on the market.
Conclusion
The wise consumer knows that the most expensive software is the one you have to replace prematurely. Be wise: Buy TrashBolt instead.
