RentPlus Terminal Services Edition

Central server, many sites

By Kimberly Hundley

Got internet? If so, you also havethe capacity for a centralized data/program locale linking to multiple sites.This fall, Hi-Tech Smart Systems Inc. released the Terminal Services Edition(TSE) of its popular RentPlus Windows self-storage software. TSE lets companiesmanage any site from any location with an Internet connection. Unlike similartypes of server software, Hi-Techs new edition features the rich,full-featured interface of a Windows application. Its the best of both worlds, says Michael Richards,president of the Kailua, Hawaii-based company.

Designed for companies with five or more facilities, TSE runson a single server instead of individual site computers. Under the old scenario,copy of RentPlus Windows would have to be installed at each facility. TSE,however, uses the Internet to link software and data from the home server toremote sites as well as local area networks.

In addition to geographic convenience, TSE gives systems thepower to quickly and easily access data. The home office has all theinformation under its control, explains Richards. It can run reports anddo backups and updates as needed without having to travel to the site and do thework there. It really is a big revolution in the whole way people operate.

Improved speed across the board is a factor because data doesnthave to be exchangedall work is done on the server side. Technical issuessuch as backup and restoring will basically leave the managers hands andbecome the responsibility of home-office staff. Managers, who arent necessarily technically oriented,can focus more on customer service and not whether the backup has been done orthe update has been installed. And, of course, when you have that scenario overmultiple facilities, it becomes more of an issue, says Richards.

Midsize businesses in such sectors as apartment management andhealthcare have been using technology similar to TSE for years. Its relevance toself-storage has grown along with the surge in multifacility owners. Increasedreliability of the Internet has also driven demand. These days, its rare for DSL or cable to go down. In caseswhere it does occur, clients can dial up through their phone lines to reconnectto the TSE system.

Ultimate Access

TSE costs a bit more upfront than standard editions ofRentPlus; the more sites that participate, the more economical it becomes. Long-term savings come through easy access to data, enhancedinformation management and labor reallocation.

Richards points to a current industry pressure: Central offices are expected to have better and more combinedreports as well as information access in near to real time. Though its obviously possible to retrieve data fromnumerous sites on a daily basis without a central clearinghouse like TSE,mistakes are bound to occur. Youll never have 100 percent reliability thatway, because there is no such thing as a perfect system, Richards says. With our Terminal Services Edition, you have no loss ofspeed or functionality, yet you have all the data where you want it, in oneplace.

Operators neednt be in the office to enjoy wide access toany facilitys data either. They can be anywhere an Internet-linked computeris available. If you get a call from a manager having a problem with customerJones, you can be in your office or at home in the evening, and look at thatcustomers data and fix the problem, Richards says.

Subscribers find overall IT costs are reduced for remotesites because only thin client computers are needed vs. fully equipped PCs with bulky hard drives. If a company needs to add new sitesand users to the system later, no problem; the process is easy and painless. VPN, or Virtual Private Network, security is fully supported,and TSE furnishes two additional levels of access control to ensure informationis protected.

Because TSE isnt web-based, it provides the same experienceto users as a Windows program. For instance, users control the printer directlywithout having to use the browsers web button to print, and frames arentlost during back-and-forth page navigation.

Tech Advantage

Hi-Tech developed TSE in conjunction with the MicrosoftEmpower Program, which supports small companies by providing access todevelopment software and technical expertise. The collaboration protects Hi-Techcustomers, says Richards. Were committed to developing products we believeare the industry standard, and our solutions are based on technology thatsnot going to go away or be bought out by anybody else, he explains. That adds stability to our products.

Two main companies provide server software; Hi-Tech recommends running TSE with Microsoft TerminalServices. The server itself can be in a home office or outsourced to a host.A lot of people we are talking to are not putting the server in their officebut a server farm, which is outfitted with generators and back-upemergency equipment, says Richards. Those are a good way to go, particularly in areas withpower issues.

Launched in 1998, RentPlus is a complete self-storagemanagement system featuring more than 100 reports and graphs, onscreeninteractive maps of facilities and their rentals, multiple collection anddiscount plans, and automatic charges and printing of notices. The software comes in four editions: Standard for smallfacilities; Professional for the majority of storage companies; Internationalfor operators outside the United States; and TSE. Each package includestechnical support, updates and a guarantee. Also available are corporate-officesoftware, interfaces with popular security systems, and automatic credit-cardpayment options.

Hi-Tech will exhibit at the Inside Self- Storage Expo inMiami, Nov. 17-19. Attendees are invited to visit the companys booth for adetailed explanation of TSE and how it can benefit their enterprises. For moreinformation, call 800.551.8324; visit www.hitechsoftware.com.