In the final episode of our five-part series, Nicolina, Joe, and Jared explore how rental businesses can strategically use technology to stay competitive. Joe shares his decades of experience watching the industry evolve from paper systems to today's digital tools, while Jared discusses the importance of actually understanding the tech you implement. They talk about important tools like customer portals, telematics, and route optimization, plus what's coming next with AI. The key takeaway? Technology should solve real business problems and empower your entire workforce—from clipboard users to digital natives. Don't just chase the latest trends; make smart choices that drive real results.

In this episode of Be a Best Run Business, Nicolena, Joe, and Jared tackle their fourth principle: having one version of the truth. Joe paints a vivid picture by following a single piece of rental equipment through different departments - accounting tracks depreciation, service knows maintenance history, rental systems show income, but nobody has the complete picture. This leads to costly mistakes, like accidentally selling equipment you don't actually own because it's still financed. Jared shares the daily frustration of not being able to answer customer questions because the person with that specific information is at lunch or on vacation. They discuss how unified data prevents embarrassing situations and enables better decision-making across all levels. The conversation touches on data security concerns and the balance between transparency and protecting sensitive information. A standout story involves a company almost selling a profitable location for a million-dollar annual loss because their spreadsheets were incorrectly allocating expenses. The key takeaway: when everyone operates from the same accurate, accessible information, it empowers employees to make better decisions, which ultimately empowers customers too.

In this episode of Be a Best Run Business, Nicolena, Joe, and Jared explore their third principle: taking informed actions. They dive into the difference between reactive and proactive decision-making in the rental world. Jared explains how reactive decisions happen minute-by-minute, like emergency road calls or last-minute reservations, while proactive planning helps create flexibility for when those inevitable surprises hit. Joe discusses how dashboards and data can help prioritize decisions, like which equipment to pick up first, based on what's actually needed versus what's just sitting in inventory. The conversation covers real scenarios - from deciding whether to overnight parts for repairs to managing delivery routes efficiently. They also touch on how having all your information in one system prevents awkward situations, like a salesperson walking into a meeting not knowing their customer's equipment has been broken in the shop for weeks. It's all about using real data to make smarter choices instead of flying blind.

When plans change (and they always do), how quickly can your rental business adapt? Nicolena, Joe, and Jared tackle the reality of constant pivots in the equipment rental world - from last-minute cancellations to emergency breakdowns that leave customers stranded.

This episode gets tactical about decision-making under pressure. The hosts walk through real scenarios: What happens when the equipment arrives but doesn't fit the job site? How do you optimize truck routes when traffic hits? Should you expand into new product lines when customers keep asking for items you don't carry?

Discover how technology transforms these daily challenges from stressful scrambles into strategic opportunities. Learn why having the right information at your fingertips - including real-time GPS, inventory data, and technician skill sets - can mean the difference between disappointing a customer and exceeding their expectations.

From route optimization algorithms to smart dispatching systems, this episode reveals how successful rental companies use modern tools to stay one step ahead of chaos while keeping operations profitable and customers happy.

In this episode of Be a Best Run Business, hosts Nicolena and Joe are joined by Jared to dive into their first principle: empowering customers. It's not just about good service - it's about really listening and asking the right questions. Jared shares stories from the rental business about how understanding what customers actually need (not just what they ask for) builds trust and long-term partnerships. Joe adds insights about going beyond being an "order taker" to becoming a trusted advisor who helps customers succeed. They discuss how customer portals and technology can give customers more control, letting them handle things on their own time instead of being stuck waiting for business hours. It all comes down to building relationships that benefit everyone involved.

Join Nicolena, Joe (founder/CEO), and Jared (senior rental specialist) as they introduce their new podcast series focused on helping rental businesses thrive. This inaugural episode unveils five core principles that form the foundation for running a successful rental operation: empowering your customers, being nimble and quick, taking informed actions, operating from one version of the truth, and exploiting technology.

The hosts share insights from their years of experience working with rental companies, discussing how these principles interconnect to create more efficient operations and stronger customer relationships. Future episodes will dive deep into each principle with practical strategies and expert guests from both inside and outside the rental industry.

Perfect for rental business owners, managers, and anyone looking to optimize their operations through proven business fundamentals and smart technology adoption.