Rain Bird Pro 6.0 Debuts at Software User Conference

GLENDORA, Calif. – Rain Bird Corp. recently released Rain Bird Pro^® Version 6.0 at its first user conference held in St. Paul, Minn. The conference, held Jan. 21, gathered contractors from across the country who use the software to manage their irrigation businesses.

Designed specifically for the irrigation industry, Rain Bird Pro software is meant to improve the efficiency of contractors’ businesses by utilizing handheld devices or Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) to transmit crew schedules, work orders and materials lists to the office electronically. The software can be purchased or subscribed to for a monthly or annual subscription fee.

The features of Version 6.0 include enhancements in the office scheduling screen as well as on the PDA. The information displayed on the scheduling screen can now be customized to allow users to attach documents to a customer’s history and to enter contact relationships to better sort customer account information. Among other features, Version 6.0’s PDAs have been upgraded to allow users to customize their work order screens, allow for signature capture capability and change orders while in the field.

Commenting on Version 6.0’s capabilities, conference participant Brian Kortendick of Kortendick Hardware-Irrigation Division in Racine, Wis., said, “The new Rain Bird Pro Software acts as an inexpensive ‘secretary’ in that it tracks service calls and makes scheduling easy. Version 6.0 will help keep us profitable and will help us better serve our customers.”

Terry Bailey, Rain Bird Pro Administrator, added, “Rain Bird Pro is a completely paperless system. Minimal data entry is required in the office, leading to faster invoicing and increased profits.”

The all-day event attracted approximately 60 people from 22 companies for group sessions with other contractors as well as one-on-one meetings with Rain Bird representatives to address their specific needs.

“The gathering afforded many contractors who use Rain Bird Pro software the opportunity to talk with Rain Bird representatives, as well as other users, about the benefits of using Rain Bird Pro and how using this business management tool has changed how many of them conduct their day-to-day business,” said Gurmeet Singh, product manager for Rain Bird. “The conference also allowed contractors to interact with one another to exchange ideas about the uses of the product and how contractors can best utilize the software.”