Company Name: eSchedule
Headquarters: Fairport, NY
Signature Product: Scheduling
Website: https://go.praetoriandigital.com/?target=org_1cdb28ac8aecb8af&source=ads_sAtBCWkrOsxjPLpe&site=ems1
1. Where did your company name originate from?
We do online scheduling – a no-brainer.
2. What was the inspiration behind starting your company?
eSchedule was founded in 2004 after a small local ambulance corps in Rochester, New York, was in need of a scheduling solution. From there, other local EMS agencies signed on and the rest is history. We filled a unique void and have grown to enhance the software over the last 15 years.
3. What is your signature product and how does it work?
Scheduling is at the core of what we do. All EMS, fire, police and 911 centers need a schedule. We offer tools to make it easy to schedule employees or volunteers, including rotation handling, shift bidding, e-mail and text alerts. Most customers also use our Time Clock Module which allows employees the ability to punch in and out. It integrates with payroll providers and software which makes it nice and easy for companies to process time sheets. We also offer Training Record Management, Vehicle Maintenance Tracking, Online Forms, Checksheets and more.
4. Why do you believe your products are essential to your vertical (Police, Fire, EMS, Corrections, Government) community?
There are a lot of “generic” software solutions available. However, most cannot handle the unique needs of public safety entities. This includes employees that work 24-hour shifts, work overnight, have unique pay rules and policies, etc. eSchedule is designed to specifically meet the unique needs of fire, police and EMS.
5. What has been the biggest challenge your company has faced?
Our biggest challenge has been continuing to grow the feature set fast enough to meet the demand. Our customers have a ton of great ideas and features they’d like to see. We are working feverishly to keep up with all the great ideas and feedback.
6. What makes your company unique?
We are willing and able to configure and customize eSchedule to meet the needs of our customers. This means that we are willing to develop a custom solution – literally developing custom code – for a customer. This is necessary because each company does things differently. A lot of our competitors aren’t willing to do this. Also, we “get” timekeeping. We are experts in finding a solution that will allow companies to track time and pay their employees based on their specific corporate policy.
7. What do your customers like best about you and your products?
It saves them time. It’s easy to use with a great, simple interface. It helps them become more organized. Everything is online and accessible 24/7. It reduces errors in scheduling and timekeeping. They love our customer support (phone and email). They love that we aren’t a “huge” company. We solicit feedback. We are homegrown. We are accessible. We work with our customers to make and keep them happy.
8. What is the most rewarding part of serving the first responder/local government community?
A number of our employees (myself included) are in the EMS field. I am a paramedic. It’s great being able to earn our customers’ trust because they know we “get” the industry.
10. What’s next for your company? Any upcoming new projects or initiatives?
We have a huge list of feature enhancements. Nothing is a “major” new addition, however.