Today we’d like to introduce you to Nigel Pestell.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Nigel. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Our story began in 1996, when Chris Hulsey, VTS Systems chief technology officer was asked by a number of Houston area towing and vehicle storage companies to develop a towing management software program. The program was ready for prime time a couple of years later, then named VTS 2000, it quickly became a success in the Houston area.
In 2002 Nigel and Drew Pestell, a father and son team joined with Chris Hulsey to form VTS Systems and develop the software to meet multi-state compliancy and introduce the product to a national and international markets. In the early days, installing software and training the tow company employees on its use required visiting the licensed user’s location. This often meant driving for two days, depending on the distance, and upwards of five days of operator training, adding enormously to the cost of acquisition. As the Internet began to introduce new technologies, VTS Systems quickly took advantage of the capabilities provided by the Internet to remotely install software and train new users, greatly reducing the cost of acquisition. The software product became available at a much lower cost, to hundreds of towing and vehicle storage facilities throughout the United States and Canada.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Although the physical act of towing and recovering a vehicle and its subsequent storage have not changed that much, the evolution of the tow truck, it is ancillary equipment and the software and Internet technology are constantly evolving and have brought tremendous changes to the towing industry.
Many small family owned towing companies still use pen and paper to record a daily log of activity, however, the availability of the Internet has reduced the cost of licensing software significantly. More and more small family towing businesses are adopting management software to help them maintain compliance with state regulations, but more so to give them a family life.
Towing companies by their very nature are opportunists, they must be ever present and available at a moment’s notice to come to the aid of a motorist involved in an incident. Small family businesses operate 24/7 and seldom have the luxury of a five day week. VTS software helps take the drudgery out of operating a small family towing business. Our next generation “CLOUD” technology will add even more efficiency and cost reduction.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Texas, our home base is the most regulated state in the union, with regard to vehicle towing and the impoundment and storage of vehicles at state licensed facilities, often referred to as a VSF (Vehicle Storage Facilities). The multiple state statutes that are enforced by the state regulator, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), along with multiple law enforcement agencies are designed to protect the public. VTS Systems software is constantly updating to keep the towing and VSF companies in compliance with the ever-changing state statutes and operational rules implemented by TDLR.
Some of our customers and their employees are not especially computer savvy. Every person I know has a gift, and most tend to use this gift in their chosen occupation. For towing companies, this is usually the mechanical gene, these guys can fix almost anything on a vehicle. However, with software the story is often different. If you cannot see it, touch it, or smell it, is it really there?
The role of VTS Systems is to provide cost efficient technology that will help these users operate their business efficiently. Although technically we are a software company, in reality we are a support organization and our company was built on relationships, “Relationships Built on Trust, One Client at the Time.”
What were you like growing up?
I grew up and went to school in England in the 1960’s just an average boy, but I had a yearning for adventure. My mother had artistic tendencies and my father, an engineer. These two different and diverse genes made it difficult for me to decide on a career path I attended the University of London, London School of Printing, which today would be called a degree in communications.
In 1974 along with my wife and son, Drew I emigrated to Canada where I went to work for Motorola. Now 30, Motorola made it possible for both of the gene influences to perform together, to think outside of the box. Both in engineering and marketing, where the artistic talents of my mother made it possible for me to shine as an individual. In Motorola, I was able to progress and eventually became head of paging infrastructure, this involved RF wireless engineering, but more importantly software development, which eventually led me to form VTS Systems along with Chris Hulsey, and Drew
Emigrating to Canada and ultimately being moved to the United States allowed my family to experience the great outdoors and I became a passionate fly fisherman, catching brook trout in the northern climes and largemouth bass in the wonderful lakes of Texas.
Contact Info:
- Address: 407 McDaniel Drive, Magnolia, Texas 77354
- Website: www.vts-systems.com
- Phone: 281.373.3072
- Email: [email protected]
Image Credit:
VTS Systems
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