--- title: "Locksmith dispatch software: what to look for ยท LockCommand" description: "A buyer's checklist for locksmith dispatch software: drive time ranking, on-shift location, timed offers, honest ETAs, proof of ownership and calls that arrive booked." url: https://lockcommand.com/locksmith-dispatch-software --- Buyer's guide # Locksmith dispatch software: what to look for. Eight things that decide whether dispatch software helps a locksmith shop or gets in the way, how the common approaches compare, and how LockCommand handles each one. [LockCommand dispatch](https://lockcommand.com//features/dispatch) ## Eight things to check before you switch 1. **It ranks techs by drive time, not distance**: A tech two miles away across a river can be further than one six miles down the highway. Straight-line distance sends the wrong person at rush hour. In LockCommand Live traffic-aware drive times for the closest ten techs. If drive times can't be fetched, it estimates from distance until they're back. 2. **It knows who is working and what they can do**: Offering a car key job to a tech who doesn't program keys, or to someone off shift, wastes the minutes that matter. In LockCommand Only techs on shift, able to take offers, with the right skill and inside your service area are considered. A tech finishing a job in the next 20 minutes still counts. 3. **Offers have a timer and a fallback**: A job offer that sits unanswered on one phone is a customer waiting outside. Something has to move it on. In LockCommand Offers count down (one minute by default, 30 seconds to 3 minutes). No answer moves to the next tech, up to three techs or three minutes, then a dispatcher gets a push alert. 4. **Callers hear an honest arrival time**: An ETA pulled out of the air is worse than none. It should come from where your techs actually are. In LockCommand In AI dispatch modes, the AI receptionist gives the caller an estimate from live drive times. The customer gets a text with the arrival time when a tech is assigned. 5. **Location is shared only while techs are working**: Techs push back on being tracked at home, and they're right to. Good software stops at the end of the shift. In LockCommand Location is shared only on shift or on a job. Going off shift deletes the shared location and withdraws open offers. 6. **Calls arrive as booked jobs**: If the phone and the dispatch board are separate systems, someone retypes every job. That's where addresses and car models get lost. In LockCommand The AI receptionist books the job with the address, the car and the quoted range, and it lands on the board ready to dispatch. 7. **Proof of ownership is part of the job**: A locksmith shop needs to show why a door was opened. A notes field isn't enough. In LockCommand ID and proof photos, the name on the ID, a signature, the time and the place on every job. Turn on the rule in Shop details and no job closes without them. 8. **You choose how much is automatic**: Some shops want a suggestion, some want the job gone before they look up. You should be able to change your mind. In LockCommand Four modes for the whole shop: Manual, Suggest, Offer and Auto. Manual is the default. ## Three ways shops dispatch today General patterns, not any one product. General field service apps differ a lot, so test the points above with any you try. | | Phone, whiteboard and group text | General field service app | LockCommand Locksmith dispatch software | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Who's closest | Whoever answers the group text first | Often a map of pins; drive time ranking varies | Ranked by live traffic drive time, skills and workload | | Lockout urgency | Up to the dispatcher | Usually a priority flag | Emergencies go to the fastest arrival, ignoring workload | | Unanswered offers | You call around | Varies; often a person reassigns | Moves on by itself, then alerts a dispatcher | | Phone calls | Someone has to answer | Separate service or none | AI receptionist books the job onto the board | | Prices on the phone | From memory | Generic price lists | Your locksmith price book, with after-hours surcharges | | Proof of ownership | Photos on someone's phone | Generic photo or form fields | ID, proof, signature, time and place on the job | | Who it's built for | Anyone | Many trades at once | Locksmiths only | The dispatch feature page shows every setting and limit. For a whole day on the board, see [LockCommand for dispatch shops](https://lockcommand.com//for/dispatch-shops). ## Dispatch comes with the team plans The live map, drive time ranking and AI dispatch modes are on every Dispatch plan. Most shops start on Dispatch 3. ### Dispatch 3 Most shops A small shop with someone on the board and a couple of techs. $349.99/ month Billed monthly. Cancel any time. [Get early access](mailto:support@lockcommand.com?subject=LockCommand%20early%20access) - **800 AI minutes** every month - Up to 3 users, any mix of roles - Live map and the dispatch board - AI dispatch: Suggest, Offer or Auto - Everything in Solo ### Dispatch 6 A shop with a dispatcher, an office and a full crew of techs. $649.99/ month Billed monthly. Cancel any time. [Get early access](mailto:support@lockcommand.com?subject=LockCommand%20early%20access) - **1,400 AI minutes** every month - Up to 6 users, any mix of roles - Live map and the dispatch board - AI dispatch: Suggest, Offer or Auto - Everything in Solo ### Dispatch 10 Busy shops running several vans and an office. $949.99/ month Billed monthly. Cancel any time. [Get early access](mailto:support@lockcommand.com?subject=LockCommand%20early%20access) - **2,200 AI minutes** every month - Up to 10 users, any mix of roles - Live map and the dispatch board - AI dispatch: Suggest, Offer or Auto - Everything in Solo Every plan, minute price and add-on is on the [pricing page](https://lockcommand.com//pricing). ## Dispatch software questions ### What is locksmith dispatch software? Software that takes incoming jobs and decides which tech goes, then tracks the job until it's paid. For locksmiths it also has to handle urgent lockouts, quotes by vehicle and lock, and proof of ownership. ### Do I need dispatch software with only two or three techs? Not always. A group text can work at two techs. It starts to break when calls overlap, techs are spread out, or nobody is free to answer the phone. That's usually when shops look for drive time ranking and timed offers. ### Does dispatch software track my techs all the time? Some apps do. LockCommand shares a tech's location only while they're on shift or on a job, and deletes the shared location when they go off shift. ### How much does LockCommand dispatch cost? Dispatch comes with the Dispatch plans. Dispatch 3 is $349.99 a month for 3 users with 800 AI minutes included. Bigger team plans are on the pricing page. ## Keep reading - [Dispatch A live map of techs and jobs, the closest tech by real drive time, and manual or AI dispatch with timed offers.](https://lockcommand.com//features/dispatch) - [Dispatch shops How a shop with dispatchers and techs runs calls, dispatch, roles and books in one place.](https://lockcommand.com//for/dispatch-shops) - [AI receptionist An AI that answers your calls in English or Spanish, quotes from your price book, books the job and transfers to your cell.](https://lockcommand.com//features/ai-receptionist) - [ID & proof ID and proof of ownership photos, a customer signature and before and after photos on every job.](https://lockcommand.com//features/id-and-proof) - [Pricing Monthly plans by team size, included AI minutes, per-minute prices, boosters and top-ups.](https://lockcommand.com//pricing) ## Let the AI pick up. You pick the lock. LockCommand is opening to locksmiths now. Email us and we'll get your shop set up. [Get early access](mailto:support@lockcommand.com?subject=LockCommand%20early%20access) [See pricing](https://lockcommand.com//pricing)