Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about Rikols
Get instant answers to the most common questions about vehicle recall management, features, and getting the most out of Rikols.
Getting Started
Follow our Getting Started Guide! Download our Excel template, add your vehicles, upload the file, and you'll see recalls instantly. Most users are managing their first recalls within 5 minutes.
Admin: Full system access including all departments, user management, and analytics. Department Manager: Access to your departments' recalls and performance tracking. Uploader: File upload and data management focus. See our Role Permissions Guide for complete details.
Your dashboard shows key metrics (total vehicles, active recalls, completion rates), performance analytics, real-time activity feed, and department-specific insights. Check our Dashboard Complete Guide for the full tour.
Enter your email on the sign-in page and we'll send you a secure login link. No passwords to remember - just click the link in your email to access your dashboard.
File Upload & Data Management
Excel files (.xlsx, .xls) work best with our templates. CSV files are supported but Excel preserves formatting better. Maximum file size is 10MB. Download our sample templates for perfect formatting every time.
Required: VIN (17 characters), tag number, year, make, model, department, county, company code. For SMS notifications: Add driver name and phone number. See our File Upload Mastery guide for details.
Rikols shows you exactly what's wrong before finalizing upload. Common fixes: check VIN length (17 characters), verify department names match your list, ensure phone numbers are complete. Every error includes specific instructions for resolution.
Yes! Upload a file with the same VINs and new information - Rikols automatically updates existing records while preserving recall history and status information.
If your upload references users not in the system, Rikols automatically detects this and provides options to create new user accounts with appropriate role assignments.
Recall Management
Rikols checks for new recalls based on the schedule agreed with your organization. New recalls appear in your dashboard immediately when discovered, and affected drivers receive automatic SMS notifications.
Click any recall to open the detail panel, select the new status (Needs Attention → In Progress → Repaired), add completion date and notes, then save. Changes appear instantly across the system. See our Recall Management Workflow guide.
Absolutely! Upload PDFs, photos, and receipts directly to any recall. Document types include repair receipts, before/after photos, work orders, and compliance documentation. Files are securely stored and accessible anytime.
Use the powerful search bar to find anything instantly - search by VIN, tag number, make/model, or recall description. Add filters for status, department, or date ranges. Our Advanced Search & Filtering guide has all the tips.
Yes! Click the "View" button to show/hide columns based on your workflow needs. Create personalized views for different tasks - quick review, detailed analysis, mobile viewing, or print layouts.
SMS Notifications
When recalls are found for vehicles with driver phone numbers, Rikols automatically sends SMS messages to drivers. Messages include recall count and dashboard link - delivered based on timing agreed with Rikols. See our SMS Notifications guide.
Simple, clear messages like: "Hi Sarah, you have 2 open vehicle recalls. View details: https://app.rikols.com/dashboard" - includes driver name, recall count, and direct link to dashboard.
Standard US formats work great: (555) 123-4567 or 555-123-4567. International numbers are supported too. Include area codes for best delivery results.
Yes! Admins can view SMS delivery statistics including total sent, delivered, failed, and pending. Search SMS history by driver, vehicle, or date range in the SMS Notifications section.
No - each driver receives one message summarizing all their open recalls, preventing message overload while ensuring they're informed about all safety issues.
AI Features (Premium)
AI analyzes every recall and assigns importance scores (0-100) based on safety risk, urgency, and operational impact. Critical recalls (90-100) need immediate attention, while low-priority items (<50) can wait for convenient scheduling. See our AI Smart Prioritization guide.
AI analyzes official safety data, recall descriptions, and vehicle usage patterns. While highly accurate for risk assessment, always use professional judgment for final operational decisions.
Critical recalls (90-100 score) indicate serious safety risks that could result in accidents or injuries. These require immediate action - consider removing vehicles from service until repaired.
Absolutely! AI provides recommendations, but you maintain full control over recall prioritization, scheduling, and management decisions.
Yes - AI analyzes recalls for all vehicle makes, models, and years in your fleet. The system learns patterns across the entire automotive industry.
Departments & Access
Admin users can see all departments and switch between them. Department Managers see only recalls for vehicles in their assigned departments. Uploaders focus on file management without recall access.
Contact your administrator or Rikols support to request role changes or additional department assignments. Role updates take effect immediately once approved.
Yes! Admins can view performance metrics across all departments, including completion rates, response times, and efficiency rankings. Perfect for identifying best practices and improvement opportunities.
Departments are defined during your initial setup and can be updated anytime. Each vehicle is assigned to one primary department, and department managers see only their assigned vehicles and recalls.
Reports & Analytics
Absolutely! Create professional executive reports with performance metrics, compliance documentation, trend analysis, and risk assessments. Perfect for leadership presentations and regulatory compliance. See our Reports & Analytics guide.
Click the "Print Report" button for print-optimized layouts, or export to PDF/Excel formats. Reports include professional formatting suitable for external sharing and compliance documentation.
Track completion rates, response times, department performance, recall trends, vehicle make analysis, and safety risk distributions. Premium plans include AI-powered insights and predictive analytics.
Yes! Select any date range for analysis - daily activity, monthly summaries, quarterly reviews, or annual compliance reports. Historical data is preserved for long-term trend analysis.
Security & Data
Enterprise-grade security including encryption at rest and in transit, role-based access controls, regular security audits, and SOC 2 compliance. Your data is protected according to the highest industry standards.
Only authorized users in your organization. Admins see all data, Department Managers see only their departments, and Uploaders see only file management interfaces. Complete data isolation between organizations.
Vehicle and recall data is stored securely for compliance and historical analysis. You maintain full control over your data and can export or delete information as needed.
Contact our support team for data removal requests. We can help you export your data first and then securely remove information according to your requirements.
Pricing & Plans
Pricing is based on the number of active vehicles in your fleet. Basic plan includes core recall management features. Premium plan adds AI prioritization and advanced analytics. Contact us for enterprise pricing.
Premium includes everything in Basic plus: AI Smart Prioritization with importance scoring, advanced analytics and reporting, priority support, and enhanced integration capabilities.
Yes! Check your Settings page for current vehicle count, plan details, monthly costs, and feature availability. Costs update automatically as you add or remove vehicles.
Contact our support team to discuss plan changes. We'll help you find the right plan for your fleet size and feature needs.
Technical Support
First: Check our help documentation for quick solutions. Then: Contact support at support@rikols.com or call 1-800-555-RIKOL during business hours. Include your company name and describe the issue.
Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge all work great. For best performance, use the latest browser version. Mobile browsers are fully supported for dashboard access on phones and tablets.
Absolutely! Rikols is fully mobile-responsive. Access your dashboard, update recall status, view reports, and manage your fleet from any mobile device.
Rikols maintains complete audit trails of all changes. Contact support immediately if you need to restore data or understand what changed. We can help recover information and prevent future issues.
Rikols uses secure magic link authentication - no passwords to remember! To change your email address, contact your administrator or our support team.
Vehicle & Recall Specifics
VINs must be exactly 17 alphanumeric characters with no spaces or special characters. Rikols validates VIN format during upload and prevents duplicates automatically.
Rikols automatically scans official databases (NHTSA and manufacturer sources) for recalls affecting your specific vehicles. Checks happen based on your agreed schedule with Rikols.
New recalls appear in your dashboard immediately when discovered during scheduled checks. Drivers receive SMS notifications automatically, and your dashboard updates in real-time.
Start with what you have! Required fields are VIN, make, model, year, and department. You can add missing information like driver details later through additional uploads.
Yes! Upload a new file with the same VINs and updated information. Rikols automatically updates existing records while preserving all recall history and status information.
Search & Analytics
Use the search bar to find anything instantly - VINs, tag numbers, vehicle makes, recall descriptions. Add filters for status, department, or date ranges. See our Advanced Search & Filtering guide for pro tips.
Track completion rates, response times, department performance, recall trends, and safety metrics. Generate executive reports, compliance documentation, and performance summaries. Premium plans include AI-powered insights and predictive analytics.
Yes! Export recalls, vehicle information, and analytics reports in PDF, Excel, or CSV formats. Perfect for external reporting, compliance documentation, or further analysis.
Use the dashboard analytics to monitor completion rates, response times, and department efficiency. Generate performance reports and set goals based on historical data and industry benchmarks.
Advanced Features
No! Drivers receive SMS notifications automatically when their vehicles have recalls. They can access the dashboard using the link in the SMS, but no account setup is required for basic notifications.
Contact our support team to discuss integration options. We offer API access and custom integrations with popular fleet management systems based on your specific requirements.
Yes! Customize column views, date ranges, filters, and report content. Save frequently used filter combinations and create personalized dashboard views for different workflows.
Reports are generated on-demand, but you can easily save report templates and generate consistent reports for regular stakeholder meetings and compliance requirements.
Best Practices
Daily: Check dashboard for new critical recalls. Weekly: Update recall statuses and review team performance. Monthly: Generate executive reports and analyze trends. Always: Use AI prioritization to focus on highest-risk recalls first.
Update status immediately when you begin work (to "In Progress") and when repairs are completed (to "Repaired"). Real-time updates keep your team informed and maintain accurate compliance records.
Organize by location, vehicle type, or management structure - whatever makes sense for your operations. Consistent department naming across uploads is key for proper organization and reporting.
Use AI prioritization to focus on critical issues, set up regular dashboard reviews, assign department managers for accountability, and use performance tracking to identify improvement opportunities.
Still Need Help?
Can't find your answer? Our support team is ready to help you succeed with Rikols.
- Email: support@rikols.com - Response within 24 hours
- Phone: 1-800-555-RIKOL - Business hours support
- Documentation: Browse our complete help center for detailed guides