Vehicle rental professionals face many challenges that can hinder their efficiency, reputation, and bottom line. These obstacles, ranging from ineffective asset management to security concerns, can significantly hamper operations. Fortunately, tracking devices provide a viable remedy to these industry-wide issues.

In this blog post, we will delve into the common challenges vehicle rental professionals face and illustrate how Prohire Software’s tracking devices can effectively surmount them. With insights from Miles Ellis, Operations Director at Beehire Car and Van Rentals Ltd, we will highlight real-world experiences and solutions.

Miles Ellis

Industry Challenges

  • Ineffective vehicle Management: Organisations often struggle to keep track of their vehicles, accessories and other valuable resources. This can lead to increased operational costs and potential losses.
  • Lack of Real-Time Visibility: Without real-time visibility, companies find it challenging to make informed decisions. The absence of up-to-date information on asset location and status can lead to delays, misallocation of resources, and decreased productivity.
  • Security Concerns: Theft and unauthorised use of assets are significant concerns for many businesses. Without proper tracking, it becomes difficult to ensure the security of valuable assets, leading to potential financial losses and operational disruptions.

The Role of Tracking Devices

Tracking devices provide accurate and real-time data on the location and status of assets. This allows companies to manage their resources more efficiently, ensuring optimal utilisation and reducing unnecessary expenses.

Miles, the Operations Director at Beehire, shares his experiences:

“I often describe a self-drive hire fleet to peers that have never experienced the industry as having a bunch of vehicles you give the keys to strangers to in the hope, they’ll bring them back in one piece. I often get laughed at, but anyone in the hire world will know exactly what I mean.”

Improved Asset Management

Tracking devices provide accurate and real-time data on the location and status of assets. This allows companies to manage their resources more efficiently, ensuring optimal utilisation and reducing unnecessary expenses.

“Being able to predict if a vehicle is going to be back in time for the next hire can be similar to a game of Jenga – juggling booking X because vehicle Y won’t be back in time, but vehicle Z is back in the yard early,” says Miles.

 

Vehicle Tracking

Enhanced Real-Time Visibility

With tracking devices, companies can gain real-time insights into the movement and status of their assets. This enables more informed decision-making, improved resource allocation, and increased operational efficiency.

Having an accurate picture of where our fleet is or has been a saviour. It’s reduced the panic in the office, sleepless nights, and knowing within seconds we can get a picture of what kind of situation a vehicle might be in. We can easily dispatch resources, whether that be our own team or breakdown agencies, to the right place, first time to best support our customer.” adds Miles.

Increased Security

Tracking devices offer robust security features, including geofencing and real-time alerts, to protect against theft and unauthorised use. This helps businesses safeguard their valuable assets and minimise financial losses.

Miles recalls a particular incident: “All of us hope that things go right 100% of the time but remember what I said earlier about giving strangers the keys to your expensive asset, it doesn’t always go to plan. Thinking back to a couple of weeks ago I will never forget getting a call from the bank to say we’d taken a fraudulent payment. Despite having a driving license, supporting bank statement, and other supporting paperwork at the point of hire, we had no way of knowing that the card wasn’t genuine.

The customer was uncontactable too once we tried to get in touch. We soon realised that this had become theft by conversion and the vehicle was hired with no intention of it being returned… Luckily, all of our vehicles are fitted with trackers (most of which are not in obvious places!), so with a quick look on the app, I could see exactly where the vehicle was.”

Beehire Car and Van Rentals Ltd

Benefits of Utilising Tracking Devices

  • Cost Savings: Reduced operational costs through better asset management and utilisation.
  • Increased Efficiency: Improved decision-making and resource allocation with real-time data.
  • Enhanced Security: Protection against theft and unauthorised use, minimising financial losses.
  • Better Customer Service: Timely deliveries and efficient service due to optimised operations.

Addressing Concerns

We understand that implementing new technology can raise concerns. At Prohire Software our team provides comprehensive support and training to help you get the most out of our tracking devices. Additionally, our devices are designed to be user-friendly, ensuring minimal disruption to your operations.

Miles also notes the importance of futureproofing: “I think having the robust hardware that Prohire uses is important in terms of futureproofing, so it would be fantastic to see vehicle immobilisation, CAN bus, and remote diagnostic tools implemented into the Prohire platform. Eventually having the ability to remotely lock/unlock a vehicle, provide the keys, and have a contactless check-in experience will only enhance our contactless check-in procedure, allowing us to further streamline operations and reduce customer checkout times.”

Beehire Car and Van Rentals Ltd

How Prohire Can Help

At Prohire Software, we specialise in providing cutting-edge tracking solutions tailored to your business needs. Our devices offer unique features such as real-time tracking, geofencing, and detailed analytics, setting us apart from the competition. We invite you to reach out for more information or to schedule a consultation with our experts.

In conclusion, the challenges faced by the industry can be effectively addressed using tracking devices. By leveraging Prohire Software’s advanced tracking solutions, you can enhance operational efficiency, improve asset management, and ensure the security of your valuable resources. Don’t let these challenges hold you back – contact us today to discover how our tracking devices can lead the way to a more efficient and secure future.

Author: Molly Curtis

19th Jun 2024