Pronto Hire, a van and motorhome rental company based in Caerphilly, has been a trusted name in South Wales since its founding in 1989. With decades of experience, the team has built a loyal customer base by offering reliable, friendly, and professional service. To maintain their high standards and deliver a seamless booking experience, Pronto Hire has long relied on Prohire Software.
Since acquiring the business in 2015, Company Director Naunton Dickins has prioritised innovation and efficiency, ensuring Pronto Hire remains competitive in a fast-paced industry. Prohire was already part of the company’s operations when Naunton took over, and he immediately recognised its value, labelling it “invaluable as an operational tool” during the early stages of his leadership.
As Prohire Software introduced new solutions, Naunton quickly saw its potential to streamline operations and support Pronto Hire’s growth. Reflecting on the experience, he says, “It’s been quite a fun journey to explore it together.”
Company Director, Naunton DickinsCompanion App
Adapting to new technologies is essential for staying competitive in today’s rapidly changing industry landscape. Manual processes, bogged down by paperwork, can’t keep up with modern demands. That’s why Prohire Software’s Companion App offers a fully digitised system, streamlining every aspect of vehicle rentals.
This solution creates a seamless, paper-free workflow from check-outs and check-ins to mid-hire changes, digital rental agreements, tyre and inventory management, and even dispute resolution.
For Pronto Hire, this transformation has been vital. Naunton explains, “We have managed to get to a completely paper-free environment. We’ve digitised all of the rental agreements, rather than printing off paper copies, giving one to the customer and keeping one ourselves. You just spin the tablet around on the desk, and they sign a digital tablet three times, all digitally stored, and they get emailed a copy along with the van checkout report.”
Our app ensures each document is easily and quickly accessible and classified under the right client, booking, and vehicle, saving you time and space, not to mention ensuring its security.
Prohire Companion has been particularly beneficial for Pronto Hire in saving time and improving efficiency. Naunton explains, “When I come to sell a vehicle, I can use Prohire to review all the historical data. I don’t have to wade through rental agreements and repair invoices. What did it cost, how many days has it been on the fleet, what was the utilisation, how much did we spend, how much did it depreciate and thus, what was the cash and net yield on the asset.” The software provides quick access to critical data, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual searches.
Another challenge Prohire Companion helps address is damage disputes, which, in Naunton’s experience, are often the most challenging part of running a rental business. “For any hire business, the wrangling over damage is the biggest pain,” he says.
Thanks to the system’s ability to document vehicle conditions with photos, he adds, “you can’t argue with a photo,” making dispute resolution much smoother and more straightforward.
With Prohire Companion, rental businesses can easily document a vehicle’s condition at the start and end of a rental. Customers take photos of the vehicle before the rental begins, and its condition is recorded in the app alongside the client’s signature. When the vehicle is returned, another inspection is conducted, with both parties agreeing on its condition. This process leaves no room for disputes.
As Naunton explains, “You’ve got physical proof of what it looked like when it went out and now what it looks like when it comes back.” This kind of visual documentation is invaluable, especially regarding dashboard images that capture important details like engine lights or fuel levels. According to Naunton, having this kind of evidence means “You’ve got proof, and you can feel positively assured that what you are saying is right,” significantly reducing the potential for disagreements over damage or condition.
Naunton recalls “many, many, many, many” instances where Prohire Companion has been instrumental in resolving disputes over vehicle condition. Motorhomes, in particular, are prone to damage drivers may not notice due to their size, making photographic evidence essential. “To have the images to refer to is invaluable,” Naunton explains, highlighting how Prohire Companion helps settle disagreements quickly and efficiently.
If discrepancies are found during the vehicle’s return inspection, the client can be charged immediately, eliminating the need for follow-up payment collection. Naunton emphasises how crucial Companion has become to their operations, noting, “There are elements of Companion that are fundamental to us now.”
One standout feature has been the system’s integrated payment method, which Naunton describes as “revelationary.” With Prohire’s “virtual terminal,” operations are streamlined by eliminating the need for a desktop card machine. “Now everything goes straight through the system via the booking, and we’re then taking money without the additional hassle of bits of paper being counted up at the end of the day.”
The process is quick and straightforward. “We take their details down, we pump them into the system, their bank details or their card details, and that’s then stored securely so that we can take payments,” Naunton explains, showcasing how this seamless payment system has made a significant difference in daily operations.
Support team
At Prohire, we pride ourselves on having a highly skilled team of experts dedicated to ensuring the seamless installation of our software and providing ongoing support throughout your journey. Our team is committed to delivering the best possible experience for clients, helping at every step to ensure your operations run smoothly.
Naunton speaks highly of this support, noting, “The support team at Prohire are unbelievably good. I mean way above, I would say, any other software business I’ve dealt with, they are really good.” This praise reflects the team’s dedication to being more than just a service provider; they actively partner with customers to solve challenges and share their expertise as quickly as possible.
Naunton praises the support team for their extensive knowledge: “Their Knowledge is phenomenal. It doesn’t matter who picks up the phone. If they don’t know, they’ll go and find out, and they will respond. They do respond, and they’re timely.”
The support team’s commitment is driven by Prohire’s core values of innovation and integrity, which shape how we build relationships with our clients. In Naunton’s words, “It is the people that make the difference, and you know, the fact that they, you can tell, they just dedicate themselves.”
Naunton particularly values the expertise of certain team members, such as Pete Garcha, saying, “Pete Garcha’s top of the tree, unbelievably knowledgeable. And he’s my go-to guy for doing the more complex stuff, but the whole team is great for general inquiries and issues.” This expertise and willingness to help set Prohire apart in customer service.
Conclusion
When asked about Prohire’s impact on the efficiency of Pronto Hire’s operations, Naunton summed it up simply: “I couldn’t do it without it, put it that way.” His words reflect the integral role Prohire plays in their daily workflow and decision-making processes.
Naunton elaborated further, stating that Prohire has significantly enhanced three critical areas of its business. “It has increased accountability, efficiency and confidence. And I think those three key areas are vital,” he noted. These enhancements have streamlined their operations and fostered a culture of responsibility and trust among team members, enabling them to deliver exceptional customer service.
At Prohire, we aim to empower rental companies of all sizes with industry-leading software solutions that drive efficiency, boost profitability, and elevate customer satisfaction. We are committed to continuously developing innovative tools and technologies that simplify fleet management, optimise operational processes, and support sustainable business growth.
Our successful partnership with Pronto Hire is a testament to the effectiveness of our solutions and underscores our dedication to achieving these goals.
Together, we are shaping a brighter future for the rental industry, where businesses can thrive and exceed customer expectations.
