Introduction
Falklands 4×4, a division of The Falkland Islands Company Ltd, has been a trusted leader in vehicle rentals and sales in the Falklands for decades. Operating in a remote and logistically challenging location, the company has built a solid reputation for providing reliable transportation solutions to locals and visitors. With an established legacy and a reputation for excellence, Falklands 4×4 recognised the need for a more advanced fleet management system to streamline operations, enhance customer service, and overcome the unique challenges posed by their location.
Having relied on Prohire’s self-hosted Version 4 for many years, Falklands 4×4 moved to the cloud-based Next Generation v5 system to use modern, flexible technology. The decision to upgrade was driven by the desire to build on existing efficiencies while embracing new capabilities. Transitioning to Prohire v5 has provided the team with a more streamlined and efficient way to manage their fleet and customer interactions, all while maintaining the level of service their clients expect.
This case study highlights how Prohire’s Next Generation v5 system has been instrumental in supporting Falklands 4×4’s ongoing growth and success. It helps the company improve productivity, deliver exceptional customer service, and address the distinct operational challenges that come with managing a fleet in the Falkland Islands.
About Falklands 4×4
Falklands 4×4 operates under The Falkland Islands Company Ltd, the oldest business in the region. Its roots date back to 1851, and it received a Royal Charter from Queen Victoria in 1852. The company initially focused on garage services and spare parts but has since expanded into vehicle sales and rentals.
Today, it manages a fleet of 47 rental vehicles and operates various dealership services.
We caught up with Matt Newton, Automotive Sales Coordinator at Falklands 4×4, to get an inside look at how the team operates and what drives the business forward.
Meet the Team
- Matt – Recently transitioned from the vehicle hire department to sales.
- Anthea – Showroom Manager overseeing daily operations, “keeping us all in line.”
- Chris – Fleet Manager with 30 years of industry experience, “a wealth of knowledge.”
Despite being a small team, Falklands 4×4 prides itself on delivering exceptional service. “We don’t let our size stop us,” Matt shares. “Some of our high-end vehicles have even had illustrious customers, including members of the Royal Family.”
The Challenge
Before upgrading to Prohire’s Next Generation v5, Falklands 4×4 successfully operated with the self-hosted Version 4 system, the move to a cloud-based solution was an exciting step forward, bringing new opportunities along with some unique logistical and technical challenges due to the remote nature of the Falkland Islands.
Why Prohire?
Falklands 4×4 has trusted Prohire for over 15 years due to its ease of use and excellent support. “Ease of use and support from the team has been the main driving force in staying with Prohire,” Matt explains. When the opportunity to upgrade to v5 arose, they saw it as a way to modernise their operations and overcome inefficiencies.
The Solution: Prohire v5 Implementation
“Operating from the Falkland Islands can cause a number of technical and logistical issues that are very unique to overcome,” Matt says. “We have had extensive support from Prohire at every step. The team has been very informative and resolved issues in a timely manner.”
Regular video meetings with our team ensured that any issues were promptly addressed.
“Having many video chats over the past few months, we found that answers were only a few moments away. The team have gone above and beyond the expected level of customer service and support, and the interactions with all the members of the Prohire team, from Sales to support, have been outstanding.”
Key Features That Transformed Operations
- Companion Integration – Allowed remote job management, significantly reducing paperwork. “The integration with Companion to handle jobs away from the desk, reducing the mountain of paperwork, has been the biggest difference noticed. It has made a big impact, along with the ability to email reports and complete jobs to customers directly from the platform.”
- Proweb – Customers can now make initial bookings online, reducing manual processing time. “Previously, all bookings were taken by phone or email, which was time-consuming and personnel-intensive. Now, Proweb lets customers handle the first part for us, speeding up service and allowing us to make decisions quicker with better information.”
- Automated Reporting & Communication – Streamlined operations by enabling direct email communication of reports and job details.
The Results
Just weeks into full-time use of v5, Falklands 4×4 has already experienced:
✔ Increased productivity – “We have already noticed a massive increase in productivity and customer interaction. We are now able to offer an improved service to our customers—and much quicker!”
✔ Streamlined booking process – Reduced reliance on phone and email bookings.
“You can’t get a more unique use case than the Falkland Islands, as things are far from conventional here. Prohire has supported us at every step, has responded quickly with any additional needs, and thinks outside the box to help us succeed.”
“Every day is a learning day as Prohire just keeps offering more and more.”
Looking Ahead
Falklands 4×4 plans to expand its fleet and services further, with Prohire remaining at the core of its operations. “We see Falklands 4×4 expanding services and increasing fleet capacity as time progresses. Prohire has been with us for over 15 years, and we see them leading the way as our management solution in the future. We have already discussed how Prohire Cloud is set to change things even further, and our rental business has Prohire at the core.”
Final Thoughts
For businesses considering Prohire, Matt sums it up in three words:
“Just gets better.”
If you’re looking for a fleet management solution that adapts to even the most challenging environments, Prohire is the answer.
