Top 20 Features In Car Rental Management Software

Many companies are turning towards a car rental tracking system for smooth and uncomplicated fleet management.

As the demand is increasing, so are the number of prospective application providers. So how do you pick the best one?

Here are few features in a car rental management system that you must insist on having on board in order to get the best results.

1. Should be integrated with cloud

Just like your cars are in constant movement, all the information related to them should be available on the go.

A cloud-based application gives you the benefit of accessing the information from anywhere, anytime, as long as you are connected to the internet.

As a result, all the relevant information regarding the drivers, fleet, and consumers is literally in your pocket. Cloud-Based software also reduces operational costs as there is no expenditure on storage or IT systems.

2. Easy to use interface

It doesn’t matter which car is up for rent if the customer isn’t able to easily communicate with the company.

All the features of a car rental management software should be neatly stacked and shouldn’t confuse the consumers. It should also make a booking, scheduling, or canceling a reservation an hassle-free task.

When the consumers fret little trying to navigate their way through the software, they will come back for more.

All in all, the software should be a one-stop solution for all needs ranging from booking to communicating and ultimately billing.

3. Should make bookings easy

The software should act as a communication bridge between the company and consumers. The booking system is the heart and soul of the car rental business.

This includes a clear description of various car models available, pricing plans, special offers (if any), and an accessible call to action that ultimately leads to the payment page.

The clients must be able to filter through the options on parameters such as model type, hours of booking, outstation or in-city tour, car type, brand, and pick up or drop locations.

Having all the reservation data at one place also reduces the chance of duplicated and overlapped bookings.

4. GPS tracking

Waiting for a car after making the booking can be annoying for the consumers and reflects badly on the company.

A GPS tracker eliminates the trouble of late drivers as the customers can know the location of the car at any given point and can also estimate the arrival time.

It can also be helpful for the drivers as they can locate the customers easily, apart from guiding them through traffic and towards the best available route.

The car renting company can also keep a tab on where the fleet is moving.

5. Must facilitate digital signatures

Most bookings these days are done online.

In these circumstances, electronic signatures provide greater convenience both for the company and the consumer as the rental agreement can be signed digitally and before the vehicle is picked up.

This not only reduces your workload but also adds a layer of security to the transaction.

The agreement can include sections like estimated charges, return date, things included and excluded in the basic tariff, among others.

It can also be helpful in case of a litigation or an insurance claim

6. Fleet management

With a large number of the fleet at disposal, firms may find it difficult to manage them. A fleet tracker helps to coordinate and organize vehicles such that it improves efficiency and reduces costs.

Despite being spread across multiple locations, the company can keep a tab on the maintenance issue of the vehicles. This, in turn, helps in systematic routing and reduction of idle time for the cars.

It should also keep a check on data related to fuel costs, start and end of mileage, the distance traveled, etc. All this should be duly notified in the bill.

7. Real-time monitoring

With cars out of your sight, you need constant monitoring to ensure that they are not being utilized incorrectly. While a GPS tracker will provide information about the location alone, a car rental software will look into details like chauffeur reports, bill covers, duty registers, and much more.

It will also enable the users to determine if the vehicle is in use despite not being booked.

8. Should look into billing and invoice tasks

In large-scale firms, managing the revenues generated from hundreds of vehicles commuting in multiple locations can be a daunting task.

The software should help you simplify your billing needs. It should effectively be able to manage expenses like fuel, maintenance and should also look into the income received by partners.

The solution must also be capable of sending out invoices to partners as well as generate an instant customer receipt when a booking comes to an end. It also gives you details on outstanding payments and advances

With car rental software, not only are these transactions available remotely but are also no more a headache for the managers.

9. Monitor drivers

Drivers are the assets of the company. But they are not always present in front of you. A car rental tracker should help you keep an eye on them. The software should be able to record the attendance of the driver, make an entry of their log time and the routes that they take.

An advanced application can also help in keeping a tab on speeding, driver distraction, and traffic violations.

10. Inventory management

As car fleets grow, so do their inventories and any mixup can be embarrassing for the firm. You wouldn’t want to send the customer a wrong model car or on a fat other than the one that they booked.

The software keeps track of which car is in which area and when it is next available. Hence, you do not have to worry about disappointing the consumers.

While maintaining this data manually can be a tiresome task, the software does an effortless and error-free job.

11. Should facilitate internal interaction

Communication between drivers and passengers is of paramount importance in the rental business. The software should be able to communicate basic details like estimated time of arrival, order confirmation, and the amount of money that will be charged.

In case the car is to be rented up sans the driver, it is important to establish the time, location, and who is responsible for pick-up and drops.

With in-built communication channels, it is simpler for both parties to come on the same page.

Many modern applications also have an in-built call and messaging option, through which the drivers and passengers can reach out to each other.

12. Two-factor authentication

This is an enhanced security layer. It ensures that the right passenger is riding the car. You can have one-time logins both for the customers as well as drivers.

Many applications also support modern technologies like face recognition, instant license verification among others to tackle duplication or mixing of people.

13. Should be flexible with dynamic pricing

In the rental business, chances are that the prices keep varying depending on the demand and location. The software should be able to reflect the latest price on the homepage to the clients.

The rate table should also take into account frequent customers or members and offer them the best rate possible. It should also include discounts, promo codes or offer available if any.

14. Damage management

Given the different hands that go behind the wheels in case of rented cars, training alone is not sufficient to avoid any mishap. Accidents are more likely under such circumstances.

To avoid any complications later, maintain an accurate report on the fleet’s health beforehand. The software will keep the data on when was the car last in maintenance, the number of accidents it has been involved in, among the other things.

You shall take pictures or record a video of the cars while doing the checkout and check-in to ensure fairness. Once the car is back, check for any fresh scratches and compare it with the existing data.

Hence, no new customer will be held liable for any old damages. This can be helpful while filing insurance claims.

15. Keeping a tab on toll charges and penalties

Word of mouth cannot be trusted in cases of traffic violations of fines. In the case of a foul, rarely does a person own up. A car tracking software will, however, keep a tab on the traffic violations and automatically add value to the invoice at the end. This also includes late charges, outstanding payment among the other things.

The software also automates the process of tracking tolls on the way and charging the clients accordingly. Hence, the driver can be relaxed as well as the company.

16. Can be integrated with multiple payment options

With the growth of digital space, most people these days tend to prefer online payment options.

Car rental companies should ensure that their software is compatible with all modes of payments. However, one should be careful as digital banking is known to come with its own set of risks.

17. Chatbots

Customer Relationship Management is essential in car rental software as well. While few companies offer 24*7 help, there are others who use chatbots to facilitate reservations.

The bot can resolve the queries of the client without losing them to competitors and can eliminate a variety of inefficiencies that come with traditional methods of booking.

Apart from this, the software will also help to identify regular customers and send them promotional emails or messages. This improves brand loyalty and consumer retention.

18. Integrating a dashcam

Keeping in mind the security concerns, many companies are moving towards installing a camera in the car.

As this raises privacy concerns, it is important that you tell the consumers that they are under constant monitoring.

With increasing cases of sexual assault, theft or crime in the car, a video recording can be of great help to establish the facts.

Before looking for a software that allows in-built recording, it is essential that you check out the local regulations.

19. Should help in deriving deeper information

Invest in a solution that allows you to develop insights from the data that you receive from the tracker, thereby, helping you drive a clearer picture of the business.

The software will look into reports related to sales, depreciation, payment processing, vendor contract as well as license expirations.

A good program is the one that can help in developing insights from booking reporting, financial performance, fleet availability, and cash drawer reports.

You can hence develop a strategy depending on how the business is responding to you.

20. Panic button

An Emergency SOS Button can be useful when in distress. This ensures the safety of both passengers as well as drivers.

The location can be traced with the help of a GPS tracker and immediate help can be sent their way. This can come handy in case of a fire, car theft, driver misbehavior and sometimes even accidents.

Conclusion

A car tracking application is a cost-effective solution that will not only enhance the productivity of your fleet but will also pump up the profits.

It also looks after the data of the customers i.e. their profile, their preferred payment options as well as the driving license. At the end of the day, the car rental company has very little to worry about.

A car rental software integrated with the above-mentioned features can surely revolutionize the way you deal with cars. All it requires is a little investment and a basic assessment of the needs of your business. Are you up for it?

 

 

10 Tips To Increase Your Car Rental Business

The car rental business is booming these days. This is a highly price-sensitive industry and intensely competitive.

This is probably why many are scared if their business will ever pick up speed. But there are always ways to work around the competition and get the best desired results

Here are a few tips on how you can improve your success rate in the rental industry

1. Thorough research of the existing brands in the market, look for competitors

It is always better to come prepared on a battlefield.

Develop clarity on the already existing players in the business. Evaluate your services against them and find out what is unique that you offer or what you need to create a niche for yourself in the matter.

Think from the customers’ point of view and ask yourself questions like is my service satisfactory? Are the products priced correctly? Evaluate all these factors and make a proper business concept for yourself.

Also, research who you want to target as your customers and arrange your fleet accordingly. Look at your clients’ needs, whether they want a luxurious vehicle or do they require a product that is easy on the pocket.

Pricing is another critical area where you should emphasize. You must change the prices depending on factors like peak season or dull season, quality of the vehicle, long term or short term rentals, etc. It should neither be too low nor too expensive.

2. Quality matters. Make sure you put your best foot forward

The quality of service that you provide plays a huge role in the fleet of your car business. This ranges from the quality of driver to ease of payment and the style of vehicle that you put to use.

Find out the condition of every vehicle in your fleet and analyze what else can you do to make the client happy. Regular maintenance of cars is a must.

Engine performance, the brand of the car, safety, good suspension, well-maintained seats, the appearance of the vehicle — all these factors make a difference.

Companies can stand out by offering services, such as free home delivery and pick up, easy replacement of vehicles in the case of an accident or a breakdown.

In case the rental company also offers the service of a driver, it is an additional responsibility. Ensure that the staff is well-trained, behaves properly and has no criminal background.

Comfort and luxury are also a deciding factor when it comes to high-end cars and posh consumers. The onus of a functional AC, good music system and comfortable seats falls on you.

3. Partnerships count, so make them strategically

Business cannot happen in isolation, especially when it is related to car renting services. Look at the sectors that can augment your sales and establish a partnership with them.

You can probably tie-up with car hire comparison websites or local search engines so that clients can find you easily at the time of need. Most of the sectors will list you against a nominal fee and hence shouldn’t be a major investment.

Alternatively, you can also choose to team up with airlines and travel agencies. Most people who hire a car are travelers and they can form a big section of your customer base if you market wisely.

Reach out to local hotels so that they list you as their cab provider. In return, you can provide them commission depending on the deals that you seal.

4. Simple and intuitive surface

Most car renting businesses these days are online. Unlike a real-world interaction, the consumers have to make an extra effort in the virtual world and try to navigate their way through the website to get the necessary information.

However, a complex interface kills the buzz and your leads will not convert into sales. Hence, you must have a user-friendly platform. All details about the cars and their respective fares should be tabled together neatly.

This holds true, both for the website as well as the app. The simpler it is for the customers to get through the booking, the greater is the chance of them coming back for the next time.

5. Make sure you are visible online

Social media is a must-have marketing tool these days. Put yourself on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social media platforms. Be active on them, respond to clients, put your best service forward.

Respond to customers on social platforms, hold polls, engage in fun banter with them. All this will help you personalize and humanize the interaction, which results in customer satisfaction and ultimately drives sales.

Don’t limit yourself merely to social media. Have a functional website that can help you grab more clients. Use tools like Search Engine Optimization, Pay Per Click Advertising to enhance the virtual presence.

6. Provide something extra, personalized to the consumers

If you want the customers to remember you rather than your competitors, you must make them feel special. Promos, discounts and special offers go a long way to make the consumers feel important.

You can either offer discounted prices to your regular clients or arrange for gift cards. These offers will keep them engaged in having car rental from your company.

You can also send them personalized messages on their birthdays to make them feel valued. Messages like “long time no see,” “we have this exciting offer specially created for you!” can help in bringing them back to the business.

Referral codes can be a win-win situation for both the company and the client.

A comfortable ride can also improve your goodwill. You can have a water bottle or a few snacks and chocolates to welcome the customer on-board.

7. Re-target people that have already shown an interest in what you offer, aim for retention

Most businesses often get so engaged in finding new clients that they forget that retention of the existing base is also important. Discount offers, vouchers can help in retaining them.

Apart from this, you should also try and keep the customers updated about the latest offering from your end. Have a database of clients who have engaged with your service.

Send the newsletters about what’s latest in the offering or what new locations you have opened in renting space.

Additionally, you can also send them information about the nearby locations where they can drive or new interesting events that they can attend using the car.

You can also try and tag the people that visit your website or engage with the brand on social media.

8. Educate the sales team, train drivers effectively

Marketing and sales teams form the backbone of the business. Don’t just rely on referrals or social media, but get to the ground to look for new clients. Ask the staff to engage in meaningful and cost-effective partnerships.

9. Range of fleet

The wider your customer base, the greater are the chances that you will need a larger range of fleet. Not all clients will be looking for the same cars.

However, if you provide them with a vehicle of their choice, the chances of them using your service increases three-fold.

It’s a good idea to have small budget cars, as well as vans and buses so that you cater to the needs of the maximum.

While a few service providers choose to update their fleet with a new range of cars every two years, others lease the vehicle frequently.

10. Invest in a quality fleet tracker

An advanced vehicle tracking system comes with in-built GPS, monitoring system, in-built communication facilities as well as a camera. The chatbot feature also allows you to respond to customer queries in a time-bound manner.

The in-built mileage and fuel calculator, inventory and revenue management can help you keep track of the health of your fleet. It will also send periodic maintenance alerts so that the cars are delivering its best performance when in the hands of the clients.

 

How car rental software can help you manage traffic fines, toll payments

While renting a car is an easy-breezy concept, managing the business can be a cumbersome task. Keeping a close watch on traffic fines and toll charges is one of the toughest tasks.

Most who rent are tourists and self-drive. Chances are that they might attract higher penalties, considering they do not know the law of the land.

The more vehicles in your fleet, the bigger the headache is to solve the puzzle of which driver was responsible for what traffic violation and how to extract the penalty of them. But, with a good-quality car rental management software, you can keep confusion at the bay and relax.

Here’s how a car rental software can help you keep a tab on your traffic fines and toll charges

1. Integrating the software with a one-stop platform for fines can ease stress, human effort

Driving rules vary with the country. So it is important to check what calls for a fine and what is considered as a safe driving practice. Being ill-informed about the traffic rules of a country can be disastrous not only for the drivers but also for the car rental enterprise.

In Dubai, for example, apart from the regular fines, this is also prevalent to the concept of Black Points. If a driver receives a total of 24 black points, they can face their license being revoked and bans from driving any kind of vehicle for a year.

For the ease of the motorists, Dubai has a single portal where motorists and drivers can check fines against their vehicles.

However, it can be painstaking for the firm to keep a tab on each vehicle, especially when it is a large fleet.

With integrated software, there is minimal human intervention. The car rental software will look into the fines generated against a particular vehicle in a specific period of time.

It will also keep a tab on the Black Points accumulated on the drive and all the penalties can be charged against the driver at the end of the contract.

In cases of large numbers of cars, the managers don’t need to fret about manually searching through the penalty dashboard. All fines against a particular vehicle will be stacked under one section.

The car rental system will also look into the invoice needs. It will generate an automatic bill depending on the number of tickets issued. It will automatically continue to charge the client as and when the ride is underway.

The system also sends automated emails or messages to addresses stored in the database. It includes details like time, date and place of the violation, the penalty that needs to be paid and the kind of offense committed.

In situations where the driver is representing the firm, the message will include details like amount paid for fines, money charged to the client, penalty imposed on the driver among other things.

The software can also be integrated with the HR system which facilitates payslips and automatically deducts the fine from all the drivers concerned. Hence, the firm can be assured of being reimbursed for any violations.

This also results in transparency as well as greater clarity between the firm and clients.

In addition to this, the analytics also helps you, screen drivers, under the influence of alcohol or those who are drowsy and are likely to cause a violation.

2. Keeps a tab on over-speeding, jumping of signals

Speeding is a growing problem that has become difficult to handle for firms. It is a task to manage the vehicle of the speed, despite not being physically present in the car.

In Dubai, speed limits are clearly specified and seriously enforced. The usual limit is 30-40 km/hour on small roads and around 60 km/hour on main roads or highways.

The best car rental software ensures that the vehicle is under the prescribed limits and that the driver is not indulging in rash driving practices.

The software also sends notifications in case the limits are breached. Modern applications also set a limit beyond which the driver cannot drive the car.

The in-built camera system also keeps the drivers in check and ensures that lane discipline is followed, traffic lights are not jumped among the other things.

The footage can also be useful if there is a disagreement on the traffic violation.

3. Maintains a record of all fine payments

An advanced car tracking software will act as a repository for all the fines charged against a car. As a result, the firm doesn’t have to worry about charging a customer wrongly.

In-case of an in-house driver, the software also tracks who is behind the wheels at any given moment.

The software allows you to manage the drivers, logging times that they are in possession of the vehicle, distances traveled during that period, places visited among other details.

When a ticket is received by the company, it is loaded onto the system, which automatically detects who was driving the car at the said time. The fine is then allocated to the driver responsible.

A database also helps to find out the drivers that garner more penalties because of the rash behavior. It can also filter clients who have pending dues so that you are more careful when renting out the vehicle the next time.

4. Usage of RFID badges

RFID (radio frequency identification) is an emerging trend in the automobile industry. The RFID tags can be beneficial in tracking the vehicles, streamlining the operations, and improve staff accountability.

RFID tags are affixed to each vehicle’s windshield. This includes details like the car’s, model, color, gas capacity, and location. The badges connect via radio waves to an electronic device that reads the data stored on the tags.

When the vehicle passes within the vicinity of an electronic reader, the reader picks up the data from the tag and relays the information to a system that keeps track of the activity of the vehicles.

Automation of toll charges, parking fines can be facilitated using this technique. This is not only a hassle-free process but also a more secure and faster method.

When integrated with tracking software, the information is automatically sent to the clients so that they can know on what basis they are being charged.

A tracker also keeps under check the drivers’ behavior, thus reinforcing positive driving patterns.

When the drivers know that their every move is being monitored, they tend to be more careful during the transit and try to avoid any traffic violation.

As transactions become cashless and tolls and highways move to a more evolved mode of payment, it is imperative that the car rental management system that you utilize is advanced and compatible with the changing technology.

A quality application makes the everyday activities of running the rental program as easy as possible, without many strains. Don’t you think it’s a wise investment?

 

How Car Rental Software Helps In Improving Customer Satisfaction

Most firms that equip themselves with a car rental software are looking at the managerial benefits. But what if we told you that the same application can help you earn some brownie points from the client as well.

While it’s true that the basic function of the application is to reduce the human effort in managing the business, effective utilization of the software can result in improved customer experience — thereby increasing chances of referrals and building a loyal customer base.

Here’s how you can use the best car rental software to improve customer’s experience with the products

1. Automation, easy bookings make clients happy; less paperwork is a bonus

Today everyone (including your customers and yourself) want things to be available instantly and without any hassles.

A cloud-based car rental software not only simplifies the renting process but also makes it faster, thereby improving client satisfaction and ultimately resulting in retention.

With the application in place, bookings no longer have to be made over the counter. The client need not come to the firm, or stand in long queues and can instead manage bookings with just a few taps.

Automated check-in and checkout acts as a time saver and also gives you an edge over your competitors. Be careful to keep the process simple and hassle-free.

An intuitive interface makes it easier for customers to interact and feel closer to the company. When a system can accomplish tasks such as booking, billing, and facilitate overall communication without any confusion, the customer is bound to feel satisfied.

The dynamic pricing feature also keeps the customers in the loop of changing rental charges, thereby reducing discrepancies.

When the client knows how much he is being charged and for what service, chances are that he will give the firm a shot some other time as well.

The application is also of multipurpose use as it looks after details like invoice, fuel billing, traffic fines, toll charges and any extra payment that is required beyond the pre-booking rent charges.

Most applications can be integrated with multiple payment modes. Hence, the client can choose the medium he is comfortable in and doesn’t have to queue up to complete a transaction.

The software, these days, are also multilingual. Sometimes the firm might not have a resource that is fluent with the language that the customer understands. But with the application on board, the customer can get the desired information in a language that he is compatible with.

All this information is a click away and the customer can access it anytime he/she wants, in fact even during the ride. Hence, not only can the customer just sit back and relax but the application also ensures a transparent transaction.

2. Constant support, sometimes taking special efforts helps

Like in any other business, communication is integral to keep the customers happy in the rental service. Immediate help and support is always appreciated. Many programs have in-built chatbots or customer service system that can be handy in distress.

With a dedicated service team, the company can inform the consumer about a faulty situation within the car, provide real-time road assistance, help in case the customer is stuck as well as ensure their safety.

With a fleet tracker, the firm is always in touch with the customer despite physically not being in the car.

More often than not, those who rent a car are tourists. New to the place and unfamiliar with the language as well as the location, they are always looking for a friend.

When equipped with quality software, the firm can pitch in and walk the extra mile to help them out.

The GPS tracker integrated in the application will tell you where the consumers are driving or intend to go.

Offering them a list of interesting places nearby or popular restaurant recommendations makes them feel special and adds to the goodwill of the rental company.

3. Helps in fleet management. Hence, chances of downtime are few

Most car rental companies tend to assume that an efficient car will keep the clients satisfied. However, the deal doesn’t simply end at a fancy car with ample of gas.

With a car rental application, the firm can keep a tab on which car is with which customer in which location and by what time is it expected to be back. All this with just a few clicks and on a single platform.

As a result, the management will plan the day better and route the cars accordingly. This significantly reduces the downtime as the customers as well as the firm have a clear idea of which car will be available at what time.

Additionally, it also looks after the maintenance needs and ensures that only fully functional vehicles are available for the consumer to select from the drop-down menu.

4. Software helps in forming database related to loyal customers. Pamper them.

Who doesn’t like to enjoy a few privileges or discounted rental charges? A slashed price (tailor-made for the specific customer) tends to make him feel special and improve loyalty.

Keeping your current customers happy ensures the continuity of your business and also attracts new referrals.

The car rental software helps in building a repository through which the company can easily identify the clients who keep coming back to them or the customers who probably deserve small gifts, after all it is important to reward loyalty.

This includes data like the car model preferred, the pricing range often chosen among other things. As a result, the firm can send them messages if there’s a discount available on the client’s preferred brand.

The data can be used to run personalized campaigns, promotional messages, incentivized bookings, and upgrades if possible.

In addition to this, the fleet management software also keeps a constant vigil on the ride. In case the chauffeur is sent by the company, the customer can sit back and relax as the driver will be very careful during the ride as he is under constant supervision.

In the competitive business world of today, a taxi management software gives you an edge and is crucial for pumping up the growth of the company. While it effectively manages your fleet, an advanced application can also make you a favorite among the customers.

If you haven’t integrated the cabs with a high-tech car rental management system, what are you waiting for? Go and grab the product now!

 

6 Reasons Why Car Rental Companies Must Invest In A GPS system

Car rental companies need to be extra careful with their fleet. They not only have to keep track of the vehicles, but also ensure quality cars, safe drives and a stress-free journey without any major hiccups.

Feels too much work? With a GPS tracker, however, management can be simplified as well as be made more efficient. The companies no longer has to worry about the risks of theft, accident, and misappropriation.

Looking at the advantages, most companies have embraced this advanced technology. We list a few reasons why you must have a GPS-fitted system to look after your fleet.

1.Helps in giving directions, finding alternate routes; improves customer experience

Providing directions is the most obvious advantage of having a GPS onboard a vehicle.

Tourists are the ones who mostly rent a car and are more likely to get lost in a foreign land. The combination of unknown roads and unfamiliar language is difficult to overcome for many clients.

However, with a GPS tracker at their disposal, it will be simpler for them to find their way out without much trouble.

The tracker can also identify areas that are usually high-traffic zones and help find alternative routes through which the customer can reach the destination in a shorter time, without any hassles — thereby resulting in client satisfaction.

It will also provide details on the nearest pumps, restaurants that one can visit as well as nearby accommodation.

Saving their time and helping them in a foreign land can help the company earn some goodwill from the customers. Happy clients implies increased chances of referral and improved income.

2.Enables real-time tracking of the vehicle

What happens if the customer takes away the vehicle on a different route than what was earlier planned?

Without a GPS tracker you will not be able to realize until its too late and even if you do come to know about it, chances are that there’s very little left for the company to control.

As the name suggests, a GPS tracker literally keeps a tab on every movement of the vehicle at all times.

The tracker allows you to see where your vehicles are in real-time and help you ensure that your cars are being treated properly by the clients.

In case you have a large fleet to look after and cannot individually monitor every single vehicle, it is a wise decision to invest in a quality vehicle tracking system that helps you keep an overview of the entire fleet.

As a result, you can monitor, see the path and exact position of any vehicle from anywhere right on your mobile phone or desktop.

It also encourages effective and timely communication between the company and drivers, which otherwise wouldn’t have been possible in case of an emergency. Thus, you are in control of your fleet and can guide it better.

3.Geofencing looks after areas that are off-limits

With the GPS integrated in your fleet, you can create a virtual geographic boundary beyond which the vehicle cannot traverse any further. This may be pertaining to crossing borders or state lines.

You can also enable notifications, alarms or messages that alert you when the car is crossing a designated boundary. You do not even have to put any extra efforts as the GPS takes care of it automatically.

This is especially useful when you do not have a license to operate in a particular area and the chances are that the driver might go that way during the ride.

4.Reduction in operational costs and better fleet management

The GPS also looks after details like fuel usage, maintenance needs of the vehicle.

Most sophisticated GPS tracking system will automatically calculate the vehicle’s mileage and alert you about the upcoming routine maintenance.

You can hence be assured of the health of your vehicle as well as plan your drives accordingly. This will also help you to route your vehicles better.

The rental provider will have a greater clarity on which car will be available next and what can be offered to the clients in the array. It also reduces idle time as the drivers are under constant supervision.

You will also be informed of all possible delays well in advance and you can hence look for options to keep the customers happy.

With a GPS tracker, you can also find out if your vehicle is consuming more fuel than required.

It will automatically calculate the fuel consumed and you can compare it against the distance traveled to get a larger picture.

5.Ensures safety of the fleet as well as the client

Theft is the biggest nightmare of any rental provider. But worry not if you have a GPS system set up in your fleet.

The tracker will tell you exactly where your vehicle is moving and will also alert you in case there is something amiss. In case of vehicle theft, you can locate your car with the help of the GPS system and track it down.

Modern systems also allow you to immobilize the vehicle remotely if the firm suspects a theft or usage beyond the rental period.

Additionally as the drivers know that they are under constant surveillance, they will ensure that no improper driving practice is followed or traffic rules flouted.

The GPS can also come in handy for the clients in case of distress. If a mishap occurs, the company can trace the location of the car and send immediate help.

There’s also an SOS button that can be pressed to alert the police and the firm of any untoward incident. This is helpful to keep crime and sexual harassment at bay.

6.Provides insights into minute details

The tracker also checks if the vehicle is not misused by the clients. Common forms of rental car abuse include over speeding, engine misuse, frequent braking, tailgating, harsh acceleration, seat-belt violations among other breaches.

It also monitors car sensors to check for effective utilization.

There is also an option of history playback where you can view the places where the vehicle was utilized. This helps in case of damage complaint, legal issues and insurance claims.

Contrary to popular belief, integrating the vehicle with a GPS is not an expensive affair. Modern GPS trackers are hardwired into the vehicle systems so that they derive power from the car’s electric system instead of depending on any other external resource.

Hence, you do not have to change batteries or spend any more money to keep the GPS up and functional.

If you own a car rental company, then you should ideally consider investing in a GPS system. Coupled with an advanced online car rental management system, the company can not only protect the fleet but also put safety at the forefront at optimum costs.

With all your business needs being looked after, there shouldn’t be any second thoughts on making the purchase. After all, what’s the price for peace of mind?

 

How Connected Car Rental Can Help Car Rental Industry?

What is Connected Car Rental?

Connected Care Rental is an innovative concept that uses telematics solution for two-way communications between commercial vehicles and operations management.

The connected car technology (e.g. telematics) connects service providers, drivers, and customers to help make their daily work easier and more convenient.

Connected car rental software helps future-focused car rental companies to overcome day-to-day operational challenges by improving fleet operational efficiency.

It also provides a mobile solution for customers to overcome some of the biggest challenges they face with the car rental process.

How Connected Car Rental Technology Works?

The connectivity to the car is established by either installing a fleet management software black-box or re-using the existing connection to the vehicle provided by the car manufacturer.

The software flexible APIs enable connected car services to integrate seamlessly with a company’s existing back-office software systems and telematics service platform.

The data is collected in the software’s telematics service platform in a highly secure manner.

The insights in the data are made available in easy-to-use apps, online portals, or interfaces that can be integrated into other systems. This gives fleet operators greater and up-to-date control of their vehicles.

How Connected Cars Can Help The Car Rental Industry?

The car rental industry is embracing customers’ changing habits and a new operating environment.

The industry is responding to these changes with strategic initiatives, innovative ideas, and technology investments that can help car rental companies drive operational efficiency, growth, and profitability.

Connected car technology presents a great opportunity for the car rental industry and is drastically enhancing the car rental experience for the customers.

The technology helps to fulfill the industry’s growing desire to adapt to consumers’ changing habits.

It empowers customers with an easy-to-use mobile app that offers the ultimate convenience and personalization while improving the overall car rental experience.

Whether it is about automating rentals for consumers or providing easier access to companies in the transportation network, being connected makes everything possible!

By seamlessly combining all the rental car data in one place, companies are empowered to operate the fleet more efficiently by proactively scheduling maintenance alerts, setting de-fleeting triggers, etc.

Top 12 Benefits of Connected Technology For Car Rentals Companies

1.Data Collection: Connected cars enable data collection required for better vehicle diagnostics and maintenance. Vehicle usage data helps to understand use cases and be prepared for future demands.

2.Asset Management: Connected Car Technology provides companies a clear insight into how many cars they have, where they are, and each vehicle’s status.

This facilitates asset management and vehicle recovery. The connected intelligence also helps to minimize the likelihood of vehicle failures in the future with predictive analytics.

3.Fleet Operations Management: Connected technology promises speedier vehicle pick-up and return. It also allows companies to better track idle cars.

The geofencing functionality alerts the companies when vehicles leave the area they were rented for. The technology also informs them when cars are ready to be rented, making the entire planning and inventory process completely efficient for car rentals.

4.Vehicle Repairs & Maintenance: Connected technology helps companies to closely monitor the performance of their fleet from time to time.

It helps to get necessary repairs done on time so that the safety of their vehicles, as well as drivers, can be ensured at all times. Moreover, the vehicle maintenance schedule ensures that the regular servicing of vehicles is correctly timed based on accurate mileage and odometer readings.

This helps to keep all vehicles on the road and minimize downtime.

5.Breakdown Assistance: Connected cars technology supports a high-level, seamless customer service experience by enabling immediate response and breakdown assistance.

6.Accident Management: The technology provides a clear view of vehicle history and helps to minimize the cost of accidents and potential litigation.

7.Fuel Monitoring: Connected cars technology can help optimize the cost of operations through fuel monitoring. It allows companies to cross-check fuel levels and mileage of returned rental cars to optimize fuel costs.

Companies and consumers get to know how much fuel was in the tank when the car left the lot, and with how much fuel it was returned. This accuracy and transparency help both car rental companies and consumers alike.

8.Contract Management: The technology helps to quickly create and manage contracts and make them accessible as and when needed. It helps to anticipate vehicle contract term and workshop visits, and inform the fleet manager accordingly.

9.Optimizing De-fleeting & Buy-Back: With up-to-date connected car data, companies can easily identify which vehicles are better to de-fleet earlier.

Moreover, by knowing accurate details on the use, mileage, and engine health of rental vehicles, companies can negotiate a better buy-back price while selling them back to car dealers.

10.Reports & Analytics: The technology gives car rental companies greater control of their vehicles with dynamic reporting and analytics.

11.Boosting Rental Sales: Mobile-first connected car features and smartphone technology provide more convenience to customers, thereby boosting the company’s car rental sales and generating more business.

12.Customer Retention: As consumers become more and more comfortable with connected car technology, car rental companies can ramp up their operations to retain existing customers.

The bottom line is that various challenges in the management of a fleet of rental cars can be addressed with a robust connected car rental management software.

Connected car technology offers many opportunities to car rental companies to maximize their operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.

That is why it is best for car rental companies to adopt a connected online car rental system.

Connected Rentals is an end-to-end fleet management system designed for connected rental operations.

It is a fully-customized fleet management solution that caters to all of the car rental industry’s needs.

It helps to automate fleet operations with connected intelligence for car rental and leasing companies, automotive dealerships, and much more.

So, are you ready to leverage the benefits of best car rental software for your car rental business operations?

 

How Does Car Rental System Work?

 

A car rental business is one of the affordable ways to rent a car on a weekly or daily basis. Nowadays, everyone is interested in starting a business of this type.

With the spike in travelers, the demand for car rental software has increased. This business has the potential to become the next big thing in the automotive industry.

Owning a car is no longer necessary, all thanks to the car rental business.

People can rent a car for the days they want. Some car rental companies even provide a subscription-based package where a customer can rent a car for more than three months.

The car rental system is technologically advanced and easy-to-use both for you and the customers. There is no need for technical staff, and just an app is sufficient.

Getting Started

The first step is signing up in the application to load the details into the system. You will get your login ID and password to manage your details. Once your system information is loaded, your customers can book from there.

Payment

For the booking confirmations in the system, you need to fix a payment method.

You can choose multiple payment options, such as credit/debit card, Cash, UPI, internet banking.

You can decide how you would want the payment to proceed. Customers can check the availability of cars and get price quotes for their bookings before choosing to pay. It will be a flexible option for your customers with less effort needed from you.

View/edit Reservation

In this option, your customers can view reservations present in the system with reservation codes. If required, you can alter the vital details to ensure that the booking is appropriate.

Administration

Any updates, alterations, latest vehicles, added features, or any other personalization you want in your rental system can be easily managed online.

You will have complete access to your system. There is no need to contact your IT staff/supplier whenever you plan to change some details in a car. You can just log in and do it yourself within a few seconds.

Working of a Car Rental Software

For the customer’s side, an app-based car rental software makes it easier for them to book a car at their convenience. Here is how the software works.

a.Book a Car

Open the app. Search for the car, select the time duration, and initiate booking.

b.Upload License

Before the booking is confirmed, customers need to upload their valid driver’s license to make sure they are legally authorized to drive.

c.Unlock the Car

As soon as the booking is confirmed, customers will receive car details through an SMS. At the pick-up location, they can unlock their car via the rental app.

d.Return the Car

Once the trip ends, customers can drive back the car to the same location and fend their trip.

Attractive Features to of Car Rental Software

Today, the key to reaching out to a maximum number of customers is a mobile app or a web-based portal. However, just having an app isn’t sufficient; some features need to be included for unmatched performance.

e.Flexibility

The software should be manageable and user-friendly. It should be able to adapt to possible or future changes in its requirements.

f.Web and Mobile-Centric

The car rental software must work flawlessly on iOS to Android mobile devices as well as the web.

g.Tailor-made

The demands and needs of a business are always a priority. Keeping that in mind, the script should be designed in such a way that it must serve any requirement of the business without hampering you with the stress of alterations needed in the industry.

h.Highly Secure Software

The online world comes with multiple threats. Make sure that you aren’t revealing the data of your valuable customers. So, the software should be backed with complete security systems. It will lock out hackers or technology misusers.

i.Responsive Design

Your app’s design should provide ease of navigation to its users from any device. Make sure that your customers face no trouble while surfing your web app. The responsive design will make your software product feasible for you to reach a wide range of customers through a single application.

j.Payment Gateways

Provide a secure payment system that offers your customers all the means to make payments online and book your car rentals without facing any issue.

k.Multi-lingual Support

Your solution shall provide your customers with control to edit the app language as per their choice. Offer both RTL and LTR versions, so that they can customize the language.

l.All-day Customer Support System

The developers must always be available to help 24/7 in case your customers are stuck with design implementation to begin their services.

So, what are you waiting for? Starting a rental business isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. But with an affordable and reasonable car rental software solution, you can reach newer heights of success.

Conclusion

With the tracking application looking after all your managerial needs, it can be a good investment that can trigger the growth of the business.

The car rental management software leaves you with very little to fret about and hence there shouldn’t be any second thoughts on making the purchase. Should there be?

How To Increase Car Rental Revenue

Executive Summary

Car Rental companies are faced with several challenges – they have to contend with competition, manage constantly fluctuating prices, adhere to high safety standards, and manage a logistics-intensive business. 

Additionally, in today’s digitally driven world, they must make sure that they stay abreast of modern technology (e.g. facilitate usage via an App), continue to use traditional media as required (e.g. billboards at airports) while constantly being seen, heard and available for their customers at all times!

All this requires the smart usage of available resources. Therefore, company management must consider numerous factors as they plan and run such a car rental company.

How to Increase Car Rental Revenue

For car rental businesses, increasing their sales can be a challenging task, whether you operate in areas of a low population (not enough frequent customers) or whether your outlets are located in high-traffic locations such as airports, train stations, or downtown city spots (intense competition). 

All the resources available to you (and, much more in cases of established players with deep pockets!) are available to your competitors, too. Therefore, you must follow a well-planned and efficiently executed strategy to increase your car rental revenue. 

Given Below Are 8 Top Tips To Drive Sales:

1) Focused Customer Segments: Simply put, “less is more” is a strategy that is advised by industry experts. Focusing on a core set of target customers – 3 demographics as recommended by the pundits – avoids customer confusion, maintains clear communication and pricing policies, and ultimately leads to profitability. 

2) Vehicle Portfolio: Once you have figured out your target customer segments, your next task is to identify the models and makes of cars that you should offer them. Remember that each segment will have various micro-segments and their needs will vary. Therefore, you must maintain a good balance of vehicles available (size, price, color, etc.) to maximize your sales. 

Specially-abled drivers: Car rental companies must ensure that they maintain vehicles for the specially-abled population. This is an important Corporate Social Responsibility and helps those sections to rent out cars when they require, be independent, and lead lives of self-sufficiency.

3) Fleet Quality: As mentioned above, while the range of your vehicle portfolio must be correctly balanced, you must also make sure that all your vehicles are in pristine condition. Don’t forget that lives are at stake! 

While large chains like Enterprise and Avis have pockets that are deep enough to regularly modernize and upgrade their fleets, the smaller companies could opt for constantly buying quality used cars. This will keep their fleet as modern as possible, and by deploying a good team (skilled technicians, cleaners) they can maintain a fleet of older cars that will be competent and attractive enough for their customers. 

4) Planning the Sales Curve: Planning your 12-month sales pattern is very important since all businesses have peaks and valleys. Maximizing your best sales periods is important to clock most of your annual sales, but it is also important to think about the months of low sales. For example, offering discounts during these times may reduce your unit profitability but it will keep the customers coming in, and keep them engaged with your company. In the long run, this relationship that you build with your customers will help in making you their first choice. 

5) Optimizing Price: Your pricing model must be optimal, otherwise you will land up under-pricing or over-pricing your rentals – both have disastrous consequences! While over-pricing would mean you would lose customers to the competition, under-pricing would make you operate at below-par profitability. Pricing is a tough task and needs constant review and adjustments. 

Conduct regular market surveys, ask for customer feedback and use multiple price-points for different segments, months, and cars. E.g. if your range of luxury cars has a good draw, then you could charge a premium. But, also be sure to keep it simple and make sure that you don’t confuse your customers with too many complicated price-points and schemes! 

6) Building Marketplace Collaborations: Certain user segments like individual business travelers or vacationers are among the most frequent renters of cars and collaborating with other travel-related companies (e.g. airlines, travel websites) will enable you to broaden your customer base and drive your top-line. 

Similar collaborations with other companies within the travel eco-system like convention centers, restaurants, insurance companies, and tourist agencies for the mobility requirements of their clients will attract more clients.

7) Customer Service: At the end of the day, no business can survive without loyal customers. Therefore, your focus on Customer Service must be relentless, and your entire operation must be built on ensuring that your customer experience is exemplary. 

Whether you are a big firm with deep pockets that can run several consumer promotion schemes and maintain a high level of advertising, or whether you are a smaller firm with limited means, you must use all resources available to service your customers as best possible. 

Think deeply about your customer’s needs and stand out by offering products and services that suit them. Take advantage of modern data analytics to analyze customer habits, preferences, and user patterns. For example, free home pick-ups and deliveries, replacement vehicles when needed, frequent user points, and benefits (etc.) are just some offers that work well with customers. This, in turn, would result in good customer reviews and ratings, high website traffic, and strong word of mouth. 

A high percentage of car rentals are by travelers, often from foreign countries that speak various foreign languages. Such customers will prefer car rental companies that make the rental process (insurance, pricing, mandatory documents, etc.) as simple and hassle-free as possible.

8) Strong Marketing and PR: The importance of running sustained and clear marketing, branding, and PR program cannot be stressed enough, especially in today’s age of intense competition. Like in all other industries, customers will be drawn towards companies that have a strong reputation.

With the modern world of digital and social media, there are enough opportunities for you to create a good, strong brand. Establish a strong online presence, build a good mobile app with strong functionality, and be available for your customers via various channels (chat-bots, helplines, email, etc.). 

Conclusion: Following the above guidelines will help you to become the preferred partner for all mobility requirements of your customers.

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How to Ensure a Contactless Car Rental Process

Summary

The pandemic has changed – upturned! – our lives across all aspects. It has changed the way we work, live, go about our daily tasks, travel, and interact with society. Simply put, we have been forced into the “New Normal”. However, change is the only constant, and while we may have been compelled to do things differently, there are several aspects of life and work that have been radically improved. Increased digitization, elimination of paperwork by using Apps and online options, drastically (if not eliminating) the usage of cash…the list is endless.

One area of everyday life that has also adopted the “contactless” way of conducting business is the process of car rentals. These changes have not only achieved the “contactless” way of renting cars but also made the process a whole lot faster and more efficient.

Of note, though, is that while these changes have been necessitated by the COVID era, there are several innovations and procedural changes that have improved the process so significantly that they will now become the “new way” of renting out cars – it is something that we can continue to use even as we look to leave the pandemic behind us.

How to ensure a “contactless” car rental process.

With the pandemic overtaking our lives since the start of 2020, terms like “masking”, “sanitizing”, “social distancing”, and “contactless” has become an intrinsic part of our everyday existence, all aimed toward minimizing “human contact”. Whenever we step out, or whatever we do, we aim to do with as little (preferably, none) human or surface contact or exposure as possible.

Renting cars – a natural part of our lives that we hardly even spared a thought about – typically resembled taking a flight. Website bookings and payments, printing the tickets, furnishing a personal ID and driving license, filling out forms, inspecting the vehicle with a company representative to establish the vehicle condition, and…zooming off! While returning the car, similar procedures had to be followed.

As is evident, the traditional process (as described above) required a lot of inter-personal interactions, and touching/ exchanging of physical materials. However, with the advent of the pandemic, all the steps of renting a car needed to be re-imagined so that the car-rental process became a safe, quick and “contactless” process.

Therefore, car-rental companies established a contactless rental experience to conduct business during these unprecedented times.

Let’s look at 7 popular changes (provisions) made by car-rental companies:

1) Car booking: Online (web/app) based booking using self-developed systems or boxed- solutions made available off-the-shelf by popular third-party providers now facilitate the booking process. Popular travel sites and marketplaces e.g. Expedia, Orbitz also offer a full-service vehicle booking facility.

These apps offer the full range of functionality i.e. right from allowing you to select your vehicle, uploading your essential documents, confirming your booking, making your payment, receiving directions about how and where to pick up your vehicle, and completing the vehicle returning formalities – all without any human interaction or contact.

2) Driver documentation: Like in several other spaces, the use of digital KYC in the mobility space has grown exponentially. Before beginning on the journey, renters are expected to upload all necessary documents (e.g. driver’s license, personal ID, photo). Modern AI tools are used to verify the authenticity and run fraud checks to ensure legitimacy.

3) Rental agreement: On-site filling of forms and rental agreements became a big barrier during COVID – touching, storing, exchanging of physical papers, spending time on-site when distancing was the norm (etc.). This has been solved by submitting documents online, in-app forms, digital signatures (etc.). Thus, these procedures are now completed even before the customer arrives to pick the vehicle up.

4) Vehicle access: Necessity is the mother of invention, and through several smart innovations the car-rental companies have circumvented the traditional step of customers arriving and lining up to receive the keys, waiting around while their cars were readied (etc.)

Examples include sending SMS messages with requisite details (car number, parking location) to the customer for them to go to the car and enter it by using a password on the keypad; or fleet companies using fleet management software to provide “keyless” access for its clients; or using in-app chat interfaces for the customer to gain access via the app.

5) Vehicle inspection before commencing the journey: Inspecting and documenting the current condition of the vehicle by a company employee in the presence of the customer is a time-consuming process. These days, car-rental companies enable customers to use the company app to capture vehicle pictures before starting out. Bear in mind, it now becomes incumbent for the customer to carefully record the condition of the car!

6) Car journey: A completely “contactless” process doesn’t stop at the point that the customer drives out with the rented car. It includes several services during the journey including tolls, emergencies, refueling charges, EV-charging, breakdown assistance (etc.). A completely seamless process can be set up by using modern tools like the company app, the use of QR codes, e-wallets for e-payments of tolls (etc.)

7)  Return procedures: The process of returning the car effectively repeated the initial process of renting it out – it was always time-consuming and cumbersome. However, customers can now take images of the vehicle by using the rental company’s app before returning it. With modern AI tools and APIs, the company app can process these photos to compare the new vs. old, identify whether there are any new damages to the vehicle, compare odometer readings (etc.). This has improved the efficiency of the entire process while maintaining the necessary checklist and keeping the entire exercise contactless.

Conclusion: As mentioned earlier, “necessity is the mother of invention” and the pandemic has ushered in several changes in the mobility industry in adopting and operating a “contactless” car rental process.

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7 Top Reasons Why Car Rental Software Is Beneficial For Taxi-Business Owners.

Summary 

The benefits that car rental software brings for modern-day taxi-business operators are many. It automates the business, reduces operating costs, and greatly facilitates ease of usage for the customer.

What are the benefits of car-rental software for taxi-fleet operators?

With the advent of online booking, the taxi business has received a fillip like never before. It is important, however, to make sure that the car rental software is a capable one – it is the most critical tool for taxi-business owners to run an efficient and profitable operation.

Not only does it provide ease of use for the operator but it also provides customers the convenience of booking directly via your App/ website.

1. Fully automated: Needless to say, since the entire process of viewing, selecting, booking, and payment can now be done by the customer via the App is something that has changed the way the industry operates. Matched with the convenience of tracking, real-time updates, related information (weather, traffic, driver details), and notifications, the automation is greatly convenient.

2. Customer convenience: The convenience that the software offers users is a game-changer. Viewing available inventory, shared-ride programs, taxes, rates, extra services, and their costs (etc.) can all be viewed by the customer at his convenience across the various screens and icons that the software offers.  

3. Reduced costs: Car rental software is a leading tool for reducing operating costs for cab-rental businesses. It requires minimal implementation and is up and running very quickly. 

It also tracks scheduled maintenance which ultimately results in lower maintenance costs and better fleet utilization and enables your staff to respond – and, solve- queries faster, thereby improving efficiency. 

4. Customer support: The convenience that the software provides to customers is invaluable. Therefore, it is imperative that your website/ App interface has a great UI/ UX, offers the requisite features, and allows you to make your selections across vehicle categories, rates, fees, locations (etc.)

5. Constant innovation: Well, the entire product is an innovation and it isn’t surprising that such software is constantly experimenting and innovating to come up with new solutions and features.

6. Enhanced security: Modern car rental software is cloud-based and uses several layers of authentication to ensure security, while still providing ease of access to users across phones, desktops, tablets (etc.)

7. Customer insight and data-analytics: With the process being automated, comes the advantage of recording all aspects of the operation via digital data. Every transaction, online customer activity (etc.) is recorded via data points, heat maps, and other clusters of customer behavior.

This helps the taxi-rental company to gain customer insight and use it in making decisions, ideate new product features, and look to constantly improve the over process-efficiency.

Case Study: How A Growing Taxi Business Owner Grew Rapidly By Using Car Rental Software.

Situation: Rapid-Fleet is a growing taxi service business based out of Dubai. It was started a few years ago by a young engineer, Mr. Ahmad Khalif, and has grown quickly since. It already has a few offices in other cities in the UAE and sees the opportunity to open several more as its business continues to expand.

Mr. Ahmad, though, is faced with several problems. As his business continues to service more customers, he is receiving complaints about the dropping levels of customer service. Customers regularly complain that they are unable to get in touch with a support agent when required. Also, there are a rising number of complaints about the fare calculations. Since their taxi service now extends its operations to various destinations within the UAE, there are tolls and taxes to be paid, as well as parking calculations to be factored in. It appears that the employees of Rapid-Fleet often get some of these calculations wrong. On their part, the employees say that clients often change/extend their booking timings, or disagree with the charges that are (correctly) levied.

Mr.Ahmad’s employees regularly tell him that they get several inquiries over long-distance travel but only if the commuters can travel via a share-a-taxi service since the costs become quite expensive for individual travel. However, since they schedule and take bookings manually, it is very difficult to manage this. As a result, they were missing out on a significant revenue source.

Thus, Mr. Ahmad called for an urgent meeting to discuss this ‘growing’ problem.

Solution: After lengthy discussions at the team meeting, Mr. Ahmad and his team concluded that in order to take advantage of the growing opportunity, automation was a must. That’s when they decided to invite RFPs from a few leading car rental software companies.

While discussing their requirements with the software companies, the team at Rapid-Fleet made it a point to discuss how much customization/ configuration was on offer. The team figured that since they were in such close contact with the end-user, they would be able to innovate to their advantage with new products, services, and pricing packages.

The new car rental software was soon shortlisted and implemented across Rapid-Fleet’s operations. 

Result:

• Automated process: All the inventory (i.e. fleet vehicles available) could be selected by the potential customer via a few simple taps without having to make a call-in 
• Ease of billing: The most immediate benefit was that the pricing and billing became completely visible and transparent. Not only were the bills generated automatically, but each cost-head and line item was clearly mentioned
• Customer insight: By studying customer behavior across the App, the team worked along with the software developers to create a pipeline of new features. This improved customer engagement
• Omni-channel communication: Importantly, since the software offered modern omnichannel communication, the bulk of customer queries was now handled by chat support and automated IVR procedures. Other quick forms of communication like text messages, Whatsapp, and in-app notifications were used to good effect
• Secure process: Being a cloud-based software/App that allowed various levels of secured access, Rapid-Fleet was able to maintain the necessary security with regards to confidential data, allowing access to company employees only as required
• Employee usage: With the software freeing up employee time, they were able to devote more time to other tasks and areas, thereby improving overall efficiency  

At the next half-yearly company review, a beaming Mr. Ahmad reported happily that company performance had improved significantly. Four new offices had been planned over the next six months while company-wide operations had been streamlined. As a result, the bottom line was up and the annual bonuses would be healthy. This was met with a loud cheer from Rapid-Fleet’s employees! 

Conclusion: As is evident, taxi-business operators have benefitted immensely through the use of modern car rental software, last-mile delivery software, and other such automation-oriented software.