They say sharing is caring, and that’s why from time to time we like to dispense some valuable advice. And this time it’s about a few simple ways in which you can improve your car rental business.
We understand that this topic is by nature quite specific, so if it’s not your cup of tea you can always have a browse on our blog homepage and find a veritable treasure chest of great articles, tips and advice on all things vehicle management, better driving and connected cars.
Right, back to those ways to improve your car rental business. You may already recognize a few of the things we’ll cover in the next paragraphs, and you may not. Also, whatever-your target market is, there may be something we miss, so it would be great to hear from you!
How to improve your car rental business: an introduction
Whether you have a leisure car rental business, corporate or airport car leasing enterprise, there’s always ways where you can boost your efficiency and improve. If you want to, that is.
We’ll assume that you do. I mean nobody wants to cruise downhill in neutral forever, right? Or, perhaps you are thinking about starting a car rental company. It may be easy to talk yourself out of it if you focus too much on the competition. And by competition we mean the considerable reach of established leaders in the market.
Rest assured, they do not have an insurmountable advantage.
Let us show you what we mean. Have a look at these simple ways that you can improve your car rental business, or use as a foundation for your philosophy if you’re just starting out.
Ways to improve your car rental business
Quality of fleet
Some may take this for granted, but we can’t emphasize the importance enough. It needs to be the cornerstone of your business. Some of the bigger firms like Avis and Hertz try to keep their fleet of vehicles as new and up to date as possible. But what about smaller companies. How can you compete with that? Easy. Invest wisely in high quality used cars. Yes you may need an expert mechanic to help you, but it will be worth it. With really diligent mechanics and cleaners, plus rigorous maintenance, your combination of lower prices but delivering high quality vehicles will not go unnoticed. Oh yes, one more thing, know when you need to replace a vehicle.
Next-level customer service
The customer is always right. Right? That we already know. But another of the sure-fire ways to improve your rental business lies in the quality – and authenticity – of your customer service. For small and medium-sized businesses, going the extra mile can help you get ahead. How can you do this? For a start, you can offer a variety of “free” extra services, such as free delivery and pick up, free replacement vehicles in the case of a breakdown or accident. Make the insurance process as easy as possible for the customer. But why stop there?
With a fleet tracking solution such as our very own Veturilo – especially designed for SMB’s, you can also inform your customers that you will be able to help them much faster if they get into any difficulties out on the road. This could put their mind at ease, especially for those who are in a foreign country.
Another example is with the notifications and alerts options, you may even be able to call your customer in case they’re about to run out of fuel and suggest that they fill up the fuel tank at the nearest gas station. This one again is really useful in cases where customers are foreigners/visitors to your city or area. And let’s face it, more often than not people don’t pay much attention to details when they are on vacation.
Stay on top of maintenance
This one goes without saying. If you are a small business then chances are you will have a limited budget, and you want to avoid things like costly repairs on vehicles that could be avoided if there were some kind of preventative measures that you could use. Like what?
Well, apart from always keeping up with scheduled service appointments at regular intervals for all of your vehicles, you can also use a vehicle management solution to keep tabs on any warning light alerts that may be missed or dismissed by a person renting your vehicle. You’ll have access to the diagnostic codes so you will know if its a potentially serious issue or not and can contact the driver faster, as well as send a replacement vehicle to where your customer is so you can pick up the faulty one.
Marketing – find some good bedfellows
No matter how small your business is, you will need to invest in marketing to get your company noticed. And one of the best ways to do this is to travel sidecar, so to speak, by associating yourself with other enterprises that are connected to car rental. From local motels and larger hotels and airlines to restaurants and travel agencies, if you can strike agreements with the right partners, then more business is likely to come your way.
The key? Never stop improving
While these are just a few ways to improve your car rental business, the key thing is to keep looking for ways and means to get better at what you do and what your company offers. It’s the little things that go a long way in virtually any industry. So have that in mind and you won’t go far wrong.
And, last but not least, stay up to date with developments in technology. Things move forward quite rapidly, and technology is everywhere. Don’t let it pass you by. Even if you run a small rental car business, your competitors may have already established a solution with some of the key points above so why not do it too.
Start today and get your fleet connected with Veturilo.