Enabling contactless rentals (Part 2)
This is a second part of the article covering technologies that are enabling contactless rentals.
5. Vehicle inspection at checkout
Vehicles are inspected by a valet usually in the presence of the customer to check for damages, ensuring the interior is clean and documenting fuel level and accessories in the car. This is a time consuming process and involves paper documentation or an app to capture images and get an acknowledgement from the customer.
To skip the queue, rental companies with a customer app enable customers to capture pictures of the vehicle prior to starting their rental period. Its in the customer’s interest to ensure pre-existing damages are recorded.
ClearQuote app helps rental companies document vehicle condition in a transparent and efficent manner — by assessing damages on the car automatically using smartphone images and AI. Rental companies can either use ClearQuote apps (available in iOS and Android) or use ClearQuote APIs to integrate into their own customer apps. ClearQuote also offers a weblink for customers to carry out a self inspection of the car prior to driving away.
6. Digital gatepasses, Curbside and at home delivery
Most large rental parking lots have pin code enabled exit gates. A pin code is usually given to the customer as part of the documentation for the customer to punch in at the gate and drive away.
Avis has taken this one step further and enabled QR code based gate-passes and makes the process truly “contactless” under their Quick Pass program. Customers can simply scan their QR code from the Avis app at the gate.
Another way to by-pass the entire rental station process is to request a home delivery of the car. This feature is being offered by alot of the leading rental players in the US and Europe or you could choose someone like Kyte to get your rental car delivered to / picked up from your home
7. During the rental journey
Customers require various services during the rental journey ranging from fueling, toll payments, reporting accidents, charging (for EVs), roadside assistance . A seamless experience during this process could only happen if additional services were provided via the rental company’s app. Connected vehicles in the fleet provide opportunity for the rental operators to streamline operations and understand vehicle condition.
Here are some examples
- Avis enables e-toll in some states in the US — for routes that allow cashless toll payments and similar example of seamless toll payments in Europe via Verra mobility
- Rental fleets are investing millions into connecting their fleets to enable remote tracking of vehicles, understanding driving behaviour, identify occurances of damage, reduce incidences of theft. Some insights here.
- Roadside assistance is covered by the rental company but typically at an (exorbitant) extra charge and renters can simply call the toll free number and get assistance in case of a breakdown
8. Returning the car
Returning the car has typically been a repeat of the pick up process, time consuming and painful. Whats critical for customers returning vehicles is the document the condition of the car and probably fuel level so they are not charged for incorrectly.
Customers can capture condition of the vehicle by taking images at the time of return using the rental company’s app. ClearQuote APIs automatically process these images and not only identify damages on the vehicle and also if these are “new” damages. Making the process efficient and transparent. And contactless of course.
Write to hello@clearquote.io to request for a demo and free trial of ClearQuote app
