29 Feb 2024 | 4 min read
In previous episodes we’ve talked about how the need for convenience is the core around which rental companies are innovating. Keyless technology is reshaping the way people rent vehicles and in this article we will cut this to the chase without too many frills.
The ongoing challenge of customer experience within the car rental sector is widely acknowledged. Following a report by J.D. Power, rental car customer satisfaction remained at record low levels as of early 2022. As a sector, car rental consistently has the lowest NPS score, way below health insurance and even airlines, symbolizing a significant need for innovation.
Let’s dive into the clear differentiation between traditional key-based rentals versus 2hire keyless solution and how 2hire is helping car rental businesses to boost income and optimize operational costs.
Securing a rental car keeps entailing the arduous task of queuing up in winding lines at rental counters. This issue presents a formidable barrier between eager customers and their desired mode of transportation. For travelers, particularly those coming from long flights or journeys, the prospect of standing in line for a long time is not only inconvenient but also exasperating.
The inefficiencies of the rental counter process compound the issue, exacerbating delays and customer dissatisfaction. Rental agents, inundated with paperwork and administrative tasks, are struggling to keep pace with the demand, resulting in prolonged wait times.
Beyond the inconvenience, the need to stand in line at rental counters represents a lost opportunity for both customers and rental companies. Customers, eager to maximize their time and make the most of their travel experiences, find themselves held captive by the rigidity of the traditional rental process. Meanwhile, rental companies, constrained by outdated procedures, risk dissatisfied customers and losing out on potential business.
With 2hire keyless solution, renters are empowered to bypass the rental counter entirely, liberating them from long waiting times..
2hire keyless solution brings renters the convenience of a seamless and expedited rental experience, all at their fingertips. Through mobile access to the car, renters gain direct access to their chosen vehicle without the need for physical keys or intermediary interactions. The renting tourist visiting the city with family can receive a link on the phone to locate the vehicle, unlock the car doors and start the journey right away. In the same way, at the end of the rental it can just leave the car keys secured in the car, lock the car via phone, and leave…Long waiting times and dull paperwork are just a far-off memory!
When a customer makes a reservation, traditional car rental companies manually allocate a vehicle from their fleet based on availability and reservation details. This allocation process often involves hardworking access to the central reservation system or database to check vehicle availability and assign a specific car to the reservation.
With traditional key-based rental processes, physical keys are issued to customers upon vehicle pickup. Rental staff manually retrieve keys from a designated key storage area or cabinet and hand them over to customers along with the necessary paperwork. Keys are typically attached to a tag or keychain that identifies the vehicle they belong to.
With 2hire solution, reservation and allocation become more efficient and streamlined. Instead of manually allocating vehicles based on availability, rental companies can utilize automated systems that integrate with their fleet management software. Keyless allows for real-time tracking of vehicle availability and status, enabling rental companies to optimize their fleet allocation process and ensure that vehicles are assigned to reservations promptly. This reduces the likelihood of overbooking or discrepancies in vehicle availability, leading to a smoother and more seamless rental experience for customers.
For key handover the simplicity is the same. Instead of issuing physical keys to customers upon vehicle pickup, rental companies can utilize 2hire keyless entry system that allows customers to instantly access the vehicle using their phone. This eliminates the need for rental staff to manually retrieve and hand over keys, reducing wait times and administrative overhead.
In traditional car rental, customers are required to complete extensive paperwork at the rental counter, including rental agreements, insurance forms, and vehicle inspection reports. This part of the process can be time-consuming and often requires customers to provide redundant information that could be streamlined through digital processes.
Rental staff manually verify customer identification, rental agreements, and payment details, which can lead to delays and errors. Each step of the check-in and check-out process requires manual input and validation, increasing the likelihood of mistakes and inconsistencies.
During peak rental periods, rental counters can become crowded, leading to long wait times and frustrated customers. Rental companies may struggle to manage the flow of customers efficiently, resulting in bottlenecks and delays at the check-in and check-out counters.
As previously mentioned, in traditional rentals customers receive physical keys to then proceed with check-in. This requires rental staff to locate the appropriate key, retrieve it from a designated storage area, and hand it over to the customer. Something easily slow, especially during peak rental periods when multiple customers are checking in simultaneously.
With 2hire solution, the process becomes digital. This doesn’t mean control is left aside, but actually is enhanced in a way that makes the renter more free to manage every rental quickly without the stress of letting people on hold while doing so.
2hire keyless entry helps customers save time, as they no longer need to wait for the staff to locate and assign them the physical keys for check-in. Instead customers can access their assigned vehicle autonomously eliminating the time-consuming process of key retrieval and significantly speeding up the check-in process.
Keyless simplifies the vehicle return process too by eliminating the need for customers to return keys to the rental company. Instead, customers can securely lock the vehicle and complete the check-out process digitally, reducing the time spent at the rental counter.
Rental staff can remotely verify the vehicle’s condition and fuel level thanks to data reading. They can view the data collected from the vehicle and review the reported information through the rental company’s backend system. Being able to remotely verify the vehicle’s condition, compare it with the renter’s report, and ensure that it meets the company’s standards for return, streamlining the inspection process and minimizing wait times for customers.
Offering keyless car rental is no longer just a luxury – it’s a necessity. Customers expect fast, convenient, and secure rental experiences, and 2hire keyless technology delivers on all fronts. Rental companies that embrace 2hire keyless solution stand to gain a competitive edge, attracting more customers, boosting income, and gaining market presence.
Digital Content and PR Specialist at 2hire
I love running and daydreaming losing count of the distance I’m covering, cooking (and especially eating) and Drake is my spirit guide.