During the pandemic, rental companies adapted their processes in ways that continue today. The digitalisation of reservations and in-branch services, which began before 2020, has accelerated over the last two years. This digital pathway, where customers skip the agency counter, has enabled rental companies to save time and increase efficiency. During the pandemic, this method of rapid removal from the vehicle using a key box or code has also made it possible to reassure customers about the health aspect. It is now used as a means of building customer loyalty. " The entire process is digital. The information is recorded in advance at the branch, the payment is made remotely and the meeting with the customer takes place directly in the car park using a tablet to finalise the collection of the vehicle. The advantage of this tool is that, on request, the operation can be relocated to the customer's home or company headquarters." explains Guirec Grand-Clément, Managing Director of Enterprise France.
In the same vein, Avis has switched to QuickPass. After booking a vehicle, all you need is a driving licence and a payment card to register for the QuickPass service via the confirmation email you receive. The service also allows you toadd extra options. On arrival at the Avis rental agency, the renter simply goes to the dedicated counter or QuickPass reception point to confirm his or her identity (with two pieces of ID, CNI or passport), sign the contract and collect the vehicle keys.
The time saved through digitalization also applies once the car has been collected and the business traveller is on his way to his next appointment. For example, rental company Rent A Car has teamed up with Verra Mobility to offer its "Easy Péage" customers an in-vehicle payment device that enables them to automatically pay motorway tolls and pass through toll barriers non-stop using Liber-T gates. This service, which costs €2 a day to hire, can save business users precious minutes by avoiding the traffic jams that can occur at conventional kiosks.
