This article explores how Fleetondemand's integrated taxi services are transforming Service, Maintenance and Repair (SMR) transport solutions for two key markets: fleet and leasing companies seeking to enhance their customer proposition, and large fleet operators looking to secure guaranteed transport solutions for shorter trips.
A common challenge across the industry is balancing courtesy car availability with efficient vehicle utilisation. While SMR providers maintain valuable courtesy car fleets, peak periods and advance booking requirements can sometimes create scheduling constraints for operational business management.
Our research shows an opportunity to optimise transport choices: while courtesy cars provide valuable flexibility for longer-term needs, up to 70% of dealership journeys are simply drop-offs and collections. This creates an opportunity for complementary taxi services to enhance overall transport efficiency.
For fleet and leasing companies, taxi services can be a unique selling point to enhance their service offerings. For fleet operators, taxi services bring additional transport flexibility exactly when and where it is needed, complementing their existing arrangements.
If you're already familiar with these challenges and would like to discuss how our taxi solution can help your business, contact our team today to explore our taxi services.
The Challenge Landscape
When a company vehicle needs servicing or maintenance, businesses traditionally rely on courtesy cars from their service providers. While courtesy cars remain valuable for longer-term needs, availability can sometimes create scheduling challenges, particularly during peak periods or for urgent maintenance requirements.
Consider a typical scenario: A fleet operator needs to schedule both regular servicing and manage urgent maintenance requirements throughout the year.
While many dealerships provide excellent courtesy car services, businesses can face challenging situations - from planned maintenance where demand exceeds courtesy car availability, to urgent repairs where waiting for transport could impact vehicle condition or employee mobility.
This creates an opportunity for flexible alternatives that can complement existing courtesy car programs, ensuring businesses maintain operational efficiency in all scenarios.
Even when a courtesy car is secured, our research reveals a striking inefficiency in the current system. The employee typically drives it after dropping off their work vehicle at the dealership, after which the courtesy car sits unused in their parking space at home or the office during work hours, before being used again to collect their work vehicle. While this arrangement works well for longer-term needs, it suggests an opportunity for more efficient solutions for simple drop-off and collection journeys. This inefficient use of resources particularly impacts two key groups in the industry.
Fleet and leasing companies face mounting pressure as they struggle to guarantee replacement transport during servicing. Their customers increasingly expect flexible solutions rather than rigid booking systems, and the inability to provide reliable transport alternatives puts them at risk of losing business to more adaptable competitors.
For fleet operators, the challenges are more direct and operational. Beyond the inability to efficiently schedule vehicle maintenance around business needs, they face a domino effect of complications.
Last-minute maintenance requirements become major problems due to courtesy car booking constraints, and one delayed service can disrupt their entire maintenance schedule as everything gets pushed back. Employee productivity suffers when transport isn't available, creating a ripple effect throughout their operations.
The operational considerations are multifaceted. While courtesy cars provide valuable free transport, businesses must manage potential liability for damage, handle administrative processes, and coordinate arrangements across locations. During peak periods, these challenges can become more pronounced, suggesting the value of having flexible alternative options available.
These factors highlight the opportunity for complementary transport solutions, particularly for simple dealership journeys. By integrating professional taxi services alongside courtesy car programs, businesses can enhance their transport flexibility while maintaining strong supplier relationships and ensuring consistent availability for their employees.
Transforming SMR Transport: A Modern Solution
Fleet and leasing companies can enhance their service offering by integrating Fleetondemand's taxi services alongside traditional courtesy car options. This combined approach provides customers with maximum flexibility - they can choose courtesy cars for longer needs while having instant access to taxi services for shorter dealership journeys.
GT Suite's platform makes this integration seamless, allowing organisations to offer both options through a single system. This enhanced flexibility means businesses can schedule vehicle servicing based on operational needs, choosing the most appropriate transport solution for each situation.
The advantages of this integrated approach extend throughout the service chain. Fleet and leasing providers can offer their customers a more comprehensive solution that combines the benefits of traditional courtesy cars with the convenience of on-demand taxi services. This enhanced service portfolio allows their customers to select the most appropriate option for each scenario, optimising their transport choices based on specific needs.
GT Suite's automated journey logging provides comprehensive visibility across all transport operations. Fleet and leasing companies can offer their customers detailed insights into journey patterns and service usage, while fleet operators benefit from precise journey monitoring and simplified internal reporting. This transparency helps businesses better understand and manage their SMR transport requirements.
The platform's streamlined approach brings additional advantages to both parties. Fleet and leasing providers can offer a service that complements their courtesy car operations, while their customers benefit from professional drivers and consistent duty of care compliance. The simplified administration and booking process creates a smoother experience for everyone involved.
Through GT Suite's comprehensive platform, fleet and leasing companies can demonstrate technology leadership while strengthening client relationships. Their customers gain enhanced visibility and control over their complete transport arrangements, with flexible options available exactly when needed. This modern approach enhances how businesses manage SMR transport, delivering an integrated solution that meets contemporary business needs.
The Sustainable Shift
Our integrated taxi service adds environmental benefits to existing transport options. By utilising existing taxi fleets for short journeys when appropriate, businesses can optimise their overall transport network efficiency.
This efficient use of existing vehicles, rather than adding more cars to the road, creates meaningful environmental advantages. Through our extensive network of ride-hailing providers operating across Europe, we're seeing encouraging growth in sustainable transport options. Currently, 9% of trip miles are completed in zero-emission vehicles, with 143,000 monthly zero-emission vehicle drivers active across the network, demonstrating the increasing availability of sustainable options for dealership journeys.
For fleet and leasing companies, this creates an opportunity to enhance their environmental credentials while delivering better service. By integrating our taxi services into their offering, they can provide their customers with access to the growing network of electric and hybrid vehicles already operating in their areas. These sustainable transport options are particularly valuable for organisations working towards specific environmental targets.
GT Suite's comprehensive reporting capabilities enable businesses to track and monitor their environmental impact. As ride-hailing providers expand their charging infrastructure networks and increase their proportion of low-emission vehicles, companies can measure their emissions impact from integrating on-demand transport. This data-driven approach helps organisations demonstrate tangible progress towards their sustainability goals.
By integrating targeted taxi journeys for appropriate scenarios, businesses can enhance their contribution to sustainability goals while optimising operational efficiency. This complementary approach supports environmental objectives while demonstrating a commitment to modern, sustainable business practices.
The Best of Both Worlds: Seamless Integration
For fleet and leasing companies looking to enhance their service offering, our taxi solution integrates seamlessly with existing transport operations. Rather than replacing current arrangements, it adds a valuable new option to their mobility portfolio, enabling them to offer customers guaranteed transport for dealership visits alongside their existing services.
This flexible approach allows organisations to maintain their current transport solutions while adding targeted taxi services where they deliver the most value. Like adding a new piece to a well-oiled machine, the service works harmoniously alongside existing fleet vehicles, pool car operations, and traditional rental services. Fleet operators can continue using courtesy cars when available and suitable, while having guaranteed taxi transport as a reliable alternative.
The GT Suite booking platform makes this integration effortless, offering round-the-clock availability with comprehensive coverage across the UK and Europe. Whether it's an early morning service drop-off or a late afternoon collection, the platform ensures transport is always available when needed. This reliability is particularly valuable during peak periods or when immediate transport needs arise, complementing existing courtesy car arrangements.
For both fleet and leasing companies and their customers, this integrated approach provides the best of both worlds: maintaining existing transport options while adding a guaranteed solution for dealership journeys. The result is enhanced flexibility and reliability across their entire mobility operation.
Hail Efficiency: The Future of SMR Transport
The modern transport landscape demands flexible solutions that can adapt to different situations. By integrating targeted taxi services alongside courtesy cars for dealership journeys, organisations can enhance their SMR transport operations - achieving greater efficiency while supporting their environmental goals.
Our taxi solution offers a valuable addition to existing transport options, delivering immediate benefits for both fleet and leasing providers and their customers. While taxis effectively expand available transport choices during vehicle servicing, the service also optimises the experience for everyone involved.
Modern fleet management thrives on having multiple flexible solutions available. By offering both courtesy cars and targeted taxi services for dealership journeys, organisations can provide comprehensive SMR transport options that deliver value in different scenarios. This integrated approach enhances existing solutions by expanding customer choices to better serve diverse business requirements.
Arrange a call or book a demo where our team can show you how our integrated taxi service can enhance your SMR transport operations and deliver immediate business benefits.
