Further Technology Innovations From Avis Europe
20 April 2000
Further Technology Innovations From Avis Europe
BRACKNELL, England--April 20, 2000--As part of its on-going investment in new technologies, Avis Europe plc, the leading car rental company in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia, today announced its latest set of initiatives:- a revolutionary damage tracking system in partnership with
Microsoft, which could save Avis up to euro 12 million per
year
- the summer 2000 launch for the on-line used car sales
service-yourautochoice.com.
- the further roll-out of its car rental on-line booking
service, avisworld.com, with 10% to 15% of reservations now
expected to be via the internet within the next two years
- second pan-european call centre to open in Barcelona in
October
Revolutionary Damage Tracking System in Partnership with Microsoft
Based on Microsoft's Pocket PC platform, the new mobile hand-held device will enable Avis staff to assess any damage costs on returned cars within two minutes. Previously, processes were paper-based and involved customers entering the rental station. As well as calculating damage costs, the new system has the potential to complete most of the rental checking-in process for the customer right alongside the car itself.
The technology is provided by Symbol Technologies and Technological Business Solutions. It could save Avis up to euro 12 million a year in unrecovered damage costs and will also improve customer service by speeding up the rental checking-in process.
Avis will be piloting the new damage tracking system in car rental stations in Scotland with plans for a possible roll-out of between 400 and 600 units by the end of the year.
Summer Launch for On-Line Used Car Sales Service: yourautochoice.com.
Following its announcement in February to set up a joint venture with Navidec Inc. to sell used cars over the internet, Avis has now signed the final agreements and yourautochoice.com will be launched this Summer. The on-line sales service for used cars will initially operate within the UK, with potential to be rolled out across Europe. Key features will include:
- thousands of cars to choose from, up to a year old with low
mileage, full service histories and still covered by
manufacturers' warranties
- a simple process to identify customers' ideal car on line
- delivery to the customer's door
- weekend test drives
- on-line financing options
- trade-in process
- a no questions asked return policy within 7 days
The site can be accessed at www.yourautochoice.com. An agreement has been signed with Eurofleet, Avis' main logistics provider in the UK, to extend its services to yourautochoice.com.
Enhancements to Car Rental On-Line Booking Service
The latest phase of enhancements to the worldwide on-line booking service have just been released to make the booking process even simpler. Avis customers will now be able to access booking information more quickly and easily with car rental bookings being made in just three easy screens. The new look site can be accessed at www.avisworld.com. The first of a series of local country sites, www.avis.co.uk has also been launched and will provide renters with local market information and special offers, in addition to all the features of avisworld.com.
Second Pan-European Call Centre to Open in Barcelona in October 2000
Avis' second pan-european call centre will open in October, following the successful opening of the first centre in Manchester in March. These two new centres will support electronic business developments, as well as servicing demand through existing and emerging channels.
Commenting on these moves Mark McCafferty, Chief Executive, Avis Europe, said: "These initiatives keep Avis at the forefront of technological changes in the car rental market, providing an even easier and faster service for customers while creating further productivity improvements and cost savings to us."
Notes to Editors:
- Avis Europe is the leading car rental company across Europe,
Africa, the Middle East and Asia. It serves more than seven
million customers a year through a network of over 2,700
locations in over 112 countries.
- Symbol Technologies is a global leader in wireless and
Internet based mobile data management systems and services
providing its customers unique value with innovative solutions
for data and voice, application-specific information
appliances and bar code scanning.
- Technological Business Solutions (TBS) is established as the
UK's leading systems integrators for portable computers on the
Windows operating system platform. TBS also provide solutions
on a wide range of other platforms from notebook computers to
specialist mobile terminals.
- Navidec Inc. (NASDAQ: NVDC) is a leading provider and
incubator of innovative e-business solutions and services.
Using its proprietary NPact process, Navidec defines, builds
and manages Internet, intranet and extranet solutions that
enable its clients to transform their traditional businesses
into e-businesses. In addition, Navidec develops reusable
software modules, packaged Internet solutions and complete
e-business models.
Avis Europe plc rents cars under the Avis brand name to customers in 112 countries. Avis Europe's ordinary shares trade on the London Stock Exchange. Prices may be accessed on Bloomberg under the symbol AVE LN and Reuter Equities 3000 Service under AVE.L. Additional information is available on Avis Europe's internet site: www.avis-europe.com.