Artura aims to redefine accident management for fleet operators

With vehicle downtime and accident costs an ongoing concern for fleet managers, accident management specialist Artura is looking to establish itself as a key player in the UK fleet market. 

The company, which has its roots in vehicle repair, has spent the past three years building a dedicated fleet-focused service designed to streamline claims handling and minimise the operational disruption caused by vehicle accidents.

The business has already built industry specific relationships with companies like fleet services provider Fleetmax, sales and leasing provider Vanaways, fleet insurance brokers like Freeway, as well as more direct accident management relationships with fleets like TES2000 and MDS Civil Engineering.

Artura’s origins trace back to the independent repair sector, where co-founder and director Paul Goddard and his team identified a gap in accident management services for fleets.

“We always worked with fleets at our Braintree bodyshop,” said Goddard. “We saw first-hand how fleet managers, or quite often companies that didn’t have a dedicated fleet department were often left to navigate accident claims and repairs on their own. 

“We felt the process was often slow, costly and inefficient. That’s where we feel we can make a difference.”

Growing presence in the UK fleet market

Since launching in May 2022, Artura has expanded its services beyond its original repair base to create a national network of independent bodyshops.

The company has grown quickly, now managing repairs across 164 approved bodyshop sites handling everything from passenger cars to HGVs.

A significant proportion of its business now comes from fleets, with Artura estimating that fleet work accounts for around 50% of its current operations – a figure it aims to increase to 75%.

“Through our network, we can often place a vehicle into a repairer the next day, even when demand is high,” Alan Atkin, Artura

The company has experience supporting fleets of all sizes, particularly those with limited in-house claims handling expertise.

“Smaller fleets, those with 10, 20, or even 50 vehicles, often don’t have a dedicated fleet manager,” Goddard explained. 

“Accident management ends up being the responsibility of an office administrator or operations manager who may not have the time or experience to manage claims efficiently.”

A focus on reducing vehicle downtime

One of the primary challenges fleet operators face is lengthy repair lead times. Atkins says Artura can leverage its repair network to secure faster repair slots.

Artura’s average turnaround time is within 22 days and it can place a repair in the network within 1.6 days on average.

Alan Atkin, Artura’s recently appointed group commercial director, said: “The key to reducing vehicle downtime is speed.

“Fleet operators are under pressure to keep vehicles on the road, whether it’s a van delivering goods or a company car for a field-based employee.

“At the height of the delays, it wasn’t uncommon for fleets to wait six months for a repair. 

“Through our network, we can often place a vehicle into a repairer the next day, even when demand is high.”

Fleet customers can also take advantage of Artura’s in-house estimating service, which enables them to assess damage and determine repairability within 24 hours of receiving accident images.

This process is supported by a recently introduced mobile app, developed in partnership with Agile Developments, which allows drivers to upload accident details through a quick-response (QR) code. 

The system provides an AI-powered repair estimate within minutes, reducing the usual back-and-forth between fleet managers, insurers and repairers.

Artura’s estimating team holds the BSI Kitemark for vehicle damage assessment, which Goddard says means fleet operators can trust that the company’s estimates meet the same standards as those used by insurers and manufacturers.

Strategic partnerships to support fleets

As part of its expansion, Artura has formed strategic partnerships with businesses that cater to fleet operators.

“Our partnership with Vanaways is particularly valuable for fleets,” said Atkin. “If a vehicle is deemed a total loss, we can immediately source a replacement through Vanaways, reducing downtime and keeping businesses moving.”

The company is also working closely with fleet insurers and brokers to integrate its accident management offering into fleet policies.

“We’re speaking to a number of fleet insurance intermediaries about including our QR accident reporting system within their policy packs,” Atkin added. 

“This would allow fleet operators to access our service instantly at the point of an incident, rather than going through multiple layers of administration.”

Future plans and continued growth

Looking ahead, Artura is focused on scaling its accident management offering, with plans to expand its repair network and invest further in technology to improve claims efficiency.

Goddard said the business is now at a point where it is looking to grow with larger fleet operators, while also maintaining the service levels it is already offering SMEs.

He added: “We want to make accident management as seamless as possible, allowing fleet managers to focus on their core operations rather than chasing repair progress and claims updates.”

Read more from Fleet News on how to minimise cost and downtime with a robust incident management strategy.