New technology added to hire platform powers rental volumes

New technology added to 1link Hire Network is helping drive higher rental numbers for third-party providers.

More than 25 businesses including several major vehicle leasing and fleet management companies now use Epyx’s platform to manage daily rental provision to their own customers.

Epyx’s business development manager Marc Lees said five major customers had been signed so far in 2017 and that renewed interest had been prompted by substantial investment in 1link Hire Network.

“Over the last couple of years, we have put a lot of effort into upgrading the capabilities of the platform and updating it more regularly, adding a wide range of new enhancements,” he said.

“These new tools have been highly effective in increasing booking numbers and are attracting the interest of leasing companies and other potential third party users of the platform.

“Today, 1link Hire Network allows these companies to much more actively promote their rental products, offering features such as branded management portals and online bookings through desktop PCs and tablet devices as well as supporting popular new provisions such as flexible mid-term rentals.

“By using our technology to offer fast and easy booking from more than 50 different daily rental suppliers with a total of over 500 branches across the UK, they are able to provide their customers with a very persuasive proposition offering excellent value.”

Epyx is also about to launch a newly revised rental damage module, designed to streamline and control an often contentious element of rental.

Lees added: “All rentals through the platform have risen by 8% so far this year, which shows the strength of the new technology.

“For an e-commerce platform that has been around for more than a decade to deliver these kinds of results is very impressive indeed.”

The 1link Hire Network is a rental platform in the fleet sector, adopted by more than 50 vehicle hire suppliers working with thousands of fleet operators of all sizes across the UK.

For purchasers of daily rental services such as major fleets, 1link Hire Network provides online management of daily rental, including multi-supplier quotations and subsequent bookings.

For daily rental suppliers, it provides access to new customers as well as electronically validated bookings alongside a range of other major processes.