Fleet briefs: Latest news from Shell, Sixt, Hexagon Leasing, Dealer Auction, Toomey Leasing, Avis and FOD

Shell upgrades digital fuel solution to cater for small fleets

Shell Fleet Solutions has expanded its fuel card management app, Shell Fleet App, to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK with up to 30 vehicles.

The solution, which first launched in 2019, was previously only available to UK businesses with up to 10 vehicles.

Alongside the expansion, Shell Fleet Solutions has announced a series of updates to its Shell Fleet App to enhance user experience including a faster, automated onboarding process and a renewed, user-friendly interface that enables drivers to sign-up to the app and receive approval in under 10 minutes.

The expansion and updates to Shell Fleet App are designed to deliver greater access to simple, convenient support for UK small businesses managing their fuel expenses.

Shell Fleet App offers small businesses a range of end-to-end fleet management services including customised spending limits and automated, consolidated, digital invoices, providing SMEs with greater control and flexibility over their fuel expenditure.

Drivers using the app also have access to regular savings through special discounts at Shell sites.

Deepti Behl, global head of SME at Shell, said: “Small and medium-sized businesses typically don’t have access to the same resources as larger organisations to manage their vehicle administration.

“For companies with multiple vehicles in their fleet, this only adds to the complexity and administrative burden that comes with running a business.

“That’s why we’re pleased to announce the expansion of our Shell Fleet App to fleets with up to 30 vehicles and also make it simpler than ever for businesses to access its services through a faster, automated onboarding process.

“We hope these improvements will offer our SME customers the time and space they need to focus on the high-value work that grows their business. SMEs can expect further app updates to enhance user experience soon.”

Shell Fleet App is available to download via Google Play and the App Store.

Sixt UK opens new rental branch 

Sixt UK has opened a rental branch in the arrival’s hall of Heathrow Terminal 2.

This will make Sixt the only operator at T2 that allows travellers to collect their car at the terminal, without having to use a shuttle bus to reach the off-site car rental depots, saving more than 30,000 shuttle trips per year. 

More than 100 parking spaces are available for customers collecting and returning their vehicles. 

The new store, which comes after the recent addition of a branch in Canary Wharf, will showcase Sixt’s latest branch design including a large LED screen back wall.

In 2022, Sixt continued to drive growth internationally, increasing its footprint in markets such as the United States and Canada, and with the latest branch openings in the UK this year, 2023 will see this growth continue on local soil, it said.

Tim Vetters, MD of Sixt UK, said: “We are delighted to offer our customers a premium experience at Heathrow Terminal 2.

“By avoiding the need for shuttle bus transportation, we’re able to provide rental and return of our cars directly from the terminal for ultimate traveller convenience.

“Customers can look forward to shorter walking routes, a seamless service and a wide choice of the latest fleet models available.

“We’re excited to bring our new branch to life in one of the busiest airports in the world, and I thank all stakeholders from Heathrow Airport for their ongoing support.”

FOD Mobility Group launches enhanced ground transportation platform

FOD Mobility Group has announced the launch of a newly integrated series of ground transport services and features into its Fleetondemand system.  

The enhanced platform, named GT Suite, is set to transform the way businesses, and their employees, access and utilise all ground transportation services in the UK and Internationally, it said.

Through GT Suite, direct business customers will be able to access UK and international vehicle hire, taxi, and car club, alongside Fleetondemand’s flexible rental products: Select Plus and EV Plus.

Further features include a completely re-engineered booking flow to create a seamless user experience for customers.

Built using insights from existing customers’ needs and international expansion, the dashboard-driven user interfaces have also seen a major upgrade using React and Semantic UI to deliver a lightning-quick and class-leading user experience.

This e-commerce approach allows fleet managers, bookers and drivers to make informed decisions on the best mode of travel for each ground journey whether that be cost, productivity, or with carbon emissions in mind.

GT Suite has also been engineered for conversion into 118 languages with localised hosting and multi-currency billing capability.

Upcoming releases this year include a new dynamic journey planner across all ground transportation modes and a new embedded business intelligence data engine.

Simon Lamkin, chief technology officer at FOD Mobility Group, said: “Fleetondemand’s enhanced GT Suite platform represents a significant leap forward in performance, scalability, data and security, creating a fully integrated ground transportation ecosystem.”

Hexagon Leasing moves to new company HQ in Burton

Hexagon Leasing is now operating from one large multifunctional site at Alrewas, Burton-Upon-Trent, encompassing its head office, rental services and used trucks offering.

The new site is centrally located between Birmingham and Derby and offers improved accessibility directly from the A38. 

Alan Ellison, CEO of Hexagon Leasing said: “We are delighted that Hexagon is now fully based at the new site. This move is a significant milestone in our ongoing growth and commitment to providing an excellent service to our valued customers and suppliers. 

“We wanted to improve our infrastructure and this site is the ideal location for us to invest in and develop as we continue to evolve over the coming years.”

Hexagon’s rental and used truck operations initially moved to the site in April, which offers space to house a wide selection of approved, quality used vehicles from a range of manufacturers. 

“Thanks to a partnership with Motus Commercials, the company’s service provision at the new site is also enhanced by the presence of an experienced team of technicians and commercial vehicle specialists.” 

Hexagon offers rental, contract hire, fleet management and vehicle sales, and supplies and manages transport and distribution companies in the UK.

Avis Budget Group opens new site at Glasgow Central Station

Avis Budget Group has opened a new location at Scotland’s busiest train station, marking the company’s third branch in Glasgow and second new location in the UK this year.

The Glasgow Central Station location will offer a streamlined pick up and drop off process, thanks to Avis QuickPass, the digital check-in service, which allows customers to save time at the counter by checking in online ahead of pick up.

Avis Inclusive will also be available, providing total peace of mind around free Roadside Assistance Plus and discounted zero-excess cover, all for one upfront cost.

Alan Olivier-Smith, general manager UK at Avis Budget Group, said: “As we continue to see growing customer demand in Scotland, we’re very pleased to launch a new location at one of its busiest transport hubs.

“We are committed to being a trusted travel partner for customers travelling domestically and from abroad.

“We are dedicated to providing the most seamless customer experience, which is why we’ve chosen a convenient location only minutes from the concourse and motorway that will serve the 15 million passengers that pass through Glasgow train station every year.” 

Dealer Auction launches vehicle collection and processing service

Dealer Auction is extending its service proposition to support more dealers and fleets to make the move to a digital remarketing strategy.

Dealer Auction Remarketing Services aims to give dealers and fleet operators the option to outsource the handling of vehicles while still benefiting from the days to sell and sale price performance advantage its digital auction format provides.

The company says it has made the move in response to demand from prospective customers who want to adopt a fully digital remarketing strategy but are unable to self-serve due to their scale, resource or operating preferences.

CEO Le Etta Pearce (pictured) said: “Since inception, Dealer Auction has proved popular with dealers and fleets willing and able to handle their own vehicle listings and handover.

“They are happy to self-serve the physical elements of the process while taking full advantage of the speed and effectiveness of a purpose-built digital platform. And they love the fact vehicles can be promoted to a large audience of responsive buyers within hours of becoming available and, in many cases, sold the same day.

“That means they stay ahead of depreciation losses, get cash back into the business and, in the case of dealers, quickly free up space for more profitable retail stock.

“However, the self-serve model has made it challenging for some to share the same experience. For various reasons, but typically their size, volume of sales and operational models, the self-service element does not fit their ways of working.

“So, on the back of numerous conversations and requests, we have created a flexible option that allows these customers to contract us to handle their disposal stock on their behalf.”

Collection and processing is handled via Dealer Auction’s partnership with a reputable and trusted third party, with vehicles going live on Dealer Auction’s digital platform within moments of them being photographed if desired.

The service includes collection, imagery, auction listing and storage. Buyers can either collect from one of several locations nationwide or arrange for delivery. Buyer and seller fees remain competitive versus those typically found in the traditional full-service auction providers.

Pearce continued: “In many respects, our new Dealer Auction Remarketing Services option provides any business with vehicles to dispose of the optimum contemporary remarketing solution, blending all the benefits of a high-performing digital marketplace but with the convenience of a complete collection and processing service to overcome the challenges some have with the self-serve model. It’s the best of both worlds but built to increase speed of sale and maximise profit potential.”

Nivo and Toomey Leasing Group tackle ID verification

Fintech and AI innovators Nivo have helped Toomey Leasing Group accelerate their ID collection and verification process and increase their productivity and conversion.

Toomey has launched a mobile app powered by Nivo developed technology which enables customers to complete biometric ID verification via their mobile device.

The digital solution is integrated with Toomey’s existing technology including specialist automotive finance software from QV Systems.

Toomey Leasing Group, part of the Laindon Holdings group of companies, has been established for more than 50 years and currently have operations in Basildon, Derby, Chester and Salisbury.

Managers at Toomey recognised they had an opportunity to speed up the customer ID verification process by improving the quality of the documents and images returned by customers and automating more of the process.

Staff at Toomey do not see many of their customers, so high-quality ID verification and authentication is very important in preventing fraud and ensuring a smooth customer journey, especially with finance applications submitted to other lenders. Toomey’s biggest challenge was capturing clean data.

Before integrating Nivo’s solution they estimated around 50% of the documents returned by customers were ‘utter rubbish’ – out of date or unsuitable documents and upside down and poor-quality images being the major causes of delays – it said.

Time consuming manual intervention by Toomey staff was required to progress cases but the delays would often lead to cancellations and lost revenue, directly impacting the business’s bottom line.

Time and resource released via Nivo is now employed on higher value tasks which increase capacity and conversion.

David Houlgrave (pictured), CEO of Toomey Leasing Group, said: “We are delighted with the ID verification system. The technology has integrated seamlessly into our current systems.

“We have had very positive feedback from our customer base, and it is already an important part of our workflow process.

“Traditionally, customers were required to e-mail personal documentation, causing a risk of data breaches.

“The Nivo system has removed this requirement and has enhanced the security of personal data as well as cutting down on the administration burden of ID verification.”