International Car Hire Company Hertz is set to introduce new measures to improve the efficiency and accuracy of its car hire process. The pioneering new scheme uses detailed photographic images taken before a vehicle is released to a customer to help minimise disputes over damage and in turn, reduce the money lost by Hertz to inaccurate damage claims.
Details of the high tech photographic equipment due to be used in the exclusive new system have been kept firmly under wraps. Trials involving the special equipment have been carried out at a secret location somewhere in the U.S.
Although Hertz is the first car hire firm to use the technology, it isn’t the only company to utilise photographic techniques to aids its business. Several insurance companies already use this system as do organisations involved in the property rental industry.
It is hoped the benefits of this new inspection will be two fold. Hertz hopes to cut the costs it shells out on damages, last year this amount was estimated to be in the region $170 million aprox £102 million a year. Secondly, it should help improve customer relations and minimise lengthy disputes over responsibility for damage caused to a rental vehicle.
This new strategy replaces the less accurate and lengthy process by which a Hertz representative inspects the vehicle along with the customer, noting down by hand any scratches, bumps or dents. The room for error and difference of opinion is vast, hence the hefty pay-outs.
Whether Hertz’s investment in technology will pay-off remains to be seen. Should it succeed, it may pave the way for other car hire companies to follow suit.
