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Hertz is
rolling out a new photographic inspection system that
takes pictures of cars before and after they are hired
in a bid to eliminate disputes over damage.
The
high-resolution photographic equipment takes multiple
images of each car, which show up every scratch and
dent. Hertz says it has been testing the technology
at a secret rental location in the United States for
the past month.
Richard Broome,
vice-president of communications and corporate affairs,
said Hertz hoped that the new photo inspections system,
already in use by some American car insurers, would
help to reduce the $170 million in damage payments that
it incurs annually.
The new technology
will replace the current system of a member of staff
and the customers giving the vehicle a visual inspection
at the start and the end of the rental period, then
marking damage on a form.
As well as
reducing losses, it is hoped the new technology will
improve customer relations.
Broome added:
“It will speed up the rental process and help
to avoid any disputes over damage. Sometimes we may
get into disputes with consumers that don’t get
resolved.”
The new system
is part of a wider move by the company to increase its
investment in technology and expand its base to attract
a younger market. On Monday, it announced the purchase
of Automoti Group, a used car sales website that allows
customers to rent a vehicle for three days before buying
it.
In April,
it acquired the Paris-based Eileo, a maker of the technology
used in Hertz’s hourly rental car-sharing scheme
operating in New York, London and Paris.
Hertz reported
a return to profit in the second quarter, crediting
much of its rebound to rising prices. The group, which
also rents out equipment, said that its car hire division
had reported a $143.5 million pre-tax profit in the
second quarter, compared with a $39.3 million loss in
the previous three months. |
