Press Release
May 26th, 2011
Hitachi Capital selects MoDel for electronic delivery and collection process
Leading fleet management company, Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions, sees so many benefits for its supplying dealers from the electronic delivery and collection of vehicles that it is recommending its preferred suppliers use the MoDel system.
MoDel is a new online solution which provides added automation to the new vehicle delivery handover and collection process, and has been developed as a joint venture between Oxford-based online solutions Ebbon-Dacs and motor accessories supplier, VGroup International.
Hitachi Capital will be issuing a tender in July for its new vehicle supply requirements for both cars and vans for the next two years, and for the first time will be adding a requirement for electronic delivery and collection as part of their terms and conditions.
Chris Tocher, Purchasing and Supplier Operations Manager at Hitachi Capital, explained the thinking behind the new move.
"True to our company vision statement, we are always keen to embrace innovative and sustainable solutions, and from our early research into this technology it was clear that electronic handover and collection was something that could really benefit our vehicle supply partners and enhance the experience that Hitachi Capital delivers to drivers.
"We had three objectives in selecting a preferred electronic vehicle delivery and collection solution. We wanted to encourage paperless and automated processes, reduce the administrative burden for our dealers, and ensure customer expectations around a vehicle's condition will be managed as effectively as possible.
"After talking to a number of different suppliers, we selected MoDel as the stand-out solution. It integrates effortlessly with the Leaselink e-procurement platform from Ebbon-Dacs that we use, provides all of the functionality needed to meet our objectives and offers a realistic price point for our dealers," he said.
Hitachi Capital also discussed the solution with several of its supply partners, and ran a short trial of the system with the Listers Group, before deciding to endorse its use.
"We see a number of additional benefits for dealers in using MoDel," said Chris Tocher. "The main one is that it allows the dealer to initiate the invoicing process much sooner after vehicle handover which helps improve their cash flow.
"Within minutes of the vehicle handover, the information previously captured on paper can be uploaded via MoDel into the Leaselink system allowing the dealer to submit their invoice to us immediately, also via Leaselink, meaning the invoice can be authorised on the same day.
"For vehicles that are being collected, their condition can be verified, photographs captured and the lease terminated more efficiently. We are holding a dealer awareness day this week in Newbury when we will be showing the system in more detail to all of our supply partners." added Chris Tocher.
The advantage of MoDel for leasing companies is that it reduces the time taken to record delivery and handover information, verify the condition of vehicles and the option to collect and analyse customer feedback.
Every year, leasing companies deliver up to 500,000 vehicles to fleet customers via networks of preferred dealers, but this process utilises a variety of ways, usually paper-based, of capturing vital feedback on vehicle condition, handover completion and customer experience.
By automating and standardising this process, MoDel allows leasing companies to carry out CRM processes far more quickly and efficiently, including capturing important customer satisfaction information, vehicle condition reporting, delivery confirmation and helping identify and remove errors from the delivery procedure.
The new solution allows the instantaneous online upload of delivery and customer information in real time via the delivery driver's hand-held device or PDA. It has a low cost of entry, typically of £20-25 per site per month, and the dealer group can either use its own PDA device to capture the information or one developed by Ebbon-Dacs, utilising the Orange network and pre-loaded with all the necessary software.
Already modifications to the MoDel system, which is now on version 7, have been made based on customer feedback, including the introduction of a full-page signature capture screen, and development will be ongoing.
"We are delighted that Hitachi Capital has decided to endorse the use of MoDel within its tender process as it delivers real efficiencies for both leasing companies and dealer alike," said Robert Pilkington, managing director of the Leaselink International division of Ebbon-Dacs.
Chris Tocher, Purchasing and Supplier Operations Manager at Hitachi Capital, (left)
with Andy Wilson, Sales Director of Ebbon-Dacs' Leaselink division.
*Fleet size as identified by the 2010 FN50 league table of leasing companies.
Ends
Notes to Editors
About Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions
Based in Newbury, Berkshire, with over 27 years' experience, Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions is a division of Hitachi Capital (UK) PLC, part of Hitachi Ltd, one of the world's largest and most respected groups. We combine technology with market leading customer service to offer the full spectrum of tailor-made fleet finance and fleet management services including all forms of funding, maintenance management, accident management and daily rental management. The company operates a specialist commercial vehicle services division from Trowbridge and the Driving Instructor Centre from Leicester, the UK's leading supplier of contract hire to the driving instruction market. Hitachi Capital Vehicle Service's 46,000 vehicles range from cars, small, medium and large vans to HGVs with specialist ancillary equipment such as cranes and tail lifts. 360osi online surveying is used to track customer satisfaction. Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions' driver satisfaction has not fallen below 80 per cent in 2010. www.hitachicapitalvehiclesolutions.co.uk. www.drivinginstructorcentre.com.
About Leaselink
Following seven year’s development, Leaselink is Europe's market leading web based e-procurement solution, linking franchised dealers and motor manufacturers to major fleet management, leasing and rental companies.
An established online community, Leaselink is accessed by over 700 franchised dealers and dealer groups every day to respond to tenders and optimise the supply of fleet vehicles. In 2008 the trading platform was responsible for in excess of €3.15bn worth of fleet orders in the UK and Europe.
About Ebbon-Dacs
Ebbon-Dacs is an online solutions company based near Oxford and specialises in delivering hosted, web technology solutions. The company has a presence in France and the Netherlands and, through partners, in Italy, Germany, Australia and Portugal.
Ebbon-Dacs, which is owned by a private equity group, provides business process automation solutions to a wide range of automotive business enterprises through a number of different business tools and solutions and is a leader in hosted solutions for the automotive industry.
About VGroup International
Launched in 1992, VGroup International is a full process supplier of vehicle accessories to all sectors of the new car market, including motor manufacturers, accessory departments, the fleet and leasing industry, dealers and dealer groups and major retail outlets.
VGroup International operates in UK, China and the United States of America and is opening an outlet in Australia. It is looking further to establish itself in the Middle East and South Africa.
One in three new cars sold in the UK have a VGroup International product in them, and the company also has programmes for light commercial vehicles, from graphic design and manufacture to ply lining manufacturing and fitment.
Contact information:
Andrew Wilson
Sales director
Ebbon-Dacs
Tel: 01865 866810
Mob: 07976 337637
Email: andy.wilson@ebbon-dacs.com
Press enquiries:
Mike Gunnell
MGMedia Services
Tel: 01832 275060
Mob: 07786 971 544