SME Transport Awards 2019

24 SME NEWS / SME Transport Awards 2019 , Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental Car Rental Company of the Year 2019 - Scotland: Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental Mar19200 With over 60 years of experience, Arnold Clark is Europe’s largest independently owned, family-run automotive retailer. We profile the car and van rental sector of the business to find out more about the secrets behind its incredible success. Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental is part of the Arnold Clark Group, Europe’s largest independently owned car retailer. The car and van rental side of the business was established in 1963 with just 12 cars available to hire from its branch in Glasgow. Since then the business has flourished and it now boasts 40 branches across the UK and a nationwide fleet of over 55,000 vehicles. To this very day Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental’s head office remains in Glasgow, and from this central base the firm is able to support its customers and team in its rental branches across the UK. Thanks to this vast national reach and diverse fleet of vehicles, the firm is able to support an equally diverse range of customers spanning from individuals looking to hire a car, through to large public sector companies hiring a fleet of vehicles. Each client receives the same exceptional service and support from this nationally- renowned firm. Aiming to deliver a service offering which is unique to that of its competitors, Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental offers a wide range of vehicles which are predominantly under a year old, and the firm’s competitive prices come with comprehensive insurance as standard. This gives customers complete peace of mind and a more enjoyable experience. Having been operating in the market for more than 60 years, Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental has had to work hard over the years to adapt its service to ensure that clients continue to receive the exceptional experience, they have come to expect. Among the key developments since the firm’s launch is the rise of technology and the internet, and as such the firm has invested in a digital product development team made up of software developers, web and UX designers. This expert team continue to test new ways to make the customer’s online experience as easy as possible. Supporting them is an in-house digital marketing and social media team which allow Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental to communicate with its customers in a way that is easy and convenient for them. Through the use of digital marketing, the team can target existing customers and reward them with exclusive rewards and discounts. Their social media presence also means that the firm’s customers can ask questions about their booking without having to phone or email. This enhances the convenience of the firm’s process, proving that Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental is truly dedicated to offering customers a rental process that meets their needs. Seeking to build upon its already impressive success, looking ahead, Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental is planning to continue its sponsorships of major sporting events such as the New Forest Marathon, the Ricoh Women’s Open and the Solheim Cup. The firm is also the official vehicle supplier for the Edinburgh Tattoo, proving its dedication to supporting the wider community that has helped it rise to the success it enjoys today. This community support is just one of many ongoing focuses for the firm. As one of the only rental companies in the UK that offers dual control car hire, the firm is very keen to expand its dual control fleet and help the next generation of drivers learn for less. This includes increasing the number of automatic cars to support even more drivers over the years ahead. Seeking to remain ahead of the technological developments, the firm is also focused on enhancing its technological solutions. In 2018, the firm introduced portable devices for its deliveries which has made Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental more efficient in tracking and planning runs. As such, the firm is developing them further in 2019 to reduce the amount of paper it produces and to allow branches to deal with customers at point of handover rather than having all transactions take place at a desk. Later in 2019, the firm is also looking at the possibility of increasing the number of electric cars and vans available to its customers. Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental recognise this to be a growing market and is keen to meet the demand. Ultimately, all of these developments prove Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental’s ongoing dedication to providing customers with the support and service they need in the constantly evolving car and van rental market. Contact Information: Company: Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental Contact: Margaret Speirs Website: www.arnoldclarkrental.com Socials: facebook.com/ArnoldClarkRental twitter.com/AC_Rental