As we all look ahead and search for answers to pave the way to a strong and sustainable future in rental, a key topic comes up again and again digitalization. Many rental businesses are now recognizing the need to turn to more innovative digital solutions that will help them to improve productivity, reduce costs, increase profit, and transform customer service. So, how exactly can digitalization in rental operations carve a stronger and more sustainable business?
Digitalization in Rental Operations: Less time wasted on menial and laborious admin
How often have you spent re-keying the same information into different places because you have multiple systems that don’t integrate? How much time have you spent manually sifting through paperwork, signing, scanning, or printing? All of this is such unnecessary admin that you could spend better on other, more worthwhile business areas.
Digitalizing your rental operation means that you can raise the bar with a more sophisticated approach to doing business. With only one entry, your information will automatically be sent to every area of the system as needed, saving you hours of time. What once took two hours could then take only five minutes.
In bringing your fragmented solutions all under one roof, you can cut out a vast amount of paper from your business processes. You will also save time, giving you more space for growth and new business, and put you in a stronger position to continue to thrive for years to come.
Better communication across the entire business
Do you know what it’s like to have no idea what’s going on with your team on the road or the progress being made in other parts of the business? Digitalization gives you crystal-clear visibility of your entire rental operation. Break down the barriers between different depots and end the struggle of communicating with your team on the road by taking advantage of web and mobile solutions that everyone can access, no matter where they are.
The power of telematics allows you to track your team on the road and offer accurate arrival times for improved customer service. Adapting to changing business requirements - whether ad hoc collections, urgent repairs, or maintenance - will be easier. By improving communication between your teams, you can provide the best customer experience and retain clients for the long haul.
Dotting the ‘I’s and crossing the ‘t’s…but not as you know it
Digital signatures are becoming ever more popular throughout the rental industry, with renters using electronic signing as a way to firm up quotes and contracts ahead of rental. A formerly difficult part of the rental process with many renters forgoing getting paperwork signed at all, E-Sign solutions have meant that you no longer need to wait or chase for signed paperwork. Instead, you can now have formally agreed hire contracts with your customers from the very beginning. This helps reduce disputes further down the line and gives you the confidence to rely on a steady cash flow.
The rental desk is also seeing a surge in digital signature capture with the ability to now get digital signatures on the counter. With digital signatures and photographic evidence offering a better layer of security, you are better protected against fraud and theft, all with even less to do than before, with the ability to automatically link signatures and photographs to the right place in your rental system, without needing to lift a finger.
Also, read the blog post on how to secure assets for rental.
If you think it’s time to start or continue your digitalization journey, read our latest guide, or contact the MCS team to discuss your goals and find out how MCS Rental Software can help.