Avis fights car sharing with new mobile app

The local arm of long-established global car rental company Avis is fighting back against the rise of the likes of Uber with a new mobile app that, it says, will eventually enable customers to manage their entire rental process from their mobile phone.

Avis New Zealand says the new app is one of many mobility innovations it is introducing around the world, including car-sharing and fully connected vehicles. The app has already been made available in Europe, North America and Australia and Avis says it has more than 400,000 users.

Avis says the new mobile app offers a seamless check-in process and return of the vehicle with the tap of the app, the ability to arrange an early pick-up or change the pick-up or drop-off location of their vehicle, or extend the rental period. It also offers information on the location of the nearest petrol stations and car park options during travel.

Avis’ commercial director, Pacific, Ian Jones, said the company was also working towards enabling renters to use their mobile phones instead of a key to access rental cars.

“Technology enables us to reduce the amount of paper work and queues that come with picking up and dropping off a rental car,” Jones said. “It’s all about streamlining the customer experience, making it easier, quicker and more efficient to get into your vehicle and then get to where you’re going.”

The Avis mobile app is available for vehicle bookings at Auckland Airport, Wellington Airport, Christchurch Airport, and Napier Airport and Avis says more locations will be added.

It is also available at 16 of Avis’ Australian locations: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Cairns, Townsville, Launceston, Hobart, Newcastle, Darwin, Canberra, Coolangatta, Perth, Mackay, Sunshine Coast and Rockhampton.

Tags Avis

Source

https://www.computerworld.co.nz/article/644852/avis-fights-car-sharing-new-mobile-app/