Thrifty goes digital in the UAE
Thrifty Car Rental in the United Arab Emirates has developed a new digital solution to its car hire process. New Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) will replace the old system whereby a customers’ information was manually documented. It is hoped that the new technology will greatly reduce the time and administration aspects of getting a customer to their rental vehicle.
General Manager of Thrifty Car Rental, Rahul Singh, said the new technology was a big leap forward for the company in the UAE. He added that Thrifty customers in the region would now experience less time wasted between filling in their information and having it manually inputted into the Thrifty system. Everything will now be done via the new PDAs.
The new system should also increase staff productivity as well as overall accuracy. Mr Singh explained that whenever a car is returned to a Thrifty outlet, all a customer need do is sign the PDA screen and all the information concerning that rental becomes immediately available on the Thrifty Vehicle Management System. Any member of staff can then access that information by pressing a button.
Mr Singh said that the new technology will help to cut costs at Thrifty, not only by reducing costs incurred from untraceable traffic fines and Salik (road toll) charges, but also by reducing the amount of paper the firm has to use.
Mr Singh added that by introducing the new PDA model, he hoped that Thrifty would be setting an example to other car rental firms and encouraging them to go digital.