How Rental Car Industry Is Addressing Customers Concerns During Coronavirus Outbreak
The unfortunate outbreak of the novel coronavirus, and its subsequent spread across the globe, has created unprecedented threats and challenges for the businesses all around. Amidst lockdowns and curfews, and with greater emphasis on self-quarantine, the mobility has been challenged. Various fast-growing start-ups and incumbents in the mobility mix are trying their best to adhere to the proper measures and yet provide mobility solutions amidst lockdowns. Let’s discover how the car rental industry has been doing its bit amidst a crisis caused by a global pandemic of COVID-19.
Clean and sanitized cars
In this moment of crisis, with a growing paranoia about one’s surroundings, car rental companies are taking the utmost care of the hygiene levels of the car. While optimum levels of cleanliness are maintained, service providers are taking a step extra by properly sanitizing the car before it reaches a customer’s doorstep. From the keys to the steering wheel, gear, door handles and pocket door hand rest, every touch-point is being sanitized at the time of inspection, to ensure only the safest solutions are let out.
Keyless entry system
One of the major concerns in sharing a car is if the key is carrying the virus. To the same end, the keys are sanitized along with the car, before a customer comes in its contact. Furthermore, car rental companies are leveraging a strong suite of technology to address customer's concerns during coronavirus outbreak. With IoT, several cutting edge service providers offer keyless access to a car, thus minimizing the risk of contracting the virus.
Training the employees
Employees, especially on-ground personnel are currently the bloodline of the entire nation, and car rental companies are no different. Several fast-growing companies are taking proper measures to train the workforce to follow proper safety protocols. The employees are being training to follow standard recommendations so that they are better equipped to cater to the needs of a growing consumer base while completely safeguarding their own health and wellbeing.
Offering personal car subscriptions
In these trying times, customers would tend to focus on basic necessities such as housing, food, and transportation. While it would not be possible for everyone to purchase a personal vehicle, amidst growing emphasis on social distancing, subscribing to a car would be a more plausible solution. Several car rental service providers also enable users to subscribe to a car for a longer duration, say anywhere from 3 months to a year or more. A personalized car offers more safety than shared solutions. Furthermore, car subscriptions by some service providers come at rather nominal monthly subscription charges and take care of servicing, maintenance, and other accompanying costs.
Offering complete support to customers and employees
By being available through remote solutions, car rental service providers are trying to cater to a growing demand by customers while also addressing any of their doubts. In addition, several companies have also declared complete support for their employees. This includes ensuring complete wage for employees who may have contracted the virus and are in quarantine, taking care of the medical expenses, extending paid leaves to the individuals, and in certain cases, helping the individual with a lump sum amount.
In the end, the car rental industry, especially the self-drive segment, will be able to better serve the needs of its customers, if the regulations are revised. At present, the self-drive industry is made to be a part of the commercial vehicle segment. However, in effect, self-drive solutions are the same as a private car, with the advantage of being shared amongst more than one user. With revised regulations, car subscriptions stand a chance to revive the auto industry and cater to a growing demand for personalized mobility solutions sans long-term commitments.
