Hertz Rent a Car South Africa is celebrating the success of its first ‘virtual’ branch, which opened at Monument Toyota Constantia on Gauteng’s West Rand four months ago.
The virtual branch concept is relatively new, where car rental operation is set up inside or alongside an auto dealership. When customers deliver their vehicles for service or repair, in most instances, dealerships are unable to meet the demand for courtesy vehicles for the duration of the downtime involved. Now, customers at Monument Toyota Constantia can take their car in for a service, drive out in a Hertz rental car and swap vehicles when they come to collect their newly-serviced car.
“By having a virtual branch on site, we are able to supply a competitively-priced replacement vehicle to busy executives and other individuals for whom time is money,” said Remano Van de Rheede, manager of the virtual branch. “Dealership customers are no longer inconvenienced; there’s no hassle or wait for a driver to ferry them to the office or to their next appointment; and it alleviates a lot of pressure and stress for both parties.
“This niche service we offer to Monument Toyota Constantia’s customers now accounts for approximately 65% of our business, with the balance attributable to locals who appreciate the convenience of having a car rental facility just around the corner.”