28.11.2002
GM's Rental Master simplifies rental fleet management and wins an award

GM's Rental Master, an award-winning online fleet management system implemented by Opel Belgium nearly two years ago will serve as the model for a pan-European solution.

Rental Master is an IT solution designed to simplify rental fleet management while making operations more efficient and less costly. GM is the first European carmaker to have a state-of-the-art system like this. In recognition of the advantages Rental Master offers and its effectiveness, the Belgian magazine "e-Trends" recently honored it with its "Most Innovative Application" prize.

Following its successful launch in Belgium, Rental Master will serve as the model for a European program to include cross-border functionalities to balance supply and demand. GM France will roll out the system in December, followed by Spain in January and Italy in mid-February.

Speed and simplicity were the key development prerequisites. The objectives were to provide up to date information as fast as possible, establish built-in controls to avoid mistakes and incorporate a means of detecting problems and deviations.

"Basically, we decided to build links which allowed everyone involved to keep track of their portion of the process," said Willy Kermans, Manager, European Remarketing at GM Europe. "At the start, we were always running behind the facts, now Rental Master controls the process," he added.

For example, fleet managers at short-cycle rental companies can now purchase vehicles and remove them from their fleets much easier. Rental volumes, specifications and delivery timing are matched with the demand on ex-rental vehicles by linking the dealer-network into the system.

Since implementation in 2000, 10 rental companies, seven delivering dealers and about 100 buying dealers have been linked to Rental Master.