From disconnected systems to integrated cohesiveness: Navigating rental challenges with A365 

Share on

Operating a rental business for trucks and buses is a highly demanding task, further complicating an already challenging industry. Trucks and buses are essential for the transportation of goods and people, playing a crucial role in various sectors.  

Despite their long-standing presence, managing a fleet of rental vehicles remains daunting due to the ever-evolving nature of the industry. This constant evolution necessitates adaptability and proactive measures to address the myriad challenges that arise.  

In this blog, we’ll delve into the many challenges faced by truck and bus rental businesses, offering valuable insights and strategies to overcome these obstacles, ensuring operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. 

Hurdles on the horizon: Challenges in trucks & buses rental 

From disconnected systems to integrated cohesiveness: Navigating rental challenges with A365 4

Booking & Scheduling 

One of the primary challenges in truck and bus rental is efficient booking and scheduling. Businesses need to manage reservations, allocate vehicles based on availability, and ensure timely delivery and pick-up. Implementing a robust booking system with real-time availability tracking can help streamline this process. 

Inventory Management 

Managing a diverse fleet of trucks and buses can be complex. Businesses must track each vehicle’s availability, condition, and location. Utilizing fleet management software can provide real-time visibility into inventory, allowing businesses to optimize utilization and maintenance schedules. 

Maintenance & Repairs 

Maintenance is a critical aspect of managing a fleet. Regular maintenance ensures vehicle safety and reduces downtime. Implementing preventive maintenance schedules and tracking maintenance history can help minimize disruptions and extend the lifespan of vehicles. 

Customization 

Customers often require customized vehicles to meet their specific needs. However, fulfilling these requests can be challenging for businesses. Offering a range of customization options and maintaining a flexible fleet can help businesses cater to diverse customer requirements. 

Contract Management 

Managing contracts involves handling various documents, terms, and agreements. Efficient contract management software can streamline the process, ensuring accurate documentation, billing, and compliance with regulatory requirements. 

Asset Tracking 

Tracking rented vehicles is essential for ensuring their safety and security. GPS tracking systems can help monitor vehicle location, speed, and usage, providing valuable insights for fleet management and theft prevention. 

Return & Inspection 

Upon return, vehicles must undergo thorough inspection for damages and maintenance requirements. Implementing a standardized inspection process and using digital inspection tools can streamline this process, ensuring timely vehicle turnaround. 

Accelerating efficiency: Overcoming rental challenges with a cloud-based solution 

One effective strategy for overcoming these challenges is by leveraging a comprehensive cloud-based solution specifically tailored to support the unique needs of truck and bus rental operations. Such a solution can revolutionize the way these businesses manage their fleets and streamline their processes. By utilizing advanced features like real-time inventory tracking, automated booking and scheduling, and integrated maintenance management, businesses can enhance their operational efficiency and customer service. 

Furthermore, a cloud-based solution provides the flexibility and scalability necessary to adapt to the evolving demands of the industry. It allows businesses to access crucial data and insights from anywhere, at any time, empowering them to make informed decisions and optimize their rental operations. Additionally, cloud-based solutions often offer cost-effective pricing models, making them accessible to businesses of all sizes. 

Powering excellence: Enhancing your rental experience with A365 

A365 stands out as a solution meticulously crafted by industry experts with extensive experience in the truck and bus sector. This deep understanding of industry nuances ensures that A365 is finely tuned to the specific needs of rental businesses in this field. Offering seamless experiences from start to finish, A365 empowers businesses with enhanced management capabilities. 

Built on Microsoft Dynamics 365, A365 is designed to drive efficiency and productivity across all facets of your rental operations. From comprehensive fleet management tools to streamlined booking processes and elevated customer support, A365 is a complete solution for your rental business needs. It not only enhances operational efficiency but also delivers personalized and differentiated experiences through various channels. 

A key advantage of A365 is its ability to support your rental business without the need for costly infrastructure investments. It allows for the customization of terms, catering to both short-term and long-term lease options. Additionally, A365 automates essential notifications, such as returns, maintenance schedules, and payment due dates, ensuring that you stay on top of critical tasks and deadlines. 

From disconnected systems to integrated cohesiveness: Navigating rental challenges with A365 3

Efficiency redefined: A365’s comprehensive rental features 

A365 offers a comprehensive suite of features specifically designed to streamline and enhance trucks and buses rental operations. These features are meticulously crafted to meet the unique needs of the industry, providing businesses with the tools they need to succeed. 

From disconnected systems to integrated cohesiveness: Navigating rental challenges with A365 1

Equipment catalog management: A365 allows businesses to maintain a detailed catalog of their equipment, including trucks and buses of various types and sizes. This feature enables businesses to easily track the availability, location, and condition of their fleet, ensuring efficient management of their inventory. 

Contract management: With A365, businesses can create, manage, and track rental contracts with ease. This feature simplifies the process of generating agreements, ensuring that all terms and conditions are clearly defined and adhered to. 

Real-time availability tracking: A365 provides real-time visibility into the availability of rental equipment. This feature allows businesses to quickly check the availability of specific vehicles and make informed decisions about booking and scheduling. 

Maintenance scheduling: A365 includes tools for scheduling and tracking maintenance tasks for vehicles. This feature helps businesses ensure that their fleet is well-maintained, minimizing downtime and reducing the risk of unexpected breakdowns. 

Reservation and booking system: A365 offers a user-friendly reservation and booking system that allows customers to easily book vehicles online. This feature streamlines the rental process, improving customer satisfaction and reducing administrative burden. 

Equipment inspection: A365 includes tools for conducting pre and post-rental inspections of vehicles. This feature helps businesses ensure that their vehicles are in good condition and reduces the risk of disputes over damages. 

Rental rates and pricing management: A365 allows businesses to easily manage and adjust rates and pricing. This feature provides businesses with the flexibility to offer competitive rates and adjust pricing strategies based on demand. 

Billing and invoicing automation: A365 automates the billing and invoicing process, reducing the time and effort required to generate and send invoices. This feature helps businesses ensure accurate and timely payments from customers. 

Fleet customization options: A365 offers fleet customization options, allowing businesses to tailor their rental offerings to meet the specific needs of their customers. This feature helps businesses attract a wider range of customers and increase rental revenue. 

Reporting and analytics: A365 enables simplified reporting and analytics, allowing businesses to track key metrics related to their rental operations. This helps businesses make informed decisions about their rental fleet and identify areas for improvement. 

In conclusion, A365 is a comprehensive solution that empowers truck and bus businesses with the tools needed to monitor, analyze, and optimize their rental processes. With its robust features and user-friendly interface, A365 is the ideal choice for businesses looking to enhance their rental operations and deliver exceptional customer experiences. 

For more information about A365’s rental functionalities for trucks & buses businesses, check out our factsheet or reach out to us for more information.  

Similar posts

From complex processes to modernized control: Transforming import management in the truck & bus industry with A365  1
Trucks & buses

From complex processes to modernized control: Elevating import management in the truck & bus industry with A365 

Learn more
From environmental concerns to eco-consciousness: 6 reasons why brands are going down the sustainability path 1
Trucks & buses

From environmental concerns to eco-consciousness: 6 reasons why brands are going down the sustainability path

Learn more
From siloed systems to digital transformation Powering trucks & bus business success with unified workflows 1
Trucks & buses

From siloed systems to digital transformation: Powering truck & bus business success with unified workflows

Learn more
From current trends to future excellence: Navigating 2024 trends in the truck and bus industry  3
Trucks & buses

From current trends to future excellence: Navigating 2024 trends in the truck and bus industry 

Learn more
From vehicle downtime to peak performance: How A365 boosts truck and bus after-sales 1
Trucks & buses

From vehicle downtime to peak performance: Boost truck and bus after-sales with A365

Learn more
Cyber Essentials Certified

Legal

Company

Industries

Resources

Linkedin Youtube
When you visit or interact with our sites, services, applications, tools or messaging, we or our authorised service providers may use cookies, web beacons, and other similar technologies for storing information to help provide you with a better, faster and safer experience and for advertising purposes.
Terms of use | Privacy and cookies
Copyright © 2024 Annata. All rights reserved.

Hydrogen-powered commercial vehicle purveyors selects Annata to fulfill global scale ambitions

North America
Manufacturer

In 2020, Annata was chosen by a heavy truck manufacturer to assist in developing their business processes and the systems required to support them. The company has more than 400 employees to support its rapid growth as a leading automotive innovator in zero-emission vehicles and trucks.

After a rapid and intensive validation cycle, Annata was chosen because of Annata’s 20-year automotive industry experience and extensions to the Microsoft Dynamics platform that formed the basis of the manufacturer’s finance and manufacturing systems.

Designed with cloud scalability and agility built in, the solution covered all critical processes. To ensure a complete and compelling customer experience, Annata’s solution will ensure the organization is well connected to customer behaviors, both pre-and post-sale for years to come.

The company decided to engage in a multi-year partnership with Annata after the success of the solution implementation. Annata provided the manufacturer with industry insights and experience to drive more value in all its business processes.

Annata picked for superior material handling performance by Leading North American equipment dealer

North America
Dealer

A prominent material handling equipment dealer, with a network spanning over 60 locations across North America, is committed to delivering a comprehensive range of services, including new and used equipment, rentals, parts, service solutions, and training, with a strong emphasis on exceptional customer service.

The collaboration between Annata and Microsoft that led to the successful partnership with the customer was built on a foundation of team expertise and trust, ensuring a strong working relationship.

In their initiative to replace the current system, the company aspired to migrate to a modern, Azure cloud-based platform to optimize their Microsoft Dynamics investment. The primary goals included achieving business transformation, ensuring scalability, and eliminating system performance constraints.

The decision to upgrade to Dynamics 365 stemmed from challenges such as instability, poor performance, and growth limitations experienced in their previous solution installation. 

The overarching objective was to address these issues and enhance the overall efficiency and stability of their operational environment. Annata’s offering stood out with its comprehensive equipment lifecycle functionality, addressing the customer’s specific needs in a tailored manner. System performance and adherence to Independent Software Vendor (ISV) compliance were pivotal aspects that contributed to the decision, assuring the customer of a robust and reliable solution.

Annata’s commitment to ongoing development, reflected in their ecosystem investment and roadmap, aligned well with the customer’s long-term goals. Microsoft’s Proof of Concept (POC) support played a crucial role in demonstrating the capabilities of the proposed Dynamics 365 solution.

The success of the partnership was further cemented by the strong collaboration and partnership ethos shared between Annata and Microsoft, ensuring a holistic and effective approach to meeting the customer’s requirement.

Automotive powerhouse selects A365 for next-level business optimization

North America
Distributor

A privately-owned enterprise with a significant presence in the automotive industry, operates as a key distributor for a globally recognized automotive brand. As the largest independent distributor for this brand on a global scale, the division serves a network over 150 independent dealerships.

Previously relying on an outdated “Green Screen” system and managing a complex network of around 200 applications, the company recognized the need for a transformative change. The existing system, developed over 25 years, had become inadequate for evolving dealer needs, leading to technical debt rather than delivering value. To address this, the enterprise sought a modern solution to meet the dynamic requirements of the automotive industry and enhance overall operational efficiency. The Microsoft Dynamics 365 and A365 combination were selected to improve forecasting, streamline vehicle ordering processes, and reduce lead times from inspection to final delivery.

The enterprise now leverages the full A365 platform, including warranty management and rental services, to optimize its operations. The pivotal factor in selecting this solution was the ability to offer a platform tailored to the automotive industry, providing comprehensive visibility, management, and controls throughout the entire vehicle lifecycle. This capability formed the cornerstone of a compelling value narrative, resonating strongly with a diverse group of stakeholders.

The decision to choose Microsoft Dynamics and A365 exemplified a strategic approach, wherein technology was prioritized first, aligning subsequently with the market for a systems integrator. This decision underscored the strategic fit of the chosen technology to the specific needs of the enterprise, setting the stage for a successful implementation and business transformation.

Key automotive importer and dealer adopts A365 for comprehensive operational enhancement

Latin America
Importer and dealer

Founded in 1963 in Latin America, this key player in the local automotive industry has solidified its standing among the top groups in the sector. Over six decades, the company has maintained consistent growth, establishing a robust financial foundation.

Central to their success is a commitment to transparent management, enabling them to overcome challenges. The company prioritizes key strategic pillars, including business sustainability, delivering exceptional customer experiences, nurturing a skilled workforce, embracing technology, and forming strategic alliances. These pillars reflect the company’s comprehensive approach to ensuring long-term success and resilience in the dynamic automotive industry.

To enhance their operations, the company opted for Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations combined with A365 and Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement combined with A365. In the evaluation process, various global and regional players were considered, with the chosen combination ultimately selected based on key factors.

The decision to choose this particular combination was influenced by factors such as embracing new technologies for future growth, an abundance of experienced consultants for technology implementation, a holistic solution with cloud hosting and flexible services, and an excellent cost-benefit Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) ratio.

Additionally, the choice of Annata was motivated by their extensive expertise in the automotive sector, a strong market presence, a robust research and development (R&D) plan, and certification capabilities with a cost-effective Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).

This combination of solutions was deemed the optimal choice, aligning with the organization’s strategic goals and ensuring a comprehensive and effective solution for their business needs.

Join our A365 and Power Apps webinar series "Part 3: Adding more data & AI" on May 28, 2024
Join our A365 and Power Apps webinar series "Part 2: Working with F&O" on April 30, 2024 [Ended]

Join our A365 and Power Apps webinar series "Part 1: Building your first app without code" on March 26, 2024. [Ended]

European vehicle manufacturer unlocks competitive edge with Annata

Europe
Manufacturer

The European automotive manufacturer was increasingly challenged with their internal reliance on their existing systems as they felt that they were losing a competitive edge by not having the ability to benchmark functionality, performance, and cost. 
To address this, they started to investigate adding D365 as a second practice. They, however, soon found a need to bring in the Annata extended solution to fully understand the capabilities of the underlying D365 platform with the vertical extension for their specific business. 

Through the roll-out, the manufacturer was able to move from local, siloed solutions to a common enterprise standard solution which drives down costs, mitigates risks, and improves the customer experience with a consequential uptick in sales. 
In essence, the customer views the solution as providing the systems that run their captive fleet dealers in-country, as well as providing the integration from captive and non-captive dealers into the central solution.

Annata expands Dynamics solution for South African arm of major importer and distributor

South Africa
Distributor

A South African arm of a major importer and distributor of cars and spare parts was looking to expand the use of the solution into Dynamics 365 Sales. A365 Sales was selected as the preferred industry solution.

The reputation of Annata working with the Microsoft team in South Africa helped to land the deal. The underlying Common Data Model for Automotive was also an important factor in the decision.

The expansion of the use of Dynamics CE for sales was already planned but the business felt that the Annata Sales app would provide ‘out of the box’ functionality and save them a considerable amount of time and effort. The business estimated that implementing the Annata Sales app would save them up to 3 years compared with developing the functionality themselves.

The Annata Sales app provides functionality to handle vehicle configuration, and sales quotations including financing options, trade-ins, test drives, etc.

The Annata Sales app will hopefully be the first of several products that the business will implement. This includes D365 F&O; A365 for Dealer management; Customer service; Annata Dealer portal and; Annata Field Service. The 5-week implementation of the Annata Sales app was another compelling factor.

Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer arm selects Annata to replace existing vehicle division systems

Northwestern Europe
Importer

A division of a Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer serving developing markets chose Dynamics 365 + A365 to replace all their current systems for their vehicle division across Africa and selected countries in Latam and Asia. 

The implementation was complex as it involved replacing three heavily customized, on-premise solutions with a standard, (based on a global template), cloud-based offering. The complexity was further increased as the connectivity in some African countries can be intermittent, and delivering a project across many countries requires a great deal of experience and planning.

The solution implemented covered importation, dealerships, aftersales, and service, in addition to rental and fleet in specific markets. The device types cover all vehicles; from motorbikes to cars, lorries, tractors, construction machinery, etc. – and in some markets even boats.

D365 + A365 provided the manufacturer with the confidence that  existing processes would all be supported and that moving to the Azure cloud would drive additional benefits.

Annata brings agility to a Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer

East Asia
Manufacturer

The North American arm of a Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, with a 450,000-square-foot bus manufacturing and forklift assembly facility, required an agile solution to manage its supply chain, assembly, dealer orders, and post-sales processes for parts, warranty, and dealer management.   

The existing solution was unable to support these business processes cost-effectively with the same flexibility and agility. Annata’s automotive original equipment manufacturer (OEM) experience and track record of successful and agile implementations, particularly in the U.S. market were key to winning against other competitors.  

Key decision makers of the manufacturer were primarily of Chinese descent, with some residing in corporate offices in China. Working with Microsoft China, Annata was able to leverage its insight into Chinese business culture and its relationships with the business’s corporate IT.

Annata’s ability to adjust to an unconventional sales process and accommodation for cultural differences, coupled with an implementation approach and agile solution that could grow with the North American arm, was key to winning the business. 

Swedish commercial vehicle manufacturer partners with Annata to drive the shift towards sustainable transporting

Scandinavia
Manufacturer

A Swedish trucking manufacturer selects Annata and Dynamics 365 to replace their current wholesale and dealer management systems around the globe. By adding A365 to the Dynamics solution, the company is provided with the comfort to cover almost all its operational processes and drive additional benefits by moving to a cloud-based system.

The company’s primary challenge was that it was dealing with large sets of homegrown solutions and legacy vertical solutions with a separate outdated dealer management system that did not communicate with each other. The current on-premise portfolio needed to be replaced with a standard, cloud-based solution, that covers imports, dealerships, aftersales, and service operations, in addition to its rental and fleet-based markets.

Annata, Microsoft, and the manufacturer worked together to build a golden template and blueprint to be used in future rollouts globally. The solution combination adds future capabilities and support for ML, AI, IoT, and more automated business executions, which will have a positive impact on the ROI.

The manufacturer has transformed its dealer management system, replacing its outdated solutions with Annata’s integrated, cloud-based solution using Microsoft’s infrastructure.

RV manufacturer streamlines business processes with Annata

North America
Manufacturer

Annata was chosen as a solutions provider to replace a 20-year-old heavily customized legacy system for an RV manufacturer. The systems in use were not supplying prompt information to the management team and model changes for production were painful to implement. 

The implementation was vital to simplify access to data and increase service levels to its different dealers. The manufacturer selected Annata due to Annata’s global ISV status and strong solution functionalities to manage their critical workload, particularly those that require interaction with their dealer channel.   

Annata’s robust dealer portal solution has improved dealer relationships with a quicker turnaround on warranty claim decisions and processing.

In parallel, the manufacturer can now leverage warranty rules and validations. The dealer portal is a win for the manufacturer in reducing warranty costs while improving dealer and customer relationships.

The manufacturer expects overall improved management reporting for executives and operations. Operational improvements include rationalized bills of materials, costing, and managing production change orders effectively. The manufacturer expects its dealers to have a more efficient process for warranty claims that will result in a reduced payment time, while still preventing fraudulent or duplicate claims.

Swiss agricultural equipment and machinery supplier accelerates cloud migration with Annata

Central Europe
Importer

As an existing customer of AX and Annata IDMS on-premise, the Swiss company decided to start its journey to the cloud in early 2020. Annata’s finance and operations solution was the core of the solution proposed to the company.  

Annata’s full suite of capabilities was implemented and included extensive device management functionalities that support the entire lifecycle of a machine encompassing imports, sales, and lifecycle management with service/work order management, warranty handling, parts management, and rental. 

In addition to a proven solution, Annata was the primary choice due to the strongly committed executive management team which is very much supportive of the strategic project goals.

The project enjoys a high focus at the executive management level and is supported by a strong change management approach aiming to avoid unnecessary customizations. 

The industry competence of the Annata implementation team was well equipped to mitigate challenges typically encountered when setting up new customer solutions in replace of their heavy customized “homegrown” solution.

Annata selected to digitally transform distribution channel of agricultural equipment manufacturer

Central Europe
Manufacturer

With a primary focus on excellent product quality and outstanding customer service, the equipment manufacturer made a company-wide decision to shift their business process to the cloud using Dynamics 365 and Annata’s Finance & Operations solution. 

The solution was rolled out to several major markets within Europe and the Americas in a span of 3-4 years, before offering the industry template to their independent dealer network. Annata was selected as the preferred industry solution partner to move their on-premise solution within their headquarters to the cloud within three months, utilizing its extensive industry and digital competencies in the Annata team. 

As soon as Annata engaged with the equipment manufacturer, it was clear to them that the industry IP was key to their goal to digitally transform their distribution channel.

Coupled with finance and operations implementation expertise, the equipment manufacturer was confident that D365 with Annata was the best to provide industry knowledge to help them make the right process choices and a full set of industry functionalities around the full lifecycle of their equipment.

Mexican subsidiary of an international motor company implements Annata solutions to modernize business processes

Southern North America
Manufacturer

A Mexican subsidiary of an international motor company was utilizing multiple and heavily customized legacy systems which were around 20 years old and did not improve the business. The financial reports generated caused many discrepancies in the business which dampened business decisions. 

The management was looking for an Integrated system that was consistent and easily manageable, in which all users from different departments could manage business processes in a co-dependent and competent manner.  

Annata’s extensive solution provided the Mexican subsidiary with a technology transformation through its transition to digitized workflows.

The new system enabled the company’s dealerships to seamlessly communicate and collaborate with suppliers and service partners, while the company focused on creating an integrated supply chain. 

With Annata’s unified solution, the company benefited from providing accurate, analytical data through the implementation of key functions in cost management, inventory management, warranty management, sales, and service departments. It also provided the company with a range of business data (in real-time) for analysis at a reduced time rate and this provided the organization with major improvements in its management reporting. 

Hydrogen-powered commercial vehicle purveyors selects Annata to fulfill global scale ambitions

North America
Manufacturer

In 2020, Annata was chosen by a heavy truck manufacturer to assist in developing their business processes and the systems required to support them. The company has more than 400 employees to support its rapid growth as a leading automotive innovator in zero-emission vehicles and trucks.

After a rapid and intensive validation cycle, Annata was chosen because of Annata’s 20-year automotive industry experience and extensions to the Microsoft Dynamics platform that formed the basis of the manufacturer’s finance and manufacturing systems.

Designed with cloud scalability and agility built in, the solution covered all critical processes. To ensure a complete and compelling customer experience, Annata’s solution will ensure the organization is well connected to customer behaviors, both pre-and post-sale for years to come.

The company decided to engage in a multi-year partnership with Annata after the success of the solution implementation. Annata provided the manufacturer with industry insights and experience to drive more value in all its business processes.

Forestry equipment global manufacturer selects Annata for company-wide digitization

Europe
Manufacturer

Operating in forestry markets of more than 40 different countries, the manufacturer had an IT landscape that was complex, fragmented, and varied greatly between countries. As part of their future-proofing efforts, they needed a platform to bolster them as they navigated into the future, providing them with the flexibility required to digitize their entire business. 

Annata’s complete set of industry functionalities around the lifecycle of heavy equipment, the strength of the application and platform, as well as in-depth knowledge and vast experience within the industry were reasons why Annata was selected to support them along their transformation journey. 

Annata also displayed strong awareness of future capabilities specific to the manufacturer’s needs aside from proving a strong partnership with Microsoft. 

Annata’s flexibility, scalability, and capabilities to take on the ever-changing environment in the forestry manufacturing industry have since enabled the manufacturer to maintain a competitive edge digitally.