Manheim has invested £15m in a new project called Swift that includes a variety of new initiatives aimed to deliver a consistent and speedier service to its fleet customers.
Among the new innovations is a 360° imaging booth with automated turnstiles that quickly provide a series of high-resolution images from every angle of the car. These pictures provide prospective buyers a complete look of the car, helping to complete sales quicker, especially when purchasing online.
Currently available at a number of pilot sites, Manheim plans to roll out the booths to all of its
23 auction centres within the next six months.
A new inspection process that covers up to 56 different elements on each vehicle has also been introduced this year as part of the project.
After the inspection, vehicles are graded Gold, Silver or Bronze and a detailed checklist is produced that is available online and at auction. It informs potential buyers about the condition of the vehicle, detailing any components that aren’t working.
Vehicles can now be processed within 60 minutes, including wash, valet, inspection and the new 360° imaging. This benefits fleet customers by giving them more visibility of the de-fleet process, including data around condition, but it also means vehicles are on sale quicker, reducing storage costs.
The improvements to the inspections and the greater availability of imagery not only gives
buyers greater confidence, especially when buying online, but it also helps fleets to more accurately set reserves for their used stock.
According to Manheim, Project Swift also delivers improved working conditions for its employees; with all processes now taking place undercover with improved interior lighting which ensures inspections are as accurate as possible and always consistent.
The speedy service Manheim now offers thanks to Project Swift provides greater flexibility for fleets and more selling opportunities, which is why the company wins our remarketing award this year.
Highly commended – Aston Barclay
Aston Barclay launched a brand new mobile-friendly website in 2016, featuring a refreshed design and a single login system.
The new site significantly improves the online bidding service, plus allows every aspect of its Inventory Management System to be customisable to each individual customer’s needs. Helping to further enhance the end-to-end service for fleets is the recently launched Damage Portal, which allows fleets to amend total damage estimates for end-of-contract recharging to drivers.
Highly commended – BCA Branch Appraisal App
One of the UK’s biggest names in the remarketing sector, BCA continued to roll out its Branch Appraisal App in 2016, which is custom-designed to generate accurate and fair appraisal reports to National Association of Motor Auctions standards.
By using the app on an iPad, BCA appraisers are guided through three stages including taking pictures, individually inspecting each component of the car, and then checking the onboard kit and paperwork via a checklist. Once the appraisal is complete the app creates a summary that is directly uploaded to the BCA website and generates an interactive graded condition report for potential buyers prior to bidding.
