Drivers of company cars and vans leased from Ogilvie Fleet are increasingly booking service, maintenance and repair (SMR) appointments online, thanks to a new product from epyx.

Ogilvie Fleet is the first leasing firm to implement the new Driver Booking Module from epyx

The leasing firm is the first to implement the new Driver Booking Module, which enables users to contact garages directly using any mobile device or computer and nominate up to three potential appointment dates based on a defined garage network.

The service provider then confirms the booking and the module also takes care of all other communications between the driver and garage, without the need for any fleet intervention.

Fleets remain in complete control of key cost and safety parameters, ranging from supplier choice to automatic job authorisation spending limits, aided by a rules engine within the platform.

The module, which can be adopted by any fleet that uses epyx’s 1link Service Network, has already realised a number of benefits at Ogilvie.

Gavin Clisby, operations manager at Ogilvie Fleet, said: “We manage SMR for around 20,000 vehicles using 1link Service Network, so the ability for drivers to book direct online using the new module is a real advantage for us.

“Epyx offered a previous online booking solution but the new version is a genuine step forward, being much more mobile-friendly and able to integrate directly with the Ogilvie Happy Drivers app.”

It’s also a popular solution with drivers; the last year or two has seen a growing number looking to book online.

“This is a trend that has probably been accelerated by the pandemic. We are now living in a much more online and connected world, and drivers very much value the option to make their SMR booking digitally.

“It also enables us to make better use of our office resources. Taking manual bookings is very time-consuming and labour-intensive. The Driver Booking Module means we can use those people better elsewhere.

“We can see that telephone traffic has reduced and are also being told by our client fleet managers that self-serve booking of this type is enabling them to work more efficiently,” added Clisby.