Automotive Business Magazine – Q3 2026 – Digital edition - Flipbook - Page 69
OPINION
FLEET
While each
customer’s business
requirement and
fleet size are different,
lead time, customer
satisfaction and
cost-management
are all commonplace
in the decisionmaking process”
petrol or diesel vehicle, the maintenance
requirements are different. In an EV,
there are fewer moving parts and no
need for oil changes. It means the
service and maintenance budget tends
to be more focused on tyre-related
expenses. It’s important to keep up to
date with advances in tyre technology,
and in many cases, we are seeing EVs
fitted with bigger, more robust tyres.
Time for a new tyre?
When it comes to replacing a tyre – no
matter what you drive – it might seem
fairly straightforward, but there’s a lot of
technology involved in the manufacturing
of tyres. For instance, the same vehicle
can come with multiple size options
depending on specification. Additionally,
some applications can include technology
such as run-flat or self-seal tyres.
At Alphabet, we will always recommend
premium tyres. We also encourage
customers to take a more proactive
approach to tyre bookings, particularly
when they know they will need new
tyres, and to inspect their tyres
more frequently. With the continued
complexity of tyres and wide range
of sizes, it’s key that, where possible,
customers pre-book tyre appointments
before the need becomes critical. This
will ensure we have the right tyres in the
right place at the right time. Pre-booking
also offers customers the benefit of a
selecting a mobile appointment, if that’s
more convenient.
→ Miles Tetlow
is head of service management
at Alphabet (GB)
Taking a proactive approach can be
the difference between a vehicle being
off the road or a delayed changeover.
Therefore, it’s always best to prebook
in-line with the expected lifecycle of the
tyre, which is something that should be
built into the maintenance of the vehicle.
The power of connectivity
What is changing the SMR world is
greater adoption of connected vehicle
technologies, which make it much
easier to know when a vehicle requires
a service. As more vehicle information
becomes available, your fleet provider
can notify fleet managers and their
drivers when a vehicle requires a service
to remove any guesswork.
For example, in some cases where
the data is available, we will know if the
brake pads are 80% worn and tailor the
booking accordingly. This all plays into
making the service and maintenance
journey as easy and seamless as
possible: customers are simply sent an
invitation to book online – it’s that easy.
The customer also has the option to
change the service date online or via a
customer support agent if the original
service date is not convenient
When choosing a leasing provider,
the speed at which SMR requests are
managed is fundamental to addressing
potential issues before they arise,
coupled with cost control and long-term
performance.
To achieve this, reliability of network
is key. At Alphabet, we have the benefit
of a comprehensive network of dealers
and independent repairers offering
nationwide coverage.
Using a blended network means that
we have an extensive pool of expertise to
call upon at any one time to reduce lead
times and create greater operational
resilience.
Q3 2026
AUTOMOTIVE BUSINESS
69
