Lombard to Use Fit4Fleet

Lombard Vehicle Management is taking a different approach to fleet tyre provision, which it says will give customers a marked improvement in the service they experience. The company has separated the tyre authorisation function from the actual fitting process. The authorisation and invoice auditing is being carried out remotely by tyre experts Fit4Fleet. Fit4Fleet is not a tyre supplier to Lombard Vehicle Management, so for the first time the service is being controlled by an independent expert.

The arrangement is said to provide Lombard’s customers with “total freedom of choice.” Their drivers can use any of the major tyre retailers and their chosen location (including their mobile services), rather than be tied to one supplier.

“The thinking was driven by a desire for convenience and service improvement rather than pricing driving the service delivery,” says Lombard Vehicle Management’s operations director, Nick Bennett. “Most drivers know where they’d prefer to go for tyres. And if drivers can choose where to go, it’s up to the tyre retailers to provide the level of service necessary to retain the business. So customer service will inevitably improve as the retail sites compete for loyalty through their service delivery.”

“And although pricing per se wasn’t the priority, with such a competitive marketplace at the moment we have also been able to negotiate extremely good prices uniformly across the country. This is a win-win solution for our customers.”

If they wish, drivers can locate repair centres and make appointments by telephone, and Fit4Fleet is able to respond to the drivers using SMS technology or by phone if required. Lombard’s partnership with Fit4Fleet started on 1 October.