Kwik-Fit Uses Mobile Phone Technology

Kwik-Fit has begun using digital pens and mobile phone technology to provide an improved fleet service. The move sees Kwik-Fit Mobile’s tyre inspectors deliver report results electronically to a control centre at the end of each day. Each report, which is logged in the digital pen, is sent immediately on completion by inspectors via their mobile phone using both Bluetooth and GPRS technology to the control centre. This means the replacement of damaged or illegal tyres, can be carried out much quicker than previously.

Kwik-Fit Mobile operations director Simon Lucas said: “On receipt of the information the control centre can then contact a car driver immediately to arrange the time and location of any work to be carried out. The technology also means that we can source any tyres that are required immediately, which enables any work to be undertaken within 24 hours.

“The technology enables Kwik-Fit Fleet to provide an improved and even faster service to our fleet customers.”

The ever-increasing focus by companies on at-work driver safety is driving up tyre safety checks and this year technicians expect to complete 250,000 inspections, up from 200,000 last year.

Initial tyre checks result in about 20 per cent of vehicles inspected requiring attention. Typically tyres maybe under or over inflated; tread maybe below, or close to the 1.6mm legal minimum across the central three-quarters of the breadth of the tyre and around the entire circumference; tyre wear maybe irregular which may indicate a wheel alignment or vehicle loading problem; or the wall of a tyre may be damaged.

Mr Lucas added: “Tyres are the only part of a vehicle that are in contact with the road so it is essential that they are in tip-top condition. Ensuring tyres meet legal requirements is a vital part of any corporate risk strategy, but the human aspect in terms of safety far outweighs the legislative situation.”

Tyre safety check reports can also be emailed to customers.