Epyx 1link fleet transactions up 6 per cent in 2023

UK fleet transactions through epyx’s 1link Service Network service, maintenance and repair (SMR) platform rose by 6  per cent during 2023. It was also strong year internationally, with the quantity of invoices raised by users in Denmark rising by 22 per cent in Ireland by 12 per cent, in France by 8 per cent and in Portugal by 7 per cent.

1link Service Network is used by fleets totalling more than four million cars, vans and trucks to manage their SMR processes, working with over 8,500 franchise dealers, independent garages and fast fits.

And that means: “…1link Service Network is used by 105 major vehicle operators including 41 of the UK’s top 50 leasing companies. Since its inception, more than 54 million repairs have been undertaken, 26 million services fulfilled, eight million MOT tests completed and almost five million tyres fitted, generating 46 million invoices and a spend of nearly £10 billion”, according to Tim Meadows, chief commercial officer at epyx.

Meadows continued: “The key general fact is that fleets continue to operate cars and vans for much longer than prior to the pandemic, meaning they simply require more SMR actions. While there are some indications that this situation is in the process of stabilising as new vehicle supply gradually improves, the prospect of returning to the shorter replacement cycles seen previously seems remote, at least for the foreseeable future.

“As far as epyx is concerned, we have experienced some important developments, including use of 1link Service Network from a number of customers in new sectors, notably warranty companies, who are using the platform to deliver repairs in order to take greater control over the claims process. We have also seen dealers start to use the platform to repair cars sold on a distance basis that have developed faults after delivery.”

Meadows added that 2023 had also been the 20th anniversary of the launch of 1link Service Network: “The platform was really the first SMR processing product of its kind and rapidly became the de facto method for large fleets to handle all transactions with franchise dealers, independent garages and fast-fits.”