Allstar ServicePoint has been "transformative" for DriveElectric managing the maintenance of their fleet of electric vehicles.
DriveElectric are a specialist in the leasing of electric vehicles (EVs) to business and personal customers.
The company was arguably the first to dedicate itself to this area and has become renowned for its high levels of expertise within the UK automotive and energy sectors.
Michael Potter, CEO of DriveElectric, said: “We not only supply electric vehicles, we live and breathe them, having owned and operated all types since our launch. As new models arrive on the market, our team drive them to gain first-hand experience, so we are very well informed.
“Our dedication to EVs goes beyond leasing options and supply. We also offer additional technical and customer support including charging equipment, bespoke vehicle add-ons, and consultancy to help businesses to make the transition to EV.”
How large is the DriveElectric fleet?
As a leasing broker, DriveElectric facilitated getting 5,000 drivers into EVs and now, having created their own leasing fleet, have 500 electric car and van assets in operation – and envisage adding more very quickly.
Michael said: “We’re expecting a rapid expansion of our fleet in the next 18 months as vehicles already on order are delivered and interest in EVs increases further. We’re especially expecting growth in electric light commercial vehicles and are seeing more and more requests for electric vans thanks to the expansion of congestion charging and clean air zones.”
How did DriveElectric deal with vehicle service, maintenance and repair (SMR) requirements before using Allstar ServicePoint?
Before adopting Allstar ServicePoint, DriveElectric used a manual system in conjunction with spreadsheets to manage their SMR needs.
Michael said: “It was very much the kind of process that you would expect to find in a company that had grown to become much bigger quite quickly. It worked well enough when we operated a handful of vehicles but as we scaled up, issues with structure and overall control became more obvious. It was at this point, around four years ago, that we first heard of Allstar ServicePoint and looked at how it could be applied to our business. It very much seemed to fit our needs."
What specific problems does ServicePoint solve for your business?
Michael said: “ServicePoint has given us the control we need to ensure that our vehicles are serviced, maintained and repaired in an efficient, cost-effective and professional manner that causes minimum disruption to our drivers.
“It’s simple, user-friendly and we can train people to use it quickly. Most users within DriveElectric log in infrequently, so these points are especially important as they can pick up the basics very quickly when they do need to gain access.
“Reporting from the portal is comprehensive and easy. Visibility over data is excellent and it’s quick to find exactly what you need. Service histories are clear, kept up to date, can be easily reviewed at any point and are stored in one central location."
"You can drill down into as much detail as you want, such as looking at the SMR cost on different vehicle types in order to compare expenditure. We’re especially interested in this area because evidence of ongoing battery efficiency over time is something that we need to convince more petrol and diesel users to switch to electric.
“Finally, compliance is obviously a key issue for a business like ours and Allstar ServicePoint allows us to see mileage updates on job sheets to help monitor usage, confirming that the vehicle asset is being used properly.”
How does the Allstar ServicePoint managed account service work for you?
DriveElectric use the Allstar ServicePoint managed account service. This means they are supported by an experienced team of maintenance experts – who have worked for many years within service centres, dealers, leasing companies and private fleet management – who are authorised to approve any vehicle work up to a pre-agreed job value.
They review DriveElectric’s job sheets from garages and can authorise, decline, query or negotiate when it comes to any questionable items based on the platform’s built-in rules engine, alongside their own extensive knowledge.
Michael said: “The support team are very good. They are the experts in their field and their knowledge is invaluable. If there is a complex issue, they can answer any questions that we have and give their professional opinion. They have certainly enabled us to gain cost savings by not authorising work which isn’t required while ensuring our vehicles continue to be maintained to the highest standards.
“Using the managed account service means we can make informed choices rather than just hoping for the best.”
Would you recommend ServicePoint to other businesses?
"Yes, very much so. It has given us access to world class SMR management that serves as a benefit to us and our customers, while being easy to use and supported by friendly and efficient account management. It’s been transformative for our business."
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