By CRM staff
Toronto, Ontario — November 12, 2018 — During a panel discussion at SEMA 2018, a major operator of car rental agencies made a point to highlight the importance of collaboration and technology-neutral standards across the industry, and how they are essential for achieving the benefits of connected vehicles.
The panel discussion, “The Future Impact of Telematics, Technology, Transportation and the Collision Industry”, reviewed work currently being done to integrate point-of-impact data, telematics and connectivity. The session also provided visibility into what connectivity means for repairers and work done on the shop floor, as well as how it impacts relationships with consumers and others in the process.
Enterprise Holdings, an integrated global network of independent franchises including Enterprise Rent-A-Car, National Car Rental and Alamo Rent-A-Car brands, stated open, secure access to data is not only the best way to protect the rights of vehicle owners and consumers, but also the best method to ensure third-party suppliers have every opportunity to collaborate and compete.
“The true value is when you can connect all the ecosystems,” Enterprise’s assistant vice president of technology innovation, Derek Reiser, noted. “We’re optimistic about the future of vehicle telematics, but there’s a lot we must do as an industry to make it right so that it adds value to people and streamlines processes.”
Enterprise Holdings is known for playing a leadership role when it comes to technological advancements within the industry. In fact, since 2008, Enterprise has spent almost $2.4 billion globally on acquisitions such as car rental companies, carshare operations, technology platforms and franchises.
The company is not only is the world’s largest car rental provider, but also is one of the top global travel companies, ranking ahead of many airlines and most cruise lines, hotels, tour operators and online travel agencies. As a result, Enterprise Holdings plays a significant role in providing competitive mobility options all over the world.
Their goal is to draw attention to potential threats to competition that could negatively impact consumers as well as mobility-related industries, including car rentals. The company’s main focus is on the competitive landscape – for autonomous vehicles, their suppliers and the entire mobility ecosystem of service companies – could be impacted by policies deciding who has access to, and ultimately controls, the data.
For example, Canada’s Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications published a report titled “Driving Change: Technology and the Future of the Automated Vehicle” – at the request of the Minister of Transport. More than 78 witnesses, including Enterprise, provided testimony and a brief within it. The report featured 16 specific recommendations, including “monitoring the impact of automated and connected vehicle technology on competition between the various sectors of the automotive and mobility industries, in order to ensure that sectors such as the aftermarket and car rental companies continue to have access to the data they need to
offer their services.”
