Avis and Westvaal Nel Spruit make fleet acquisition and management simple
Westvaal Nelspruit
Virgin’s owner Richard Branson said, “If you look after your staff, they will look after your customers.” When one adds the fact that people do business with people and not with companies, the combination becomes a powerful motivational anecdote and methodology to apply in all business. For Westvaal Nelspruit’s dealer principal, Jannie Nell, this approach is fundamental to their success. After all, success is seldom if ever an exclusively individual effort.
This approach also applies to those times when you lose a deal to another supplier.
The Westvaal Group of companies started in 1975 in Welkom. Today the group owns 24 dealerships spread throughout Mpumalanga, the Free State, Western Cape, Limpopo, Gauteng and North West Province and they represent Isuzu LCV & Trucks, Opel, VW, Suzuki,
Ford, Hyundai and Renault brands as well as Simplify Rental. Jannie started his career in the industry some 25 years ago and considers himself experienced enough to have an in-depth understanding of all facets of the industry. In other words, both the big picture as well the importance of the smallest detail.
“Fleet deals in particular require meticulous attention to detail. Miss anything and you will lose the deal,” he says. Westvaal have just secured a fleet deal with Silulumanzi for 34 Isuzu bakkies. Some are 4x4 derivatives but mostly 4x2 single cabs. This was a particularly rewarding experience for both Jannie and sales manager Dwayne Santos.
Westvaal last did business with Silulumanzi seven years ago. And although they parted ways at that time, it was not about service or product issues. So when Silulumanzi now again approached them to tender for this fleet of vehicles, it confirmed Jannie’s philosophy about the importance of integrity within customer relationships. “This is what ensures repeat business.
“We always endeavour to turn even the most ordinary customer experience into an extraordinary experience.”
Constructing fleet deals is complicated because of the many variables involved. It requires a great deal of patience, because it often takes months before there is a yes or a no. When the yes comes, everything must of course happen yesterday.
“We are supremely confident in the vehicles that will be supplied. We know that the lower running costs of our bakkies contribute to the overall cost-effectiveness of a fleet. With the new alterations to our workshop, we will be able to provide the extraordinary aftersales and maintenance which is so integral and critical for effective and productive fleet management. We have customers for life.”
And of course, concludes Jannie, “Integrity, passion, honesty are the fundamental pillars on which the Westvaal Group of Companies has and is building the business.
“So we are absolutely delighted to have Silulumanzi back in our stable and we would like to express our gratitude for the trust expressed in our product and service.”
Avis
Avis Fleet has been recognised as the highestrated fleet management company in South Africa by PMR Africa for the
11th consecutive year. With over 1 000 customers and managing close to 300 000 vehicles across its operations, Avis Fleet can rightly claim its market leader status in a growing and very competitive industry. “Living up to our promise of shaping solutions with a human touch, we believe we are able to offer a complete mobility solution to all fleet management requirements.”
For local Avis Fleet representative, Yolanda Schoeman, structuring fleet solutions is all in a day’s work. With 10 years industry experience, a passion for customer service and a willingness to go the extra mile, Yolanda was able to structure a fleet solution for Silulumanzi in the short turnaround time of two weeks.
Avis Fleet is uniquely positioned to respond to fleet needs, with a range of products that handle every aspect of a vehicle’s life cycle; from procurement and finance to maintenance and resale.
Avis Fleet takes all the risk and relieves the administrative burden of running a fleet.
They also have a range of value-added products which they believe was a key factor in being awarded the Silulumanzi tender bid. Their products include intelligent fuel management, telematics, fleet accident management, traffic fines management, fuel cards, roadside assistance and insurance.
This is all supported by their superior systems and welltrained people. Avis are able to offer customers world-class fleet reporting and online access to it, freeing up their time and allowing them to focus on their core business.
Well dear reader, I must add that I never realized the scope and detail involved in a facilitation process like this. But of course Yolanda does. So if you are in need of her expertise, you may visit the Avis Fleet website, www.avisfleet.co.za, for more information or contact her on Yolanda.Schoeman@avisfleet.co.za or 083-440-8632.