An Industry First, Kiosk Cuts Average Transaction Time in Half
TULSA, Okla., Nov. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- An industry first, Alamo Rent A
Car announced today it will roll out new self-service kiosks at rental
locations throughout the United States. The new system cuts check in time
for customers by about 50 percent when compared to average counter check in
times.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20061114/DATU024 )
The kiosk roll out comes after successful testing by customers in
Dallas, Las Vegas and Jacksonville, Fla.
"Self-service eliminates one more hassle from family travel," said
Jerry Dow, Alamo's chief marketing officer. "Customers are already
comfortable using the check in kiosk for flights, using a self-service
kiosk for car rental is a natural progression."
The touch-screen kiosk allows any customer with a valid driver's
license, major credit card and an existing reservation to skip the rental
counter and check in directly at the kiosk. After a customer agrees to the
terms and conditions, a receipt-sized rental agreement is printed from the
kiosk and the customer is directed to his or her rental car on the lot. At
the exit booth, the customer simply shows the booth agent his or her rental
agreement and driver's license and then drives away.
The kiosk also allows the customer to review rental information,
upgrade to a larger car class, add additional drivers, and purchase option
items such as child car seats, a GPS unit, Collision Damage Waiver (CDW),
and Pre Pay Gasoline.
By next summer, Alamo expects to have nearly 80 rental locations
outfitted with the new touch-screen kiosks. Besides the test markets, the
first locations to install the kiosks this month are Orlando, Detroit,
Denver and Los Angeles. Boston, Philadelphia, Houston, St. Louis, Dallas,
Miami, San Francisco and Atlanta will all have kiosks by March.
Alamo is a proven industry leader in developing technologies that make
the travel process faster and hassle-free. The car rental kiosk is another
first for Alamo, which launched the industry's first and only Online Check
In system in July 2005.
With the kiosks and online check in, Alamo is the only car rental
company to offer two methods to skip the line. "Alamo puts control of the
entire rental process in the hands of the customer," Dow said.
Alamo Online Check In is similar to the airline online check in
process. It allows Alamo customers to perform check in procedures from any
computer online. Once customers check in online, they simply print the
rental agreement to bring with them. When they arrive at their destination,
customers can skip the rental counter and the Kiosk altogether, and go
straight to their car. They can show their rental agreement and driver's
license to the booth agent as they leave the lot and start their vacation.
"Both check in options are simple, fast and allow families to get their
vacation underway, and, they are only available from Alamo," Dow said.
Another of Alamo's technological innovations is the first real-time
Internet booking engine, which Alamo launched in 1995 -- a full year before
the major online travel agents. This technology allows customers to find a
location, view rates and reserve their vehicle, all at Alamo.com.
"Alamo.com will always be the best place for our customers to make a
rental reservation. That's where customers will always find our guaranteed
best rates, our pre-pay and save option, and the newest features that make
the travel process faster and easier, and they will never pay a booking
fee." said Dow.
About Alamo
Alamo Rent A Car is one of the largest car rental brands in the world,
with locations throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, the
Caribbean, Latin America, Asia, the Pacific Rim, Africa, the Middle East
and Australia. For more information about Alamo, including our Best Rate
Guarantee, log on to http://www.alamo.com . The Alamo Rent A Car brand is
operated by Vanguard Car Rental USA Inc.
CONTACTS: Charles L. Pulley, pulleyc@vanguardcar.com, 918-401-6450
Lori Burzynski, lori.burzynski@ketchum.com, 214-259-3435
SOURCE Vanguard Car Rental USA Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.vanguardcar.com
http://www.alamo.com
Photo Notes:http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20061114/DATU024
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060303/DAF008LOGO-a
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
CONTACT:
Charles L. Pulley of Vanguard Car Rental USA
Inc., +1-918-401-6450, or pulleyc@vanguardcar.com ; or Lori
Burzynski, +1-214-259-3435, or lori.burzynski@ketchum.com , for
Vanguard Car Rental USA Inc.
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