Applying RFID to the Passenger Car Rental Industry

Using RFID in the Passenger Car Rental Industry At GAO RFID, we have many years of experience deploying RFID solutions for different industries, and we are always up to the challenges from specific markets and listen to our clients’ unique challenges. Below are just some of the questions car rental agencies have asked us. Read on to see how we address their concerns. Question: We have been trying to implement RFID technology for years. But many solutions are designed for other industries, and do not fit well with our operations. What can GAO RFID offer that is different? Our company does not believe in a ‘one size fits all’ policy. Because the car industry faces its own special challenges, we will work with you to design an RFID that works for you. We will create solutions that address your circumstances, and put them into one comprehensive package. We want to work with you to enable the following:

  • Track all vehicles in the lot 24/7 with our powerful Asset Tracking System
  • Monitor those vehicles in real-time both at the facility and remotely
  • Implement an alarm system that notifies managers when a car has moved outside of the lot without authorization
  • Simply and automate the car return process to not require manned stations
Question: We currently pay employees to stay after-hours, so they can monitor customers as they drop off vehicles. Can GAO RFID automate this process? It’s possible. Our RFID technology is so smart that it can eliminate the need for human interference. You can fully automate the drop-off process with our RFID configurations. If all vehicles are equipped with an RFID Tag, when the vehicle pulls up to the drop-off gate, it will connect with our strategically placed GAO Readers. Borrowing from our RFID Parking Control System technology we can then lift the gate, allowing the customer to drive into the drop-off lot. All information about the car, including drop-off time, is then logged into a centralized software system—then the customer is free to go! Question: It is difficult for us to monitor our workers because our rental facility is so big. What’s the best way to track their whereabouts? At GAO RFID, we understand the importance of ensuring your human capital is dispersed effectively. One of the best ways to determine whether employees are making meaningful contributions is to monitor them. GAO’s Personnel Tracking System is the perfect solution because it monitors without intrusion. Use our technology to determine employee productivity and identify obstacles in workflow. By assigning RFID Badges to your personnel, you’re able to improve visibility of your staff — ultimately using your human capital more effectively. We can take our highly successful Personnel Tracking System and develop it further to meet the needs of the car rental industry. Question: Our fleet of rental cars are our biggest assets. We want a better to ensure they are securely on our lot and routinely serviced. Can RFID technology help us in these regards? Certainly. In theory, every rental vehicle affixed with an RFID Vehicle Tag, the unique information of the vehicle is linked to the Tag, and all information is synchronized with the database. At any time, vehicles can be tracked and located in the lot to ensure inventory. At the same time, each vehicle will have its maintenance history recorded on the Tag. At each recommended service interval the Tag will automatically notify managers via the Asset Tracking System; thereby ensuring that timely maintenance is always conducted on every vehicle.

Integrating an RFID System with your Existing Management Software 

GAO RFID’s Systems can be deployed as a standalone solution or can be integrated with other software solutions, according to your needs. At the core of our solution is GAO RFID’s AUTO-ID Engine which incorporates middleware and essential RFID functions that perform RFID data collection and information processing. Our AUTO-ID Engine seamlessly integrates with a wide variety of rental car management systems so that you can access the data it collects directly via the system or systems you currently have in place. Once we work with you to develop a system that addresses your needs, our team of seasoned professionals will smoothly integrate the appropriate GAO RFID Solution with your IT architecture. The result is an RFID solution that is seamlessly unified with your rental car management system. Contact us for more information on how our RFID experience can be leveraged to help develop a solution for your industry.]]>