RAC telematics deal secures one millionth booking for black box installers
Staff at Coleshill-based RS Connect are in celebratory mood after the business secured its one millionth booking to install telematics devices on behalf of leading insurers and fleet managers.
The 90-strong booking team - the only one of its kind in the industry - marked the major milestone with a contract to install an OBD (on-board diagnostics) device into a Volkswagen Passat on behalf of roadside assistance specialist and insurer RAC. The vehicle was supplied to a fleet customer by Volkswagen Financial Services.
Volkswagen Financial Services - Fleet has worked with the RAC as its telematics partner for almost two years. The RAC devices installed by RS Connect support them in maximising return on service maintenance and repair (SMR) management through provision of detailed information of vehicle faults. The system has been extended to their commercial vehicle division and across 72 UK service centres.
RS Connect signed a contract with the RAC in 2015 to install its telematics product across the RAC’s insurance and fleet customer base, and is looking to expand that relationship further by fitting other safety technologies, such as dashboard camera systems, in 2016.
RAC specialist sales manager Nathan Buxton said: “This is a tremendous milestone for RS Connect and reflects how the demand for telematics is growing in the market.
“We’re also pleased to have our RAC Telematics unit in the vehicle, as it represents the importance of our partnerships with trusted businesses such as RS Connect, who we rely on to deliver our brand to Volkswagen Financial Services, and ultimately the end user of their vehicles.
“It’s a powerful partnership that underpins the key role telematics technology is now playing and will continue to play in the future of fleet management.”
Lea Hodson, Managing Director at RS Connect, added: “We are thrilled to have secured our one millionth booking. The use of telematics has grown rapidly across both the private insurance and commercial fleet markets. Our position within both of these key growth areas has helped to spearhead our recent growth. Our relationship with the RAC and their confidence in our service is testament to our quality.
“I’d like to thank our entire team for their hard work and we looking forward to the next millionth booking, which will come much sooner than the first!”
The UK telematics industry continues to grow as insurance companies offer the devices alongside reduced premiums. Fleet managers are benefitting from black box devices as they provide real time data on driver behaviour, together with mileage verification and, with an OBD device, predictive servicing and repair information.
RS Connect currently works with leading telematics insurers including TescoBank, Insure the box, RSA and the RAC, as well as fleet management companies, installing solutions for large fleets like Amazon and British Gas.
