Fleet-Wide Telematics Switch in Just 6 Months

Company Background

Hertz 24/7 is the car sharing division of Hertz, one of the world’s largest car rental and mobility solutions providers. Hertz was founded in 1918 and was the inventor of car rental at scale. Their car sharing service Hertz 24/7 has been operating for over 15 years now. By entering non-city-centric markets, Hertz 24/7 had to educate customers about car sharing and help them feel comfortable with digital, contactless rentals.

Since the beginning, their vehicles used sharing and connectivity technology from Paris-based Eileo S.A., which Hertz acquired in 2009. Today, they operate a fleet of approximately 1,600 vehicles in more than 700 locations across Europe (e.g. UK, Germany, Italy, Portugal & France). Hertz 24/7’s operation runs on one technology platform that supports multiple business models including corporate, hourly, car and van sharing. They offer both ICE vehicles and EVs and focus on B2B use cases while also leveraging B2B2C opportunities.

Hertz 24/7 offers users a seamless, automated digital user experience. You can register, book, and access vehicles within 15 minutes and with no paperwork.

Problem

Hertz 24/7 embarked on a full fleet migration to a new telematics solution. Upgrading technology during live operations is a complex task for any car sharing operator. Hertz 24/7 faced the additional challenge of implementing these changes across more than 700 locations throughout Europe. However, this ambitious project also unlocked new opportunities for scalability and innovation.

Solution

Hertz 24/7 started searching for a new solution that could match their needs:

• Reliable telematics to enhance operational control
• Virtual keys for verified vehicle access
• Remote immobilization to protect their vehicles
• Multi-SIM support for working across multiple geographies/networks
• Ability to support a fast rollout and ongoing growth

We had to find a technology provider capable
of quick hardware installations to the many vehicles
we use in various countries.
Marc Verhees, Product Manager Hertz 24/7

To ensure long-term stability and avoid future migrations, Hertz 24/7 sought a provider with a strong market presence and proven resilience. INVERS is well-known in the car sharing market and has over 30 years of experience in the car sharing industry as a reliable solution. So, INVERS was the clear choice.

Implementation

Implementing the migration required careful coordination, as telematics hardware had to be replaced across hundreds of locations without the convenience of a centralized installation hub. Hertz 24/7 managed this complex task by working with third-party installers across more than 700 sites in Europe, all while operating under a tight deadline due to the scheduled decommissioning of the previous system.

Thanks to a solution-focused partnership between Hertz 24/7 and INVERS, the project stayed on track. We were impressed by the agility and hands-on, problem-solving mindset that the Hertz 24/7 team showed during the transition. INVERS supported this momentum by providing the large volume of CloudBoxxes needed right away, allowing Hertz 24/7 to begin installations without delay and helping ensure a smooth rollout.

The entire tech migration was carried out at unprecedented speed: It only took six months to switch telematics in 1,500+ vehicles across 700+ locations in seven countries.

Sabine Wagner, Director Mobility Solutions Europe

Results

And was it worth the effort? Yes, it was! Hertz 24/7 now benefits from a smoother, more secure vehicle access process and the ability to immobilize vehicles remotely if necessary. Thanks to market-leading connectivity reliability, the support team noticed better vehicle uptime and fewer technical issues. They also noted that the lower hardware energy needs caused fewer incidences of dead batteries.

As the inventor of automated vehicle sharing, we are happy to support the inventor of car rental as they grow their car sharing business. If you are interested in more stories of successful migrations, check our Success Stories.