Autoglass first commissioned Broadview to develop an undercover solution that would allow its technicians to keep working whatever the weather in September 2012. A further 10 systems were put on trial in November 2012, and the awning was fitted to a total of 200 vans in 2013.
The Broadview solution is designed to be easily extended by a single technician in around three minutes and requires little additional storage space inside the van. The car is parked underneath the canopy whilst the technician replaces the glass without rainwater interfering with the wind screen replacement process or entering the customer's car.
‘Modern glass replacement techniques are highly sophisticated. But up till now we and our fleet customers have been at the mercy of the British weather,’ explained Ged Raymond, fleet manager for Autoglass.
‘You need absolutely dry conditions for the bonding material to work properly. Before we had the canopies, we had to wait for the rain to hold off or bring vehicles back to our site before replacing windows and windscreens – causing frustration and wasted time off the road for the customer and for us!’
‘These canopies have enabled us to provide continuous service to our customers in all weather,' added Ande May, marketing and sales director at Autoglass.
‘They are in use on over 50% of all calls and have paid for themselves within 3 months. We have received excellent service from Broadview and are in the process of introducing a further 560 to our new Transit fleet through 2014.’
Commenting on the success on the partnership, Martin Rayner, Broadview sales director, added: ‘We understood the need of the technician to operate in dry conditions .Now the company can operate in poor weather conditions it has improved service to their customers. We are pleased to be assisting Autoglass – the market leader in the industry.’
Broadview will be one of a number of fleet services exhibiting at this year's Fleet Show at Silverstone on Wednesday 9th April. For more details, visit: http://www.thefleetshow.co.uk/