A new AI-powered inspection service is now available to help commercial fleets tackle unreported damage, cutting time and costs.
Launched by accident management company Sopp+Sopp, the solution makes use of leading-edge AI and computer vision technology from damage detection specialist Wondle to create a more proactive inspection model.
Callum Langan, managing director at Sopp+Sopp, explained: “In many fleets, unreported damage is only discovered when the vehicle lease ends, resulting in costly off-hire charges or an unexpected repair bill. AI-inspection has an important role to play in helping fleets gain a complete picture of vehicle condition. This technology allows drivers and depot managers to complete regular, quick inspections that paint a realistic picture of fleet conditions and support decision-making.”
Using Wondle’s AI-powered app, fleets can complete a vehicle inspection and get an instant condition report in three minutes. The technology guides the user through the inspection, automatically identifying and categorising damage based on fair wear and tear guidance.
It’s already being used to support Sopp+Sopp fleet customers.
Langan went on: “One great example is a recent mid-term inspection, where we used the app to inspect 90 vehicles in a single day with excellent accuracy.
“Wondle identified previously unreported damage on more than 50 of the vehicles, providing individual reports instantly and a full trend report within 24 hours. The app delivered valuable insight to inform repair and driver training decisions without the time and cost implications of a standard inspection.”
According to Matt Cranny, co-founder and director of Wondle, around half of vehicles incur a charge at the end of their lease period, with average costs now at £561 for vans.
“These costs are difficult to budget accurately, especially in the current market where long lead times on new vehicles are causing leases to be extended.
“Our AI-powered tool offers a simple, cost-effective solution to this problem. We’re looking forward to working with Sopp+Sopp to deliver improved visibility of fleet conditions to its customers.”
The new solution launches as part of a focus by Activate Group, Sopp+Sopp’s parent company, on developing data-driven products that support smart decision-making.
Pete Thompson, director of product, commented: “Our partnership with Wondle is a great step forward in delivering this strategy, offering a proactive solution to help fleets understand and mitigate the cost of damage recharge.”
