IF you want to make sure that your car leasing prices remain competitive then sometimes it’s important to benchmark the prices you pay.

That’s exactly what Ishida Europe – a supplier of automated solutions to the food industry –decided when it switched to leasing provider Fleet Alliance.

Its existing leasing prices had become uncompetitve – so now it can tap into Fleet Alliance’s panel of preferred contract hire funders, thus helping drive down acquisition costs.

Based in Birmingham, Ishida Europe currently runs 100 company cars in the UK and operates an open badge policy up to a maximum monthly rental for each job grade.

As a result of the free choice policy, typical makes include:

• Audi;
• BMW;
• Mazda; and
• Volvo.

The cars are available to qualifying staff including service engineers, project engineers and sales staff, along with middle to senior managers, and general managers and directors.

To increase support levels for Ishida company car drivers, a new dedicated driver portal is being introduced to allow drivers to view online all the models that are available on the company car choice list for their particular job grade, to request quotations for their next new lease vehicle.

Fleet Alliance has also brought in its award-winning e-Fleet Mobile web-based app for all drivers, which provides them with access to key support services, and allows them to update Other initiatives include introducing Fleet Alliance’s Licence Check service, which has seen a move away from the previous provider and has generated a cost saving for the client.

Sue Jeavons, payroll and benefits specialist at Ishida Europe, who is responsible for the company car fleet said:

“Although it is still relatively early days yet, we have been very pleased with the experience of working with Fleet Alliance. Their customer service levels are excellent, thanks mainly to the efforts of our key account manager, Madelaine Webster.”

Martin Brown, managing director at Fleet Alliance, added: ”We are delighted to welcome Ishida Europe to the Fleet Alliance portfolio of customers and are delighted with their feedback. We always aim to provide high levels of customer service and support so it is very pleasing to hear positive feedback from our customers about their experiences.”