Contactless Rental Vehicle Inspection: An Idea Whose Time Has Come
Rental car damage is a concern for both car rental companies and for customers. The former, of course, want to be sure that their vehicles are returned as intact as possible, so they can be quickly deployed for the next customer. Customers have their own concerns—like being charged for damage they did not cause. On the other hand, some customers who damage rental vehicles try to cover up that damage. It's a tug of war—and makes for an unpleasant experience for everyone. But technology to the rescue: Using digital tools, augmented reality, computer vision technology, artificial intelligence and automation, customers can be assured of a fair bill when they return a vehicle and companies can make sure they are treating customers fairly and honestly. This technology, in fact, enables companies to set up contactless returns—where customers simply drop off vehicles and are immediately informed about charges for damage, if any—payable either by them or insurance companies. Perhaps even more importantly, it brings us closer to eliminating uncertainty about whether or not damage occurred during a rental agreement or not.
