VAELL set up virtual garages across East Africa to meet growing demand

Fixing problems with
your motor vehicle, whether it is getting the correct diagnosis, knowing how
much it is going to cost, and even just getting it repaired at the right place
can be time consuming, confusing and stressful. To solve this problem, Regional
leasing firm, Vehicle and Equipment Leasing Limited (VAELL) has announced that
it will set up more garages across East Africa as it rolls out virtual
diagnostics service to support the fleet and its operations across the region.

The firm has already set
up 20 physical garages across the region, in collaboration with various
dealers. 

With a capacity of 600
cars, each garage will carry out regular maintenance, service, and repairs. 

VAELL’s Managing
Director, Bertha Mvati, said, “With this innovation, we will remotely reach out
to clients where they are through technology and connect them to our garages
near them and wherever we are yet to set up a physical garage we connect them
to a reliable garage and service providers near them. The technology-backed
diagnosis will take about 20 minutes and therefore reduce turnaround time. It
will also help control assets repairs and maintenance.”

“We have just added two
garages in Tanzania; in Mwanza and Biharamulo Gold mines which can repair heavy
mining equipment. Its proximity to Western Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda also gives
residents of the neighbouring countries access to superior repair services.
Having a regional reach of repair network means VAELL clients can obtain
support anywhere across East Africa. Therefore, clients can move across East
Africa with ease. We have clients who have asked for cross border movements,”
she narrated.

VAELL’s Managing
Director, Bertha Mvati

The virtual garages
connect vehicle users with VAELL’s mechanics via video call who can then
arrange to have the vehicle repaired at a physical garage near them or send a
service provider to their convenient location if the repair is minor. These
Garages will ensure that clients derive as maximum value as possible as well as
aiding them to concentrate on their key businesses with less interruption,
optimizing commercial and operational processes.

“We don’t just offer
clients’ vehicles and equipment but convenience and that is why we are always
looking for ways to enhance our client’s experience and our new garages
arrangement is here to sort out problems that car owners go through. These
virtual garages relieve frustrations, providing customers with trusted and
transparent feedback in minutes,” said Ms. Mvati. 

Through the virtual
garages, the firm hopes to overcome delayed turnaround time on repairs
actualisation. Most car owners complain of mechanics taking too much time to
diagnose and repair their cars. The company says it will overcome this through
scheduling the repairs and therefore the vehicle user does not have to queue or
wait for too long since they will be given timelines when their vehicles will
be ready. 

“To ensure that we offer
the best service possible and no concerns on the quality of any part replaced,
the garages will strictly use authorised Dealer and Genuine Parts unlike other
service providers may use non-genuine parts to cut costs. This will help us
overcome ‘being blind’ on assets repair history, meaning when an asset is
coming back from lease, you are clueless on assets conditions,” added Ms.
Mvati. 

Most organizations and
individuals lease vehicles and equipment so that they pass on other services
such as insurance, remote tracking and maintenance to leasing firms which is
their area of expertise at a fixed monthly cost during the lease period. In a
global emergent trend, most companies do not want to create their dedicated
fleet maintenance systems but still need to ensure optimal operation of trucks
because of the potential economic and safety costs of systematic failure.