Freedom of choice

Cars and their elements have some particular maintenance lifetime.  Some of them are more and other are less malfunctioning, but all of them need good servicing by trained mechanics and using modern equipment.  There is one more, crucial question: GVO regulations, which finally changed the direction of servicing repairs.  This was made by entering into force a European Commission regulation of 31 July 2002 (relevant Polish regulation of 1 November 2004), which limit the right of interference of carmakers in selling and servicing vehicles.  Moreover, on 1 June 2010 European Commission issued another resolution on block exemptions, the so called MVBER, being a continuation of previous resolution and being in force for another 13 years.  The regulation frees spare parts market, and this makes it possible for the garages to purchase top quality parts from different manufacturers, including independent distributors.  This means that the customer has the right to service a car which is under a warranty period outside OE garages and using spare parts which not necessarily have the logo of a carmaker on them.  

Robert Dzierżanowski, Manager of Garage Chain Development in Bosch company explains, that EC regulations gave a push to develop for OE garages, but also for independent ones.  It is predicted that in the future the service garages market in Poland will become more homogeneous, following the trend from western Europe. The difference between authorized and independent garages will disappear.  Most of independent garages, representing a high level of professionalism will be joined into common chain.  

 

Polish market hosts a strong group of independent garages, and these are, among others, Bosch Car Service and AutoCrew, Feu Vert, nationwide chain Premio, AD Poland, Polish Fleet Service, Moto Fleet, Euro Warsztat Group Auto Union Poland or Euromaster.  An important place is taken by Inter-Team Management, Q-Service, Perfect Service and Motointegrator chains.  Independent garage chains are equipped with modern tools and devices ensuring full diagnostics of all elements of a modern vehicle.  The quality of a service is ensured by trained and experienced mechanics.  

Bosch Car Service and Auto Crew

 

The aim which has for many year been a motto of Bosch company is a consequent creation of garage chain, which is equal to OE garages as regards the standard of service and technical competence of mechanics.  

 

- Technical equipment and employee's competence in Bosch Car Service and AutoCrew are equal OE standards of carmakers.  They have professional staff dealing with customer care and are cooperating directly or using third parties with companies dealing with fleet management.  Dynamically growing automotive market in Poland results in and increase in technological advancement of cars on the roads and this, in turn, forces investment in garages.  Thanks to this, in a matter of a few years, the so called independent non-authorized garages will perfectly complete the offer on the market, serving customers from car manufacturer garages - says Robert Dzierżanowski from Bosch company.  

 

In his opinion, the average value of service in Bosch Car Service and Auto Crew chains in comparison to average value of the same service in OE garage, depending on the make of a car, is 30 to 50 percent lower.  This is a result of lower rates for working-hour and using the same parts, but bought from spare parts manufacturers, and not from car manufacturers.  That is why promotional offers of OE garages are only getting closer to standard offers in independent garages.  Besides, OE garages are mostly visited by users of cars in a particular age-group.  In compliance with GVO Resolution, periodical warranty inspections can be made also in other than OE garages.  Whilst lengthened guarantee is a service for customers of a particular make of a car, particular dealer chain or dealer group.  Every customer must individually decide if it is worth paying for such longer warranty, and being limited to inspections only in OE garages, or not doing that and servicing the car in much cheaper, but equally professional independent garages.  

 

BestDrive

BestDrive fleet offer in Poland is designed for servicing middle and large fleets of vehicles.  It uses an internet platform BestDrive Fleet to coordinate processes connected with tyre changing.  It is user friendly and offers easy access via a web browser, intuitive interface for the user, high capacity (servicing numerous simultaneous connections), structure of access levels, reporting and generating documents.  

 

Fleet managers have instant access to information on tyre change, deposits, scrapping, relocation or level of costs.  In deposit report one can find information on current depth of tyre tread of each tyre.  This makes it possible to prepare for the season and tyre change, and plan tyre purchase in advance. 

 

The administrator can also follow full service history of a vehicle, just by typing in a licence plate number.  This is very convenient for fleet managers, who can get all the information in one place. 

 

- With success we are also offering a function called:  Driver's Panel.  Using it, the customer can himself make an appointment for tyre change in the garage where his tyres are kept.  This is done very easily, just by choosing time and date using an electronic calendar.  Such a visit is being sent to the user and a garage via e-mail.  

 

Works on system development are being carried out all the time, in order for all the services offered in our system, to be the highest possible professional level - says Marta Okinińska, BestDrive (Fleet Operation Administrator Continental Tyres Poland LTD.). 

 

EuroWarsztat

The company takes inspiration from international structures of independent garage chains Euro Garage, which currently associates 5,000 garages, 125 of them in Poland.  

 

In Euro Warsztat company, strong emphasis is placed on technical training of mechanics and ensuring constant expert support, as on these factors depend the efficiency and quality of performed services.  Scope of services in garages is wide, so the chain can offer the customers comprehensive maintenance and repair of vehicles of all types, passenger and light commercial ones.  

Currently implemented online catalogue makes it possible to create uniform price estimates, based on repair times and maintenance data compliant with carmakers' data.  Thanks to this solution Euro Warsztat can serve cars under warranty without threat of its loss, according to MVBER resolution issued by European Commission.  

 

Work on the system for central management of fleet orders is being finished.  The system, thanks to special structure, shall make the use of it much easier and automate many difficult processes which are now connected with servicing fleets of vehicles.  

As a chain of independent garages, Euro Warsztat offers the widest variety of services and the biggest flexibility regarding selection of spare parts and materials used for inspections.  

 

Premio

Nationwide garage chain Premio bets on quality and realization of individual needs of fleet customers.  Premio associates several dozen of services in the whole Poland.  Keeping top standards is ensured by specialized tools, among others, IT systems for fleet management, including Fleet Online Solutions (FOS).  In practice it is an integrated system storing all costs of the customer.  FOS Platform operates online, thanks to this suppliers of services Goodyear TruckForce, or running regular garages of fleets, or delivering services of road assistance in other countries, have constant access to the information in their own language and possibility of performing all the necessary work, issuing invoices or updating the system.  In turn, FOS customers have internet-based access to contracts, tyre dealers (TruckForce), treading tyres and road assistance Serviceline 24h of Goodyear company.  

 

AD Poland  

AD Service is the biggest in Europe chain of independent garages, associating over 4,000 garages in 27 countries.  Target customers of AD POLAND are managers of vehicle fleets, who can optimize all servicing operations, lower the costs, increase quality of services and at the same time save precious time thanks to the operations of the company.  The program is based on garage chain of AD Service and warehouses of spare parts if AD POLAND company.  Wholesale AD partners, on the premises of their operations creat a chain of AD Services, which meet all the criteria of international Garage Chain Autodistribution International. 

 

Basic scope of services within AD-Fleet programme include: 

All service events are registered in a free of charge program ADFleet, where via a website one can control and coordinate the fleet, generate reports and statements.  

 

 Euromaster

In Poland it is a franchise chain of fast-fit garages.  The chain has servicing premises all over the country, and the core business activities are tyre services and light mechanics.  Euromaster chain is connected with Michelin group, but it realizes a policy of multibranding and offers products of all tyre concerns.  The clue of Euromaster is to deliver standardized services on expert level to individual and institutional customers.  Euromaster delivers its services to owners of passenger cars as well as trucks, and soon it will also be servicing agricultural sector and industrial sector.  The offer of ERM also includes services of professional Fleet-Check of tyre condition monitoring.  

 

 

 

Polish Fleet Service

Polish Fleet Service has been on Polish market for 10 years now.  PFS customers gain from one source help regarding all possible services, necessary repairs and safe running of a vehicle.  

 

The comprehensive offer includes such services as: 

a) car mechanics regarding warranty and after warranty periods,

b) purchase and service of tyres,

c) car crash repairs,

d) 24 H assistance.,

e) replacement cars,

f) fleet management,

g) towing and road assistance.

 

Moto Flota

For over 20 years, Moto Fleet chain has been servicing two types of companies: having "pure" leasing, without repair services, or their own vehcles and leasing vehicles, offering CFM services.  

 

 - Surely our flagship service are periodical inspections and mechanical repairs in garages all over Poland.  In this area we are servicing fleet owners as well as CFM companies.  When dealing with companies which own the fleet of vehicles, we look after their tyres as well, body repairs, extra accessories, GPS devices, etc.  The list is endless, as the needs of car users are endless too.  Of course everything is monitored by the fleet manager - explains Adam Kapek, Moto Fleet President of the Board.  

 

Feu Vert

Feu Vert chain is a group of specialized garages rendering services for fleet customers.  All makes of cars are serviced and all the services are performed in compliance with guidelines of car manufacturers.  Such a solution ensures the comfort of uniform price lists to fleet managers, guarantee of following procedures and one, top standard of service.  

 

In some of the garages the customers also have an automotive shop (purchased goods can be assembled on a car on the spot). The whole chain is owned by Feu Vert Polska Sp. z o.o.