Investment priorities

Investment priorities

› Major leasing and rental companies are making six-figure investments in IT as they seek to digitise every possible element of their operations. More than half (52%) of all leasing companies and 29% of rental companies identified IT systems and business intelligence platforms as their number one investment priority for 2023, the highest score of any investment category, signalling a continuation of decisions made during and immediately after lockdown.

Rental companies are backing up this increasingly digital approach by also investing in digital marketing and front-end web services, as customers seek ‘low touch’ hire processes, with 21% of operators citing this as their prime investment priority next year, compared to 15% of leasing companies.

Both industry sectors are also heavily focused on staff training and development, their second highest priority for 2023. This twin-pronged strategy aims to enhance retention through career development, as well as to prepare staff to deal with new technology

Investment priorities for 2023

IT systems and business intelligence

Staff training and development

Business/ product development

Digital marketing and web front end

Recruitment

Acquire another business and business processes, and understand the fresh challenges posed by new electric powertrains.

Recruitment of new staff, however, is a low priority with several leasing and rental companies highlighting their efforts to automate more processes or even outsources aspects of their administration in order to increase the ratio of vehicles to staff as they grow fleet sizes.

Achieving this greater efficiency is also a significantly higher priority than developing new products.

Finally, despite turbulent economic times historically presenting acquisition opportunities, the long-standing strategy of buying rivals as a quick way to grow seems largely to be off the agenda, with two-thirds of rental and leasing companies ranking it as their lowest priority for 2023.