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17
CONSTRUCTION WORLD
FEBRUARY
2017
Connected to support
Scania’s Fleet Management System helps customers take control of their
fleets and get the most out of their businesses. The system is installed
in all new Scania trucks and simply needs to be activated in order for the
data to be accessed.
Worldwide, Scania has more than 215 000 connected vehicles, with
benefits such as Remote Diagnostics, Remote Download and Driver
Coaching. These functions reduce fuel costs and shorten the time
required for service and maintenance, which also saves owners money.
done through Scania Finance.
“South Africa is a unique country when
it comes to transport,” said Petr Novotny,
Managing Director of Scania Finance, “with
a range of customer segments from the
large and established contractors right
down to the small start-ups.
“While the bigger companies usually
know exactly what they want from us,
the newer players often need some extra
support and guidance – as they cannot
even get out of the starting blocks if the
finance package is not carefully suited to
their resources, which are usually limited.”
Novotny emphasised the importance of
providing a transparent solution in which
finance and insurance are core elements
of the overall support that Scania offers
its customers. Being part of the Scania
family puts Scania Finance in a position to
offer products like operating leases, as the
company could secure the residual
value backing from Scania as an OEM.
“We have a particular interest in supporting
emerging contractors who might find it
difficult to secure finance under normal
conditions – we consider this an important
part of our black economic empowerment
(BEE) commitment,” he said.
Insurance offered under the Scania
banner also focuses on optimising
uptime – by ensuring that the repairers
and panelbeaters in the Scania network
deliver efficient and quality service, with
the genuine parts and high workshop
standards. Delays can affect small
contractors even more keenly, as they
may not have the reserves or equipment
capacity to accommodate a serious
accident or breakdown. Scania can even
provide replacement trucks on loan while
repairs are underway.
Scania’s proximity to customers makes
it easier for them to understand the various
challenges they face in a sector like
construction, he said. This advantage has
led to the current situation where almost
70% of Scania trucks in South Africa are
purchased with loans from Scania Finance.
“We offer the flexibility and reactivity in
finance that our customers have come to
expect from all our services,” said Novotny.
“Our Scania financial representatives (FRs)
liaise with customers on all aspects of their
finance needs. And because these FRs are
specialists in both banking and transport,
they can even share aspects of transport
best practice as the need arises.”
He said each Scania Finance customer
is allocated at specific FR to ensure
streamlined channels of communication
and response. The company’s presence in
Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Tanzania and
Kenya allow customers to arrange finance
from Scania in the country where the truck
will be working – for instance on a medium
term or long term contract. The finance
contract can then integrate with other
Scania support services in that country.
With Scania’s complete solution offering
for the construction segment, it is clear
that the future will herald higher product-
ivity levels on site through improved uptime
and more proactive management of
vital assets.
FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:
Mark Erasmus – General Manager for Scania
Services, Alexander Taftman – General
Manager for Pre-Sales, Segment Support &
Marketing, and Petr Novotny – Managing
Director for Scania Finance.