Scania South Africa has redesigned its business model in order to make upgrading financially easier for its customers. This has been in response to the uncertain business climate making many operators being reluctant to buy new trucks. The drastic and unforeseen economic challenge has forced fleet managers and business owners to rethink their usual purchasing patterns.
The General Manager of Sales for Scania South Africa, Mark Erasmus, explained that trucks need to be working for companies to make a profit.
“It’s now that the improved efficiencies leading to vital cost economies, offered by our New Generation Trucks, will really make a difference,” Erasmus said
Putting these cost efficiencies into the hands of businesses who could benefit from the cost-savings but don’t have the appetite for large capital expenditures in these difficult times has required Scania South Africa to look for optimal financing agility.
Scania’s Marketing Director, Nomonde Kweyi, explained that they understand their important role in providing equipment and making sure that the equipment provided remains relevant in tough economic times.
In order to support this, Kweyi added that Scania has developed financial offers that will help their customers. These financial offers include quality technology and performance that is supported by an extended warranty and coverage plan.
Scania’s new all-inclusive monthly payment offer includes maintenance, repairs, insurance and extras, with the option to upgrade or purchase after 36-months.
“It gives operators a bundled offer that covers the essentials at an unbeatable monthly rate”, explained Kweyi.
The New Generation Scania trucks and services have been engineered to perfection with the goal of improving fuel efficiency. Through improved aerodynamics, new engine concepts together with intelligent support systems, such as eco-roll and active prediction, the new generation Scania trucks are making huge strides towards reducing fuel consumption. Connectivity is also highlighted as a valuable cost-cutting tool.
“Our connected services deliver it all – from automated tachograph reporting to remote diagnostics and driver coaching. Our systems are also uniquely easy to use so they are used more often, leading to greater insights that translate into long-term cost efficiencies,” explained Erasmus.
Connected technologies are used to manage entire fleets, maximising uptime and productivity. Scania is also setting new standards in maintenance plans using several operational factors and vehicle specifications to offer a continuously updated and flexible maintenance plan that minimises downtime to the lowest possible cost.
“Factors such as topography, fuel quality and stop and start frequency all affect the level of maintenance needed,” said Erasmus.
By individually optimising the different modules in the maintenance plan, such as air filter and gearbox, Scania ensures that downtime is planned and only occurs when necessary. For each maintenance event, timing and content are calculated based on factors such as the cost of spare parts and labour. This way, an optimised maintenance interval can be adapted to suit a particular business operations schedule. Even when things don’t go according to plan, Scania provides operators with a complete back-up system designed to minimize downtime and keep a vehicle on the road. Scania Assistance is an essential support service that is available.
Kweyi stressed that in order for businesses to become and remain sustainable they need to play a role in ensuring there is access to high quality and cost-effective after-sales services.
“Scania South Africa is ready to play a pivotal role in ensuring businesses have the best-in-class equipment and support to confidently recover and thrive, not just in the short-term but in years to come,” Kweyi said.