Case Study – Care Based Businesses

For many years, businesses in the care industry have been key clients for OVL Group. From care homes to domiciliary care providers and charities, we work with these businesses to supply a range of vehicles including cars for management and on the road employees and minibuses to allow for care home resident outings.

The importance of vehicles to care based businesses

Well maintained vehicles play a pivotal role in the daily operations and overall experience of residents in care homes, offering benefits for mobility, independence and community connection. In addition, reliable and fuel-efficient cars for staff are vital when care is delivered in the community. 

The requirement

 Our client came to us needing a range of vehicles, including company cars for management, two smaller cars for community carers and a renewal of an existing minibus lease.

After discussion with their dedicated account manager the following key factors were identified:

1. Management cars were to be PHEV or fully electric to support the business’ plan to transition from petrol and diesel vehicles. These were renewal vehicles.
2. Community carers cars were to remain ‘traditional fuel’ at the present time, fuel efficiency due to the number of short journeys each day was of the utmost importance. These were new vehicles to the fleet. Previously, carers had used their own transport and unsuitable, unreliable vehicles had caused missed appointments, and duty of care concerns of road worthiness of vehicle maintenance.
3. The client had been pleased with their previous minibus which was adapted for wheelchair use – a ‘like for like’ renewal was required.

Our service

 As this was an existing client, the OVL Account Manager had contacted them with plenty of time before renewal of the minibus and management cars were due. This ensured the client had a good breadth of choice and limited stress; leaving renewals ‘to the wire’ reduces choice for delivery of vehicles that meet needs and timescales.

We met with the client to discuss their requirements and provided several quotes on different vehicles which offered choice on make/model and we used our “Whole Life Cost Calculator” to ensure the financial decision made was not on monthly rental cost alone. This strategic approach is something we offer to all clients.

We were able to negotiate increased discounts for a large number of small vehicles for carers to visit patients at home.

Our minibus specialist got to work on the ‘like for like’ renewal, ensuring all needs were met and that delivery times would not leave the business without transport for residents. We discussed the customer requirements and budget and arranged demonstration vehicles to make sure that conversions meet the needs of the customer.

Our team’s work ensured the client did not have to spend their own time searching for the right vehicles themselves, they knew they were in expert hands and could make the right choices thanks to feeling fully informed. 

The outcome

The management chose vehicles based on their own preferences from the list we supplied, personal choice on makes/models is always something we consider and the community vehicles were chosen primarily based on whole life cost which took into account fuel efficiency and included maintenance which ensures there are no surprises lurking around the corner.

The client had all vehicles delivered to their required timescales and we look forward to working with them as the business, and their fleet, grows.