running a boat rental business is much more than keeping your vessels rented and on the water. It's also about maximizing utilization, keeping boats safe and compliant with local and state regulations, and delivering a seamless customer experience. That’s where having a fleet management tool comes in handy. The right tool can save time, reduce costs and give operators confidence that every rental runs smoothly.
Let’s look at a few key features and functions that every boat rental operator should look for in a fleet management tool:
Usage Tracking and Safety Checks
- Digital Checklists for pre and post rental inspections
- Record engine hours after each rental. Confirm hours before each rental.
- Utilize data on engine hours to determine maintenance checks and life of the vessel
Learn more about tracking usage here.
Maintenance Schedule and Automated Reminders
- Setup your service schedules to include routine maintenance (oil changes, cleaning, engine checks, annual service)
- Create automated reminders to alert you when a service is due
- Include a checklist of items that need to be completed for each service
- View a history of services, what was completed, and by whom
Issue and Damage Recording
- Report damages/issues on boats quickly upon boat return
- Take photos of damages that can be used to for damage fees and send to service manager who will handle the repairs
- Run a report on issues reported to see open issues and close out issues that have been addressed
Learn the importance of damage reporting here.
Reporting and Analytics
- Gain insights into each boat's revenue and utilization
- Understand utilization to determine underpeforming assets
- Make informed decisions on fleet expansion
How to find the right Fleet Management tool
Ultimately, your fleet management feature should be built into your booking platform as the two go hand in hand when it comes to running a successful boat rental business. The benefit to having fleet management built into your booking platform is that it allows you to keep track of the maintenance, usage, and issues at the time of occurrence.
Plus having an all-on-one system that couples booking with fleet management helps you keep track of everything within one system.
If you’re a rental operator, it’s the right choice to select a booking platform that incorporates fleet management. Try BookingCentral. A complete booking platform for rentals, with a built in waiver, check in, and fleet management tools. Simple to manage, easy to use, and booking is a breeze for your customers. Reach out to our team to learn more.
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