ADA and Echoes: “40 vehicles recovered each year “

In the short-term rental sector, where fleet security is becoming increasingly crucial, ADA has chosen to integrate Echoes to enhance vehicle tracking. Stéphane Lugon, ADA’s Head of Security, shares his experience and future projects.

Can you introduce ADA and its activities?

ADA is a company specialising in local vehicle rentals. Unlike major rental companies operating in airports and train stations, ADA focuses on local agencies, with over 500 depots across France. The fleet consists of between 1,800 and 2,000 vehicles, spread across company-owned agencies, franchises, and partner rental points.

What challenges did you face before adopting Echoes?

Each year, our fleet faces numerous attempted thefts or hijacks, making it essential to improve our vehicle recovery capabilities. We needed an effective solution to secure our vehicles and respond quickly in case of theft or hijack.

Why did you choose Echoes to secure your fleet?

Echoes’ CarLocate solution impressed us with its ease of use and efficiency. The system enables real-time tracking, with alerts for zone exits or suspicious behavior. Additionally, unlike traditional systems requiring GPS device installation, Echoes directly utilizes data from connected vehicles, significantly simplifying implementation.

Since adopting Echoes, we have seen a significant improvement in our recovery rate. Before using the tool, in 2023, we recorded around 100 vehicle thefts or hijacks, recovering approximately 50% of them thanks to precise tracking and our local networks.

After adopting Echoes, we observed that the recovery rate for vehicles equipped with the solution reached 90%. In a typical year like 2023, this means around 40 additional vehicles could be “saved” from hijack or theft.

How do you use Echoes daily?

We conduct daily monitoring of alerts generated by CarLocate, particularly to track vehicles leaving French territory or displaying unusual behavior. When a franchisee reports an unreturned vehicle, we use the tool to locate it and coordinate its recovery.

The main advantage of Echoes is its intuitive interface: with just a few clicks, we can find a vehicle and take the necessary actions. This ease of use is crucial, especially for a small security team like ours.

How satisfied are you with Echoes?

We are highly satisfied with the tool. The interface is user-friendly, the features are clear, and the technical support is responsive. Compared to other solutions we have tested, CarLocate stands out for its accessibility and fast execution. As a result, we have significantly reduced the number of unrecoverable vehicles and improved our operational efficiency.

Do you face other recurring issues with your fleet?

Beyond theft concerns, our franchisees increasingly report driver negligence, especially when dashboard warning lights appear—low tire pressure, low engine oil, low AdBlue levels, etc. The result is often significant mechanical damage and complex disputes, with renters claiming they never saw any warning signs before breaking down.

How could Echoes support the evolution of your fleet management?

We are exploring various solutions to optimize fleet management and monitoring in collaboration with Echoes. The goal is to enhance responsiveness to critical events and improve operational oversight. Advanced monitoring and alert features could enable partners to anticipate certain situations and act quickly to ensure uninterrupted service.