ADA and Echoes: "40 vehicles recovered each year thanks to CarLocate"
In the short-term rental sector, where fleet security is becoming increasingly critical, ADA has chosen to integrate Echoes to improve its vehicle tracking. Stéphane Lugon, ADA’s security manager, shares his feedback and future plans with us.
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Could you tell us about ADA and what it does?
ADA is a company specializing in local car rentals. Unlike the major rental companies found at airports and train stations, ADA focuses on local branches, with more than 500 locations across France. Its fleet consists of between 1,800 and 2,000 vehicles, distributed among company-owned branches, franchises, and partner rental locations.
What challenges did you face before adopting Echoes?
Our fleet is the target of numerous hijacking attempts every year, and it was essential to improve our vehicle recovery capabilities. We needed an effective solution to secure our vehicles and respond quickly in the event of theft or hijacking
Why did you choose Echoes to secure your fleet?
We were impressed by Echoes’Carlocate for its ease of use and effectiveness. The solution provides real-time tracking, with alerts triggered when vehicles leave a designated area or exhibit suspicious behavior. Furthermore, unlike traditional systems that require the installation of GPS units, Echoes directly utilizes data from connected vehicles, which greatly simplifies the setup process.
Since implementing Echoes, we have been able to significantly improve our recovery rate. Before adopting the tool, in 2023, we had to report approximately 100 stolen vehicles. Thanks to precise and responsive tracking and the mobilization of our local networks, we were able to recover about 50% of them.
Following the implementation of Echoes, we observed that the recovery rate reached 90% for vehicles equipped with the solution. In a typical year like 2023, this means that approximately 40 additional vehicles can be “saved” from being hijacked or stolen.
How do you use Echoes on a daily basis?
We monitor alerts generated by CarLocate on a daily basis, particularly to track vehicles leaving French territory or exhibiting unusual behavior. When a franchisee reports an unreturned vehicle, we use the tool to locate the vehicle and arrange for its recovery.
The main advantage of Echoes is its intuitive interface: with just a few clicks, we can locate a vehicle and take the necessary steps. This ease of use is crucial, especially for a small security team like ours.
How satisfied are you with Echoes?
We are very satisfied with the tool. The interface is user-friendly, the features are clear, and technical support is responsive. Compared to other solutions we’ve tested, CarLocate stands out for its ease of use and speed of execution. The result is a significant reduction in the number of unrecoverable vehicles and improved operational efficiency.
Are you experiencing other recurring claims in your fleets?
In addition to theft issues, our franchisees are increasingly frustrated by tenants’ carelessness, particularly when mechanical warning lights appear on the dashboard: low tire pressure, low engine oil level, low AdBlue level, etc. The result is sometimes significant mechanical damage and complicated disputes to manage, with renters who break down in their vehicles while claiming they didn’t see any warning lights.
How can Echoes help you adapt your fleet management?
We are exploring various solutions to optimize the management and monitoring of our fleet in collaboration with Echoes. The goal is to improve our response to critical incidents and streamline operational monitoring. Advanced monitoring and alerting features could enable partners to anticipate certain situations and act quickly to ensure service continuity.
