Many operators are hesitant to purchase new trucks as an uncertain business environment threatens confidence. Unprecedented economic challenges are forcing fleet managers and business owners to rethink their traditional purchasing cycles. In response, Scania South Africa is rethinking its business model to make upgrading financially easier.
âWe understand that trucks need to be working for companies to make a profit,â says Mark Erasmus, General Manager Sales for Scania Southern Africa. âItâs now that the improved efficiencies leading to vital cost economies, offered by our New Generation Trucks, will really make a difference.â
Putting these cost efficiencies into the hands of businesses who could benefit from the cost-savings but donât have the appetite for large capital expenditures in these difficult times has required Scania South Africa to look for optimal financing agility. âWe understand our role as equipment providers and the value chain we need to provide to make our equipment relevant in a tough economy,â explains Nomonde Kweyi, General Manager Marketing and Communications, Scania Southern Africa.
âTo this end we have developed industry-leading financial offers that allow our customers to work with and use our world-class technology and performance, backed by our extended warranty and coverage plan, while also benefiting from financially agile repayment models.â Scaniaâs new all-inclusive monthly payment offer includes maintenance, repairs, insurance and extras, with the option to upgrade or purchase after 36-months. âIt gives operators a bundled offer that covers the essentials at an unbeatable monthly rate,â explains 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.
âOur connected services deliver it all â 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,â explains 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.
âFactors such as topography, fuel quality and stop and start frequency all affect the level of maintenance needed,â says 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 is calculated based on factors such as 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 donât 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 24/7/365.
For Scania South Africa, itâs about supporting their customers. âTo keep businesses sustainable, we need to play a role in ensuring they have access to the latest technology, best performance and most cost-effective aftersales services. However, to get them into that value chain, we needed to make affordability a focus,â says Kweyi. âScania 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.â
