29/02/08

Birmingham 27^thFebruary 2008 - For fleet managers - whether their fleet size runs into thousands, the low hundreds or even single figures -'Costs' and ‘Overheads" are the constant concerns; vehicles off the road cost money, and can mean penalties or even lost contracts. Fleet Managers know they have to work smart to keep ahead of rising costs and the effective management of the fleet can make the difference between profit and loss. In an effort to improve efficiencies, more and more fleet managers are calling on the expertise of ‘one-stop shop’ companies that can provide specialist, expert services to cater for a variety of fleet requirements.

As a result, the Award’s Committee of the Institute of Transport Management sought to identify companies in this field who respond effectively and professionally to the needs of the fleet manager. Sofico has come out the winner and been awarded ‘Fleet Management Solutions Company’, for 2008, for offering quality benefits to the fleet industry with the highest levels of service throughout Europe, especially through their outstanding ‘Miles’ product..

Commenting on the Award Patrick Sheedy Media & PR Director for the Institute of Transport Management said: "Fleets eager to enjoy top-line growth must pay strict attention to bottom-line results and arrest the upward trend of operational costs lest they severely dampen the potential for profits. By employing Sofico to provide its full range of fleet solutions, fleet operators can be assured of an enhanced level of customer care leading to improved customer loyalty levels and increased profits”.

In the world of leasing and fleet management, Sofico leads the way in the provision of mission critical software solutions, exporting its services to a huge range of companies established in international markets.  Two decades of experience has allowed Sofico to build up unparalleled industry expertise and consequently to develop proven software packages such as Leasebase and WebIntegrator, which have seen over 1500 user licences installed at 60 sites for the management of 700,000 vehicles, and latterly Miles - the vehicle leasing software solution for the 21st century.

Sofico operates with an ethos which ensures that its products and services are in tune with current markets and the fluctuating requirements of vehicle leasing companies, so as to provide a fully rounded and ever-evolving strategy for businesses which want to stay at the top of their game.  The company has invested heavily in core competency research and Product Management but has also devoted much energy to the creation of a partner and integrator network, because this is a company which believes in the importance of maintaining a strong local presence while bolstering its global profile.

The Miles package now offered by Sofico is a state-of-the-art software solution designed to shepherd a leasing contract from beginning to end in both national companies and international corporations.  It permits leasing companies to interact with all business partners and customers, enabling cutbacks in operational overhead and improvement in service quality.  This unique piece of technology is both scalable and robust and is to be highly recommended to businesses which want to get ahead of the crowd.    

Yet Sofico is more than just a provider of software packages for the vehicle leasing industry, as all of its products are accompanied by a comprehensive aftercare programme which promotes a long-term strategic partnership with clients.  Fleet operators which avail of Sofico’s software solutions can feel secure in the knowledge that this is one provider which offers lasting support and a safe route to long-term success.

Mr. Sheedy concludes by saying: “Customer loyalty is paramount and top businesses recognise that repeat sales are more cost-effective than new sales. As a result customer care is a major priority and with so many companies offering similar products, consumers have become more demanding. As a result, companies need to offer a distinctive and quality product that will encourage customer retention and brand loyalty. Sofico provide a tailor-made package, branded in the client's name, constantly evolving to keep pace with the ever changing corporate environment, and always employing the very latest in technology. It only remains for me to congratulate Sofico for their efforts in this area and for my part I am delighted to welcome them to our Award’s table as ‘‘Fleet Management Solutions Company 2008’.

For more information see: www.sofico.be