Avis Car Rental continues to focus on the technology side
with updates to its app, a data protection feature and voice-powered
reservations. New app features include the capability to locate fuel and
parking options within a five-mile radius, receipts downloadable in PDF format
for import into an expense tool and Avis shuttle bus tracking so renters can
estimate wait times. Avis has grown the app's availability to about 150
locations around the world, about
100 more than a year ago. Avis also has developed technology that automatically deletes data for renters who pair their mobile device to a car after their rental. VP of customer experience and product development Jeff Kaelin said renters often
forget that step, which can leave data like call history stored in the car. "When they return the Avis car, it automatically clears
that information, instead of them having to go in, delete it and unpair
it," he said. In addition, Avis next month will launch reservation
capabilities for devices enabled with Amazon Alexa technology. Users will be able
to make and manage reservations through the platform, which will integrate with
their Avis Preferred profiles.
Correction, July 31, 2017, 3:50 p.m. Eastern: A previous version of this story indicated Avis already had deployed the technology that deletes data after renters sync their phones with their rental cars.