Adaptive canons and virtual assistants in the field

Algorithms that modulate rents in real time, virtual assistants that respond to fleet managers and platforms capable of mapping entire fleets. Corporate mobility is moving towards artificial intelligence, and Drivalia - a rental and leasing company of the Crédit Agricole group - has chosen to focus precisely on digital innovation as a competitive lever.

"Companies are asking us for more sustainable and flexible solutions, but above all for simple and immediate tools to manage increasingly complex fleets," observes Roberto Sportiello, CEO of Drivalia. It is no coincidence that the company has launched an open innovation programme, Digital Factory, with I3P, the incubator of the Turin Polytechnic, aimed at start-ups and innovative companies. In just a few months, over 60 applications were received, evaluated together with the experts of CA Auto Bank: from process optimisation systems to the use of Ia, cybersecurity and dynamic pricing. The most promising solutions then move on to the proof of concept stage, to test the impact on operations and costs. "Innovation must be tangible, not an exercise in style," Sportiello points out. In particular, explains the CEO of Drivalia, conversational Ia can simplify interaction between fleet managers and management platforms, automating repetitive tasks such as bookings, alerts and vehicle status updates. Cybersecurity, on the other hand, is key to protecting sensitive vehicle, driver and contract data, ensuring security and regulatory compliance. "Finally, dynamic pricing allows optimising operating costs by adapting fees and rates in real time to operational needs and vehicle availability."

The market is pushing in three directions: electrification, digitalisation and flexibility. And on these areas Drivalia is also accelerating. On the green front, more than 10% of the short-term fleet in Italy is already electric and, by 2026, new zero and low emission registrations will make up 35% of the European fleet. In parallel, the proprietary recharging network will grow by 45%. Sustainability alone, however, is not enough. The real game is played on the intelligent use of data. "With Fleet View, a new-generation digital platform, we offer fleet managers a single dashboard for mapping, document control and operational management. This is complemented by tools such as 'prorated rental calculation', which calculates rentals on actual vehicle usage, and intermodal solutions that combine several vehicles in the same contract, optimising costs and resources". Drivalia has in fact built a multi-level offer ranging from short, medium and long-term rental to monthly subscriptions and car sharing. "Fleets must be able to evolve together with the customers' business," Sportiello emphasises. Hence the possibility, for example, of reconfiguring short-term cars to cover medium-term needs, guaranteeing continuity and rapid response.

Looking ahead, the company is working on a dual track. On the one hand, the expansion of the electrified fleet and charging network. On the other, the construction of an integrated digital ecosystem that also includes real-time quotations thanks to a new calculator - developed with car manufacturers -, unified management through the Drivalia Planet app, and customised services based on predictive data. "Only in this way,' Sportiello concludes, 'will fleet managers be able to combine sustainability, cost control and speed of decision-making. The challenge, in short, is no longer vehicle ownership, but the ability to orchestrate mobility.