"We have good locations, but we can't open a store there."
I suspect there are many people who have missed opportunities because they were struggling with such worries.

The location is perfect. Demand is also expected.
However, the reasons why people still can't take that first step are often the constraints of "people" and "places."

However, now, with the option of unmanned rental cars,
Locations that were previously unsuitable for opening stores are now beginning to transform into profitable locations.

In this article,
Why was it difficult to open a store? What will change with automation?
Then, we will explain its potential through actual implementation examples.

Why is it difficult to open a store in a new location? The reality of the car rental business.

Even if there are places where demand can be expected or areas where a business seems viable,
It's not easy to open a store.

Behind this, separate from the quality of the location,
The car rental business has its own unique structural constraints.

Labor shortage is a bottleneck.

The first major challenge is "securing talent."

The rental car business includes handling reception, rental, and return,
This business model relies on a certain level of human-based operation.
However, the following problems are chronically occurring on-site:

• Hiring staff is difficult.
• Shift adjustment is complex
• Long waiting times and inefficient

As a result, in places where sufficient personnel cannot be deployed
It becomes difficult to even open a store.

The premise is that a reception desk or store is necessary.

Traditional car rental businesses are based on having physical stores.
Therefore, the following restrictions arise when opening a store:

• Space is limited even around the airport.
• A reception desk cannot be set up in a small area.
• Securing a permanent base is necessary.

Even with a good location, it's not uncommon for businesses to give up on a project simply because "it's not possible to build a store there."

You can't open a shop unless you have both the right people and a suitable location.

In conventional models, both "people" and "places" must be present for it to work.
If either one is missing, the business cannot function.

As a result, land that could have been monetized is not being utilized.
Currently, this is resulting in significant missed opportunities.

What will change with the operation of unmanned car rental services?

In short, the very prerequisites for opening a store will change.

① Enables storeless operations.

• As long as there is a parking lot, it will work.
• No physical store required
• Available for borrowing and returning 24 hours a day.

Locations that were previously considered "unsuitable for opening a store" suddenly become potential locations.

② A system that can operate even without people.

• From booking to return, everything can be completed through the app.
• Key management via app

Because it is designed on the premise that it can function even without people,
The service will run smoothly even without staff permanently stationed on-site.

③ The number of places where you can set up a shop expands dramatically.

• Airport surroundings / Hotels / Tourist attractions / Unused land

Locations that previously fell short of becoming successful are now being transformed into revenue-generating hubs.

[Case Study] MID Rent-a-Car | Starting with efficiency improvements, their "store opening strategy" changed.

So, how exactly is this change happening on the ground?
The changes brought about by the introduction of unmanned car rentals go beyond simply improving operational efficiency.
In many cases, the very prerequisites for opening a store are re-evaluated through the process of operation.

A concrete example of this is MID Rent-a-Car, which operates primarily in hotels and airports in Hokkaido.
For this company as well, the starting point for implementation was not "expanding the number of stores."

The trigger was, after all,Business efficiency"is.

• We want to reduce labor costs.
• We want to reduce the operational burden.

We started by addressing those on-site challenges.

However, unexpected changes occur after implementation.

This was a good opportunity because parking spaces around the airport became available due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Normally, this would be a situation where the decision would be made to "not do it because we can't assign enough people."

However, if it's unmanned operation,There is no need to attach a person to the post..

This single point changed our decision.

As a result, we were able to expand into locations that we would have previously passed on.
The introduction was for the purpose of improving operational efficiency.
Before we knew it, we had changed our entire store opening strategy.

The reality of unmanned car rental operations

When you hear about unmanned car rentals,
Many people may be worried and wonder, "Will the site really be able to function?"

The unmanned car rental system "Uqey" is designed to prevent operational failure even without human intervention.
We will review the complex tasks that occur in practical work from the ground up.
We have a system in place to make the operation realistically feasible.

A system that allows for end-to-end management of lending, returning, and payment.

Uqey is a system that allows you to complete everything from borrowing and returning items to payment using a smartphone app.
No reception or in-person procedures are required; users can use the service smoothly simply by operating the app.

Therefore, until now, this had been handled manually.

• Changes to departure/return times and handling of waiting times due to delays
• Reception work restricted to business hours

This does not create such burdens.Operation that can function without personnelWill be possible.

Reasons why people are not needed locally

The reason why it can be operated without having staff permanently stationed on-site is,
The key advantage lies in the digitalization and remote handling of key management and various administrative tasks.

• The keys have been digitized and can be unlocked and locked via an app.
• The management screen allows you to monitor loan and return status in real time.
• Driver's license verification and identity verification can be completed entirely online.

This includes things like "handing over keys" and "being present for identity verification."
We eliminate tasks that tend to become bottlenecks in unmanned operations.

A system that can run with minimal operation.

Uqey can handle any issues that may arise during the return process online.

• Recovery of additional costs such as unfilled fuel, delays, and repair costs.
• Vehicle damage and dirt check (check using photos and data)

By digitizing tasks that previously required on-site presence,
This enables stable, unmanned rental car operations without the need for constant human presence.

An example of unmanned car rental operation: The case of MID Rent-a-Car.

So, what will the operation of Uqey be like after its implementation?
Based on a real-world example from MID Rent-a-Car, we will introduce this from a perspective close to the actual situation.

Q. How are you proceeding with your base expansion?
A. MID Rent-a-Car provides rentals to hotels, airports, Self-Defense Force bases, etc.
We are expanding our bases by selecting locations where demand is expected and conducting sales ourselves.
Sales itself is not easy,
Once the decision to implement it is made, subsequent customer acquisition proceeds almost naturally.
One major advantage is that it eliminates the need to allocate significant resources to marketing strategies.

Q. How often do you actually provide on-site support?
A. After each return, the vehicle is cleaned and inspected by the rental car company.
(Vehicle inspections by the user are completed via the app.)
At Rusutsu Resort's station, cleaning is outsourced to facility employees,
On-site service is provided only for routine inspections.
*The frequency of responses can be adjusted according to the operational policy.
* You can freely set the maintenance time after the return.

Summary | Unmanned car rental is a business that liberates us from the constraints of "people and places."

The previous rental car business was
"No one is there = it can't be done."
I've been bound by that premise.

However, automation has drastically altered that premise.

• It can be done even without a physical store.
• It can function even without someone permanently stationed there.
• The number of places where you can set up a store is expanding.

And a prime example of this is the case of MID Rent-a-Car.

The place where it was not possibleA place to generate revenueIt changes to ".
Unmanned car rentals are making that possibility a reality.

For those considering introducing an automated car rental service

At Uqey, we offer optimal implementation plans tailored to your company's size and operational structure.

It's perfectly fine if you're just at the stage where you want to hear more.
Please feel free to contact us as part of your information gathering process.

◆MID ALFA Co., Ltd. (MID Rent-a-Car)

MID Rent-a-Car is a premium car rental service operated by an authorized import car dealer. They offer a wide range of vehicles, primarily focusing on luxury imported cars such as Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and Land Rover, but also including domestic cars.

With the reliable maintenance quality and high-quality vehicles that only an authorized dealer can offer,
We have provided many customers with a comfortable and reliable experience.

In recent years, the company has expanded beyond simply providing rental cars to include personal leasing and subscription services, demonstrating its commitment to catering to the diverse car lifestyles of its users.

MID Rent-a-Car | MID ALFA Co., Ltd.
Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
　

▼MID Rent-a-Car Station
Okadama Airport Station
Fairfield by Marriott Sapporo Station
Chitose Station Store (directly connected to Chitose Station) Station
New Chitose Airport Station
New Chitose Airport A Parking Station
Rusutsu Resort Hotel Station
Minami 17-jo Nishi 10-chome Station

◆Article author: Uqey Marketing Team

This article was written by the marketing team of Uqey, an unmanned car rental system provided by Tokai Rika Co., Ltd. Uqey is a service that integrates the entire process from reservation to return, realizing unmanned and efficient car rental operations.

We provide practical information to address the challenges faced by rental car operators, such as startup costs and operational burdens. We hope this article will be helpful to businesses considering introducing unmanned rental cars.

Tokai Rika Co., Ltd.
260, Toyoda 3-chome, Oguchi-cho, Niwa-gun, Aichi Prefecture
　

Uqey brand website:　uqey.com