4 mins read
Customer Challenge
As the world emerged from the Covid pandemic and vehicle pricing and supply issues began to ease, the RNLI recognised that its vehicle fleet in Ireland was ageing and would soon need to be updated.
The RNLI’s principal activity is saving lives at sea, and it does this exceptionally well thanks to the rapid response of its volunteer crews when a distress call comes in. The RNLI’s staff support their lifesavers on the coast and on inland waters and must ensure that the equipment and resources needed by them are maintained and ready for action. For this they need a reliable vehicle fleet as they cover the entire country.
Supply Chain Director for the RNLI in Ireland, John Fitzpatrick, commented:
“Value for money for our donors was obviously important when it came to upgrading our fleet. However, keeping downtime to a minimum, especially for our technical vehicles used to maintain our lifeboats, along with reliability of service, were equally important. Our vehicle fleet is key to the operation of our rescue boats.”
Customer Solution
Following a competitive tender process, NiftiBusiness was awarded the contract to update and maintain the entire RNLI vehicle fleet in Ireland, with almost 50 vehicles expected to be replaced by the end of 2026.
John added:
“We were impressed with the NiftiBusiness solution, and it was clear that our ambition for our fleet and their ability to manage it were closely aligned. In addition, we have significant carbon-neutral targets to 2030, and we see our vehicle fleet as one of the key levers to help achieve them. As EV Leasing Company of the Year 2024, we were confident that NiftiBusiness was the right partner to support us on this sustainability journey.”
Customer Impact
By moving its full vehicle fleet to NiftiBusiness, the RNLI has achieved not only cost efficiencies but also reduced downtime across the fleet. From a dedicated relationship manager to the NiftiBusiness Driver’s App, described as “a game-changer” by John, and the Fleet Management Portal, the level of service provided helps the organisation to support our team of lifesavers.”
John noted:
“Vehicle issues are inevitable, but it’s how they are handled that sets good suppliers apart. The NiftiBusiness team is efficient and proactive, and when it comes to upgrading and maintaining our fleet, they consistently help us deliver the best value for our generous donors.”
