Hertz loves Hazel

Press, 30 April 1981, Page 18

Hertz loves Hazel

Hertz, the national rental car operator, has just completed commissioning of what it believes is the most up-to-date rental car computer operation in the world. “We are now getting inquiries from overseas rental car companies who want details of the system on which to base their programmes,” said the chief executive of Hertz (Mr lan Thomas). “Even in the United States, no rental car company can match our computer, there, they simply handle reservations with a vehicle rental contract form still being provided manually. Ours produces a contract form which needs only the customer’s signature to complete it. It does this through storing the information needed from a customer to hire a car, when a reservation is made and producing it on the spot.”

The installation of the computer network, with visual display units in Hertz locations from Whangarei to Invercargill, was performed by CBL Computers, Ltd, which won the Hertz contract. Hertz leases computer time with CBL. avoiding the necessity to buy its own main computer. The system provides management with the normal business functions of a computer, but in Hertz’s case it means the computer now takes over positioning of the fleet of 2000 vehicles throughout the country. It will mean optimum use is made of the fleet and firm reservations made up to a year in advance, and the programme was specifically developed for the rental car company. Hertz’ is the first rental car operator in New Zealand

to have changed to com-puter-operated issuing of hire corttracts and commission payments to travel agents. An important feature of the new technology has been its acceptance by Hertz staff. The company went to considerable lengths to ensure that staff were fully trained and kept up to date’with developments during the 12 monthperiod the system was being installed. It was Hertz, staff themselves who christened their new companion “Hazel,” inspired by "Hazeltine,” the name of the manufacturer of the visual display units. When Hertz management learnt of the name the “Listener” cartoonist Tom Scott was commissioned to produce the accompanying cartoon: copies are being distributed to staff to fill in their version of Hazel’s reply to the customer.