Coach Hire Comparison is moving towards an automatic pricing model and away from operators submitting quotes for individual customer requests.
Following a six-figure investment, the website, which connects customers looking for hires with 250 independent minibus and coach operators across the UK, will automatically generate instant quotes with a guarantee that a supplier will be found to meet requirements.
Currently, participating operators spend around 24 days per year submitting quotes to potential Coach Hire Comparison customers, “with no guarantee of success”, according to Co-founder James Stokes.
Operators will be able to log on to the “Book It Now” system every morning to see the list of opportunities that match their location and fleet, and choose the ones they want to accept. They will also be paid in full for each booking undertaken.
The change will be rolled out in phases, with Coach Hire Comparison aiming to to have 80% of inquiries automatically priced instantly by the end of the year.
The system will calculate quotes based on more than a decade’s worth of data such as search volumes, conversion rates, pricing trends and consumer behaviours. It will take into account time of day, day of the week, time of the year, onboard facilities requested and other factors.
As well as saving time for operators, the new model will improve the experience for customers, believes Mr Stokes.
“We see overpricing – sometimes by eye-watering amounts – as well as underquoting, and it can take time to get three average quotes,” says Mr Stokes. “As a consequence, thousands of customers are left underserved and millions of pounds of potential business is left unlocked.
“Book It Now will accurately and speedily fulfil quote requests, delivering more certainty for suppliers by providing them with genuine, fully-paid bookings, as well saving them time and improving their cashflow.
“It will also mean a faster, seamless experience for customers, and will give them a more realistic view of what the price will be for their journey.
“The ever-changing landscape, with an increasingly savvy customer base expecting a digital experience, means we have to invest in technology to continue to provide a market-leading service.”
Coach Hire Comparison, which was bought by CMAC in June 2023, is looking to double in size over the next 12 months. It provides 5,000 quotes a month for events ranging from school outings and stag and hen party trips to corporate bookings, airport transfers and travel to and from music festivals and sporting events. It is also looking to expand globally with plans to move into Ireland and Portugal by the second half of 2025, as well as Spain and Greece “in the mix”.
The development is the biggest single enhancement in the 14-year history of the business, says Mr Stokes.
“We believe Book It Now will be transformational for operators, customers and for the industry as a whole,” he says.
“It’s a new way of working, and one which we believe will bring lots of new benefits.
“For operators, it will increase their earnings, save them time and remove the guesswork associated with providing quotes.
“We believe it will have a huge and positive impact on their businesses, and we are aiming to double the volume of bookings that operators which register their vehicles with us will receive through our platform, capitalising on our growing market share.
“Our aim is for Book It Now and the standardised pricing it will provide to become a benchmark for excellence for the industry. It’s a real statement of intent as to how we are upping our ambitions for the business.”
A series of webinars will be held to help operators with the new system.
