Cushman & Wakefield Case Study
Cushman & Wakefield assists clients in every stage of the real estate process, representing them in the buying, selling, financing, leasing, managing and valuing of assets, and providing strategic planning and research, portfolio analysis, site selection and space location, among many other advisory services.
When Cushman & Wakefield put its 200 car fleet out to tender in 2005, Nick van Dorp, Human Resources Partner - Europe, admits he was cynical about outsourcing.
The previous supplier had not lived up to expectations. Nick had been uncomfortable with the lack of transparency of pricing, and the service to drivers never seemed to improve upon what they had achieved when the fleet was run in-house.
"We were simply looking for a company that could get it right, be open about their cost structures, and give a level of service that ensured the vehicle fleet took up a minimal amount of my time," said Nick.
"What I immediately liked about Leasedrive Velo was that they were unpretentious, transparent and straightforward to deal with. They were also more hands on.
As a firm with its own very high standards and pedigree, we are proud at Cushman & Wakefield in the ethical and clear way we do business. Finding a supplier to match this was important to us."
On appointing Leasedrive Velo, Nick was particularly impressed that their staff asked to attend Cushman & Wakefield's staff induction programme - as if they were joining the company and becoming part of the business. Also appealing was their flexibility.
"We saw a few suppliers before choosing Leasedrive Velo, and with most I felt we would have to fit in with they way they wanted to do business - not the other way round. Leasedrive Velo's independence was therefore a big factor," continued Nick. "I could see their decisions were within their own control, as opposed to having a group company telling them what they could or couldn't do.
This meant they could respond to us in a way that ensured their service met our requirements.
They were also happy to be transparent, open and honest regarding their pricing.
And whilst they were not the cheapest, at least we knew where we stood and what we were getting for our investment.
We had endured poor service before from suppliers from a multitude of sectors and had not been clear with some of them how their fees were calculated. We also appreciated how much of a hidden cost it can be when you are frequently dealing with problems.
With Leasedrive Velo, it was our belief that their added value, transparency and high service levels, as well as their approach to business, were worth paying the extra for.
Working with key suppliers is largely about the strength of the relationship and when you meet their teams you are shaking hands with people that have been there a long time."
