17 May 2016 – Mobility and fleet leasing specialist Alphabet today announces a double success at this year’s International Auto Finance Network (IAFN) Awards in London, including the first ever industry awards success for Alphabet Partner.
Alphabet Partner and the AlphaGuide App won awards for ‘Best Product or Service Innovation in Fleet Finance’ and ‘Total Mobility Initiative’ respectively, while the company was also highly commended in the category of ‘Best use of Technology’.
Alphabet Partner, the broker channel which launched in late 2014, was named winner for ‘Best Product or Service Innovation in Fleet Finance’ for its first full year of trading. Graham Conway, Head of Alphabet Partner (pictured with Pam Halliday, Sales & Marketing Director, NextGear Capital) received the award on behalf of Alphabet for its radically different approach to the Broker market and the industry-leading IT platform, ‘icon’.
Conway commented: “This is the first external recognition of Alphabet Partner since its launch in 2014 and it’s a really proud moment for the whole Alphabet Partner team. It is fantastic to receive an accolade from the automotive finance industry for a business channel that is too often overlooked but which plays a vital role for the dynamic SME sector. Last year the Broker market delivered nearly 75,000 vehicle contracts to keep customers on the move.
This award recognises years of hard work, passion and dedication, coupled with innovative thinking and a real team ethos. Following its launch, we’ve seen spectacular growth for Alphabet Partner which is testament to the fantastic relationship we have with our hand-picked selection of the UK’s very best Broker Partners. In our spirit of true partnership we continue to involve our Brokers and evolve with them to strengthen our offering to customers.
The incredible growth over the past 18 months has been generated from both new customers and a high percentage of repeat business, which reflects the depth of the relationship our Brokers have with their customers, as well as how Alphabet’s unparalleled range of products and services has added a new dimension to this. Hopefully this award will become the first of many for Alphabet Partner.”
Colin Tourick, Co-Founder of Asset Finance International and Professor of Automotive Management at the University of Buckinghamshire commented: “The judges were really impressed by Alphabet Partner, which gives SMEs access to Alphabet’s suite of funding, fleet management and mobility solutions through its network of Brokers. The partnership between Alphabet and its Broker network is an innovative model which challenges traditional perceptions of the sector and is supported by a bespoke quotation system. Alphabet Partner shows that the path to success lies in building long term, sustainable relationships and offering a genuine point of difference for customers.”
In addition, David Bushnell, Product Manager collected the ‘Total Mobility Initiative’ award on behalf of Alphabet for the new AlphaGuide app which launched in January 2016. Alphabet also received a highly commended recognition in the ‘Best use of Technology’ award.
Tourick commented: “Information now reaches people at anytime, anywhere. The challenge is to supply drivers with clear and relevant mobility information instantly. Alphabet’s response is a new, upgraded version of AlphaGuide which puts key information and support at the fingertips of drivers and fleet managers, enabling them to make better decisions about their personal mobility. This upgrade certainly advances the concept of driver mobility so well done to Alphabet for pushing on the agenda.”
The IAFN Awards are chosen by a committee of senior professionals from across the global automotive finance industry, while the process is chaired and overseen by Tarun Mistry, the partner leading Grant Thornton’s leasing, asset and consumer finance sector team.
