Rental utilization

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Utilization is the primary method by which tool rental companies measure asset performance. In its most basic form it measures the actual revenue earned by assets against the potential revenue they could have earned. [1]

Contents

Calculations

Rental utilization is divided into a number of different calculations, and not all companies work precisely the same way. In general terms however there are two key calculations: the physical utilization on the asset, which is measured based on the number of available days for rental against the number of days actually rented. (This may also be measured in hours for certain types of equipment), and the financial utilization on the asset (referred to in North America as $ Utilization) which is measured as the rental revenue achieved over a period of time against the potential revenue that could have been achieved based on a target or standard, non-discounted rate. Physical utilization is also sometimes referred to as spot utilization, where a rental company looks at its current utilization of assets based on a single moment in time (e.g. now, 9 am today, etc.).

Utilization calculations may be varied based on many different factors. For example:

Utilization in this context is heavily linked to profitability. [3] Low physical utilization may be mitigated by keeping rental rates high, high physical utilization normally justifies keeping rental rates lower. [4] Different types of equipment may also alter the relationship between rates and utilization. [5]

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The rental industry spans many different types of equipment from tools to heavy construction equipment, aerial to vehicles, party and event to computers and test and measurement equipment and highly specialized areas such as Crane and Temporary Accommodation rental. In the UK and some parts of Europe it is referred to as the Hire Industry.

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Most equipment, vehicles, tools, portable accommodation and specialized equipment is rented with either attachments or accessories. When dealing with heavy and specialized equipment, these are normally referred to as attachments, other types of rental tend to refer to them as accessories, though this also varies by country.

Result Group

Result Group sold a specialist equipment management software application: rentalresult to companies renting and managing assets, e.g., cranes, tools, heavy equipment, aerial, modular space, computer hardware and test & measuring equipment since 1994. It was privately owned and incorporated in Delaware and the United Kingdom. The company was acquired by Wynne Systems Inc of Irvine, CA in December 2015 and the RentalResult product continues as a brand under the Wynne umbrella.

References

  1. http://constructionequipmentdistribution.com/article-detail.cfm?id=10921486 Utilization is key to rental business
  2. "Using technology to improve utilization" (PDF). Qualcomm.
  3. "How to improve results". CED Magazine.
  4. "Close correlation between utilization and rental rates". Rental Management Magazine.
  5. "How utilization affects profitability". RentalPulse.

See also

Renting