MEDFORD, Mass., and SAN FRANCISCO -

With operations such as DriveItAway working with NIADA,  stores are retailing more used vehicles to buyers who are leveraging the car for employment with alternative-transportation companies.

On Tuesday, a partnership involving Agero and Lyft came to fruition that could potentially help those individuals gain even more business and stay current on their financing obligations.

Agero, a market leader in software-enabled driver assistance services for automotive manufacturers and insurance providers in North America, and transportation network company Lyft announced what they believe is a first-of-its-kind partnership for the industry to transform, modernize and streamline the roadside assistance experience for potentially millions of consumers. The partnership, which follows a widely successful pilot program, introduces an integrated and on-demand alternative transportation program for breakdowns requiring a tow.

Agero and Lyft explained the partnership will provide consumers requiring a tow with the option of a complementary Lyft ride from the disablement location, repair shop or dealership to their home or destination.

The companies say this offering will not only minimize consumer disruption, but also provide greater peace of mind to drivers during their time of need.

With the mobility landscape rapidly evolving, Agero and Lyft acknowledged that consumer expectations for fast, seamless and transparent services have permeated into the roadside assistance market, driving the need for entirely new and distinct experiences that both surprise and delight consumers. Agero and Lyft emphasized they are addressing this situation by combining the companies’ scale, sector expertise and operating efficiency to deliver greater convenience to consumers at the side of the road.

“One in three drivers will have a breakdown event each year and approximately half of those breakdowns require a tow,” said Luis Quiroga, vice president, product marketing and innovation at Agero, which is the parent company of Auto Intel Council member MBSi Corp.

“While it has always been Agero’s mission to get consumers back on the road safely and effectively during these stressful times, our partnership with Lyft further enables us to deliver a differentiated, on-demand and convenient experience consumers expect, while also helping our insurance and automotive clients increase their customers’ satisfaction and drive brand affinity,” Quiroga continued.

The Lyft ride-sharing service will be offered during the initial roadside service request with Agero and can be delivered via two experience models:

• Agent-Assisted: An Agero customer service representative schedules the ride on the customer’s behalf and handles payment directly for a concierge-like experience. Ride information, including approximate arrival time, driver name, vehicle make, model, color and license plate number are delivered to the customer via text message.

• Self-Service: A voucher code is delivered to the customer via text, enabling the customer to have full control over scheduling the service at their convenience using their own Lyft account.

Additional digital integrations within Agero’s suite of omnichannel service request options, including mobile app and on-demand web app, will be rolling out starting during the third quarter.

“At Lyft, our mission is improving people’s lives with the world’s best transportation,” said Gyre Renwick, vice president, Lyft Business. “We know the traditional roadside assistance market is changing, and our work with Agero creates a truly unique service experience that is reshaping how roadside support is delivered while elevating the consumer experience.”

Following extensive in-market piloting, the companies indicated the service was shown to both increase customer satisfaction and generate positive sentiment:

• Improved net promoter score (NPS): NPS improved for all consumers offered alternative transportation, even those who did not accept.

• Increased satisfaction: Of those consumers that accepted a ride, a majority reported high satisfaction with the service.

• High potential adoption rate: Nearly all consumers indicated they would consider using this service as part of their roadside program.

For more information on the Agero and Lyft partnership and this new service offering, go to this website.