Skoda is one of the most popular brands among organisations on the hunt for a sharp-looking fleet and cost-effective running costs.

Many companies have bought into the benefits offered by the Czech carmaker, Molly Maid and Clancy Plant to name just two, and Skoda’s fleet friendliness with its first digital showroom.

The virtual showroom grants access to business customers to view new Skoda models in 360-degree high-res detail before they purchase. This approach has been introduced as an alternative to the traditional, time-consuming brochure-led process that comes with visiting a bricks and mortar showroom.

Users simply visit Skoda UK’s fleet website where they’ll be given a one-way live video stream to an experienced Skoda fleet product host, who uses a mix of smartphone and static cameras to showcase the model range in detail and answer questions in real-time around important factors such as tax and p11d values.

This digital approach will be used throughout November to showcase the forthcoming Karoq to fleet customers, a whole two months ahead of the SUV’s arrival in physical showrooms.

The seven-seat Kodiaq SUV and Octavia vRS are also currently available to view in the digital showroom, with vehicles being regularly rotated.

Skoda UK’s head of fleet Henry Williams commented: “Unveiling a newly launched vehicle through a digital showroom is not only a first for ŠKODA but a first in the UK fleet industry.

“In order to keep pace in the fleet sector, it’s essential that we adapt to match people’s buying habits with more and more people turning to online research before deciding to purchase.”

Mr Williams went on to say that the ability to tour a newly launched vehicle online will help potential business customers obtain all the product and finance information they need to know in a much shorter space of time.

Ben Robb, brand manager at The Fuelcard People, added: “The idea of checking out a new car digitally is pure science fiction. This is where the industry is heading so expect more convenient digital services like this to pop up in the near future.”