Having a premier start is vital and Premier Cars, Cardiff understand this, as one of the first sites in the UK to install Auriga's brand new CT4000 mobile computer terminal.

Premier Cars is a company that believes in offering its customers a premium service - so it's no surprise that they have invested in the most advanced technology available to run their business.

Having suffered problems with its previous Data Dispatch supplier, the Cardiff-based firm has installed Auriga Systems' advanced Evocab System to manage its fleet, and recently took the next step by becoming one of the first sites in the UK to install Auriga's brand new CT4000 mobile computer terminals.

The CT4000 was officially launched in the UK on November 5, 2006, and represents a revolution in in-car technology thanks to its advanced new functionality and ease of use, which makes it simple to understand, even for new drivers. With more than 2,700 units already installed worldwide, uptake on the unit has been incredibly fast.

With Evocab and the CT4000, Premier is now well and truly geared up for the future. General Manager Peter Renwick says they've almost forgotten how different life was before Auriga came along: "We have Evocab and CT4000 units, and we find the advance capabilities and functions to be fundamental to our business," he enthuses. "We can't imagine what we did before!"

Premier Cars (Cardiff) Ltd has been serving the Cardiff area for the past 30 years, with owners Tim Mahoney and Phil Usher at the helm, now supported by General Manager Peter Renwick.

With more than 200 cars, including top of the range vehicles such as BMWs and Mercedes, Premier is one of the biggest fleets in the whole of Wales. Asked what makes Premier Cars different, Tim Mahoney points to the quality of service the company provides: "The name says it all – it's also the company philosophy," he says. "We aim to provide a high calibre service, and to stay ahead of our competitors in the eyes of our customer base."

To help them, Premier have installed Evocab to look after the office side of things with its unique intelligent dispatching mechanism. But what's really interesting is the in-car units they are using, because this is one of the first sites in the UK to install Auriga's brand new CT4000 mobile computer terminals, which are based on the Windows CE.NET Operating System, and benefit from full-colour touch screen controls.

Crucially, the CT4000 is also a uniquely durable unit, specifically designed and engineered to stand up to life in the demanding taxi and private hire industry. Of the decision to invest in the unit, Tim says: "We were looking to expand and increase our fleet, and we knew the CT4000 would help us to do so - and also enhance our status in our market."

The solution is a dream for drivers, because Evocab not only distributes work fairly; it also ensures it does so more efficiently too, so there's less waiting time, and less dead mileage. But it's the new in-car unit which has made the big difference: "The CT4000's new communication tools are great," explains Tim. "It tells drivers when new jobs are available, so they know they can bid for them." Driver Steve Russell agrees: "The ease of use is what me and other drivers are most happy about - as well as the touch screen, messaging and voice prompts that the CT4000 units provides."

But with as progressive a company as Premier, evolution is a continual process, and already the management team are looking to provide new services for their customer base. Again, Auriga's products are central to their plans: "Safety and security are important issues to our customers - especially young females," explains Tim. "Thanks to Auriga's Text Back we can give them the details of their taxi via text, for extra peace of mind".

With the problems of their previous system a distant memory, Premier are now looking toward the future, and Peter Renwick is optimistic about what it will hold: "There is room for growth in our market and with the CT4000 being a constantly evolving unit, it is a big part of our ongoing strategy," he says. "We are excited as to what advantageous features and functions it will continue to offer our business, which we in turn can pass on to our customers."

For more information on Premier Cars (Cardiff) Ltd, visit the company's website: www.premiertaxis.net.