A HAMPSHIRE cruise company has upgraded hardware and software to increase efficiency and enhance its services.

Southampton-based Cruise and Passenger Services (CPS) has operations in the city and ensures the safety of 75,000 vehicles while travellers are on holiday.

Passengers can book and store their vehicles through a call centre in Totton or via the CPS website before arriving at the cruise terminal with their details and vehicle information downloaded by staff who meet them.

New handsets and software upgrades mean the scope of services has been increased, as well as the ability of staff to manage bookings.

CPS call centre manager Rob Preston said: “The new software has been developed entirely by our in-house IT specialists and is being utilised at both the call centre and on berth.

“Combined with the new hardware sets, it enables our operatives to carry out their work more efficiently and enhances our services to passengers.”

CPS reception staff will use new handsets to verify booking. before entering a vehicle’s registration before a key tag containing a barcode is presented to the customer and the bar code is scanned.

Photographs are then taken of the vehicle to verify any future claims and the vehicles are driven by CPS staff to nearby secure car parks.

Bookings can also be taken onsite using a purpose-developed app that links back to the call centre server.