We asked about system confidence. About frustration. About what slows teams down and what helps them move faster. We asked how well systems connect and integrate, where information gets stuck and what employees struggle with the most. We asked what their customers complain about, and what's driving equipment rental operators to switch or upgrade their current rental management systems.
Party & events operators across the UK and Ireland are doing a good job. They’re efficient, digitally aware and focused on keeping equipment out, paperwork moving and customers happy.
But many are also quietly questioning whether the systems they rely on day to day are still the right fit for where the business is heading. Not because everything is broken, but because with growth comes friction.
Only eighteen percent of respondents said they are very confident their current systems will meet business needs over the next three to five years. Most describe themselves as 'somewhat confident', a neutral and honest answer that suggests systems are doing the job today, but don’t fully reassure when it comes to the longer term.
The way teams interact with their systems reflects a similar pattern. Thirty-eight percent of respondents said accessing and updating data from the field in real time is easy, and thirty-one percent reported that training new employees on their current rental management system is easy. However, over a third sit in the neutral ground, saying field updates and tools are neither difficult nor straightforward, while others say they actively struggle with both.
The picture is clear. Systems work. But they don’t always feel effortless. And when days are busy, friction turns into frustration.
We asked how well current systems integrate with other tools, and the answers were revealing.
Where systems talk to each other properly, teams work faster and make fewer mistakes. Accounting lines up with operations. Payments work smoothly. Routes make sense. Cash flow is easier to manage.
But that’s not the day-to-day reality for everyone.
Almost one in five respondents say their inventory systems are not properly integrated. A quarter say the same about ecommerce. And in larger businesses, the picture often becomes more complex, not simpler. More systems usually means more places where things can go wrong.
Employee frustrations tell the story clearly.
The most common pain points reported by employees are compliance and security risks, inadequate maintenance tracking, poor inventory management, inefficient order processing, and complex billing / invoicing processes. All point to the same root issue.
When systems don’t connect, people compensate. And when people compensate, the margin for error grows.
When asked what’s driving equipment rental ERP upgrades or replacement decisions, the answers were clear and practical.
Party & events operators are looking for:
Over a third of respondents reported a move to an industry-specific solution as the #1 driver for change, followed closely by the need to improve asset availability, reporting and service quality.
Looking ahead, priorities for the next twelve months follow the same theme:
Sustainability is also becoming part of the conversation. Nearly one in five operators say environmental responsibility now plays a role in technology decisions, not as a gesture, but as a practical way of running leaner, cleaner and with better insight into asset usage.
Party & events rental operators aren’t standing still. They’re thinking ahead.
Most teams aren’t looking to rip out systems overnight or chase new technology for the sake of it. But many are taking a step back and asking whether what they have in place is really helping them, or just getting them through the day.
There’s a growing appetite for simplicity.
Some businesses are tidying up systems that have grown organically and become harder to manage. Others are outgrowing platforms that were never built specifically for rental. Across the industry, the intent is the same: remove friction, improve visibility and give teams confidence to make decisions faster.
This isn’t about chasing the latest technology. It’s about making everyday work feel easier, more reliable and less stressful — so teams can focus on customers, not complexity.
Take a closer look at how equipment rental operators are really performing across the UK & Ireland. Explore insights on utilisation, integration, maintenance and customer experience, with detailed performance comparisons between small / medium operators and large enterprise businesses.
Download the full Klipboard Rental Benchmark Report for Party & Events: