Auto Rental News
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Budget Costa Rica Uses Chatbot to Improve Digital Experience

With the help of EDNA, a technology startup focused on artificial intelligence, Budget Costa Rica has incorporated a Chatbot, which uses artificial intelligence to answer questions and take reservations in real time.

by Staff
October 12, 2017
2 min to read


Budget Car Rental Costa Rica, with the help of EDNA, has developed an artificial intelligence startup. The Chatbot will improve the digital experience by providing customers with a series of services related to frequent questions, reservations, and quotes in real time, according to the company.

Named Franco, the Chatbot will be available both on the webpage of Budge Costa Rica as well as in its Facebook Messenger. Initially, Franco will allow clients to make any frequent questions related to car rentals, and in a second phase, it will also permit car rental reservations through this chat platform.

Ad Loading...

Starting this month, Franco is available in English and Spanish.

“In Budget, our main objective is to use artificial intelligence technology to solve the needs of clients in real time, at any hour, and any day of the year by means of an automated knowledge that will allow them to find the answers to their needs in an interactive manner,” said Paulo Vargas, general manager of Budget Costa Rica.

Franco can answer several types of questions on rentals, recommend and show the available car fleet, and provide information on locations and coverages.

“With Budget we executed a special job, as there was no other Chatbot in the Costa Rican car rental industry,” said Kenneth Calderon, CEO of EDNA. “This allowed us to innovate and provide a solution that we know will improve the experience of the client. By creating a Chatbot for Facebook Messenger and its webpage, Budget will have instant access to its clients by means of a widely used and familiar platform. We built Franco using the latest artificial intelligence technology.”

With its amicable tone, instant answers, and the capacity to answer frequently asked questions, Franco sounds like a real person that is available 24/7.

Ad Loading...

“For Budget, the project aligns with the innovation initiatives portfolio that we have been working on that seeks to improve the experience of our clients with immediate answers to their questions and requests, and we are the first car rental to offer this type of solutions,” said Vargas.

More Rental Operations

50 states map showing LOR rates for each state with different shades of light to dark green

U.S. Rental Length Declines Slightly in Q1 2026, Enterprise Reports

LOR overall continues to trend downward, but ongoing market and economic conditions could affect future results while the industry deals with staffing and productivity challenges.

Read More →
Illustration of a driverless futuristic front seat/dashboard view of other cars on a freeway with city skyline on horizon.

Hertz, Uber Deepen Roles In Self-Driving And Driver-Led Fleet Services

The business arrangement connects demand with scalable fleet management services and supports a range of mobility uses.

Read More →
A tech collage of electronic devices against a computer chip blueprint map.
Rental OperationsMay 1, 2026

Why Car Rental Can No Longer Run On Workarounds

The shift from branch-based software to connected operations is turning rental technology into strategic infrastructure.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A tech collage of electronic devices against a computer chip blueprint map.
Rental OperationsMay 1, 2026

Why Car Rental Can No Longer Run On Workarounds

The shift from branch-based software to connected operations is turning rental technology into strategic infrastructure.

Read More →
A black Audi SUV superimposed on a historic scene from downtown Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Carwiz Sets Up Rental Operations In Central Asia

The global franchise operation reaches a first in its rental fleet portfolio with new service in Uzbekistan.

Read More →
A raging brushfire in the countryside.
Rental Operationsby Martin RomjueApril 30, 2026

Where Rental Fleets Must Adjust To Shifting Catastrophe Risks

West Coast disasters pose unique challenges and liabilities for rental fleet operators, who are advised to take steps tailored to their specific situations.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
ARN Industry Newsmakers thumbnail page with ARN and ICRS logos and shots of Nick DiPrima and Martin Romjue
Rental Operationsby Martin RomjueApril 27, 2026

Using AI To Find Rental Car Damage

Angry car renters are storming social media, the mainstream media, and online ratings platforms to complain about charges they claim are either unfounded or excessive.

Read More →
Photo of CEO Krešimir Dobrilović against a gray modernist crooked-tile mural display.

Carwiz Opens Car Rental Service In Panama

A Carwiz partner in Puerto Rico is taking on the Panama franchise with operations in the nation's largest airport.

Read More →
A world map with Flexways logo and new locations headline.

Flexways Opens 10 Locations Among Franchise, Affiliate Rental Networks

The integrated business model combines each operator’s local expertise with international standards to boost sales.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Photo of a suitcase, passport, and smartphone.

Traveler Customer Satisfaction Up This Year Data Study Shows

The study looks at customer analytics to size up performance in car rentals, rideshare, airlines, lodging, and OTAs.

Read More →
Ad Loading...