Over 90 Opportunities for identified
Saved £50,000 and identified further savings of over £1M
Increased productivity by 10% & reduced process time by 20%
Reduced carbon footprint
There has been widescale adoption of the new technology so the project was a success.
CFO
Define it
Constellation Automotive Group is the largest vertically integrated digital car marketplace in Europe, combining leading brands such as We Buy Any Car, Cinch and Marshall. Marshall Motor Group, a rapidly growing company within the automotive retail sector, faced challenges due to its federated structure. The decentralised model, while effective for initial growth, led to inconsistencies across dealerships. Upon initial review, we identified manual processes, paper-based filing, and variations in paperwork, creating inefficiencies, impacting productivity, employee morale, and compliance. There was a need for digital transformation across the group.
Improve it
To achieve digital transformation and support continued growth, both organic and through acquisitions, Marshall required standardised processes, increased automation and improved efficiency. Our approach consisted of:
- Process mapping: A comprehensive analysis of “as-is” business processes across dealerships identified 93 potential improvement areas.
- Focus on standardisation: The project prioritised standardising documents required for buying and selling vehicles. Additionally, the paper-based filing system was eliminated and digitised.
- Collaboration and configuration: Standard documents were defined, including brand-specific variations. A document storage and workflow system was configured in collaboration with a software provider, reflecting the standardised business process.
- Proof of concept: A trial run with Mercedes-Benz and BMW dealerships in South England demonstrated the effectiveness of the new approach.
Sustain it
We developed and delivered bespoke training across dealerships to embed the new ways of working. By standardising processes and implementing a digital document management system, Constellation Automotive Group achieved significant operational improvements. This empowered them to focus on customer service and support future growth plans.
Key benefits
- A single, standardised process for vehicle purchase and sale streamlined operations.
- Simplified processes reduced transaction cycle times by 20%, saving several hours per sale.
- Transaction volume per person per day increased by over 10%, increasing productivity.
- Printing, storage, and software costs were significantly reduced (over £50,000 annual savings).
- Identified further improvement opportunities of over £1M relating to changes in the Target Operating Model.
- Enhanced visibility of performance across dealerships and the group network.
- Streamlined audit processes through the ability to conduct remote audits using technology.
- Enhanced customer experience by improving service through efficient operations.
