AutoProcess 4.0 - a New Technology Platform to Drive Growth
Date: Wed 4th September 2013 | Author: Natalie Ridgwell
One minute to load a customer’s policy was the simple goal set by AutoProtect in developing its new technology platform to support dealers and as their Head of IT, Nisha Manaktala, proudly confirms this is exactly what has been delivered – and more.
“Across AutoProtect we do not view technology as a facilitator to process sales, we see it as a differentiator. From the outset, we set about asking dealers what they wanted. Consistently, the feedback was that what was required was ease of use, speed, access to clear supporting information and a visually pleasing experience. Our new platform delivers, with a simple five step process.”
Rapid business growth and a desire for simplicity drove the development programme. Starting from a clean sheet of paper, the AutoProtect IT team has created the new AutoProcess platform, combining state of the art technology with the practical requirements of dealer customers. Dealers have been quick to praise the new platform reporting that it is intuitive, fast and easy to use. They also note that the whole changeover has been ‘painless’.
As well as meeting today’s needs future proofing was also uppermost in the development process. “It was important to address the agile and ever-changing needs of our dealerships, by providing a platform that grows in line with their business, allowing policy loading to be the least of their worries. Feedback suggests we have delivered.” Notes Manaktala.
Overall investment in the programme has been substantial. A new Technology Development Centre has been created at AutoProtect’s HQ, with a total revamp of the business’ technology infrastructure. This has been supported by the addition of new talent recruited to bring fresh state-of-the-art thinking to the business, much of it from outside of the automotive industry.
As well as rapid policy loading, the new technology is bristling with tools designed to support the sales and administration of the products available from AutoProtect’s growing portfolio.
- Dashboards with charting capabilities help bring performances to life visually
- Quick policy search – ensure rapid customer care
- Enhanced policy amendment functionality giving dealers improved control on policy amendments – again enhancing the customer experience
Manaktala concludes: “With the growing focus upon TCF and compliance, we think that this new platform will enable us to provide for all anticipated customer needs and we are ready with a platform that will give us and our dealers a competitive advantage. Further initiatives are already in the pipeline, including further enhancements to the F&I logs and reports , and the system architecture will enable us to introduce these seamlessly in the months ahead.”