DMS data integration: 6 ways to get it right

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DMS Data Integration

6 ways to get it right

So what are the issues?

Getting a good extract

Data quality

Nuances

Consoli-dation

Report-ing & analysis

Handling changes

Develop-ment riskExtensib-ility

Flexibility

Dealer buy-in

Handling issues

DSP support

Variety of DMS


The nirvana?


You know exactly what you need from the data

You get the exact data you need in the form you need it and fit for purpose

You don’t care that a dealer is going to change their DMS or a DSP is releasing a new version… it won’t affect you, it’s handled

You have complete control and transparency

The data is driving increased sales and enhanced profitability

The nirvana

Here’s our consultants’ six ways to get it right...

1. Get a clear view of the data required

Any endeavour really benefits from clearly defined goals. In this context you need to align the business goals with the data necessary to support them.

Don’t waste effort collecting and processing data that is not required. Your access method should allow the extensibility of the data sets at a future point – which is normally be do-able for a reasonably low cost.

2. Go for quick wins

Invest in a pilot: Identify a friendly subset of dealers.

Focus on a high value business requirement with a narrow data footprint.

Aim for short timescales.

Let the ‘quick win’ bed in.

Rather than going for a whole network, consider using a sub-set such as consolidated data from a region. With Honda, we used a small set of dealers and narrowed the data footprint to support an initial parts replenishment requirement.

The project was piloted with Scottish dealers. Glasgow in particular was a useful location as it had several of their dealers on different DMS. A 2-3 day visit to Glasgow allowed us to visit these different dealers and investigate the best approach to extract data from the different DMS types.

3. Fit for purpose data

If access to all data is not possible, ensure that the sample sets provided are covering boundary cases. Profile individual data sets, then carry out unified profiling to ensure that as a complete data set there are no gaps or exceptional cases which need to be addressed.

This will lead you to items such as data cleansing, enrichment of data (with reference data) and deduplicating.

With our clients and partners we typically carry out data cleansing (validating names, addresses, postcodes, telephone numbers, emails, vehicle VINs).

We classify the type of customer (retail, trade, owner, driver) and categorise the work carried out (service, repair, MOT, bodyshop, internal, warranty). And for all automotive projects we apply de-duplication rules. We use a number of different fields (invoice number, dealer code, invoice amount) to check for duplication.

4. Sustainability

The need to get up-to-date information and customer insight is not a one-off event. The business may be looking for monthly or weekly trends or marketing campaigns such as service reminders, parts replenishment...

A dealer network has to deliver on a weekly, daily or near real-time basis. This requires an approach that understands this is on-going and that the people, technology and processes have to be there to support it. How are you going to identify if a dealer feed has failed or changed? How are you going to ensure the data you are getting from a range of DMS types is consistent, has the same rules applied...?

A technology framework will be necessary and this requires an appropriate level of budget. Whether it is an internal or external service, creating a sustainable framework is the foundation.

5. Networks are in constant flux...embrace it!

We integrate hundreds of DMS and at any one time, there are changes to data sets, changes to contacts, new dealers or a change of management. For our clients we put in place a motivated, responsive and helpful service to get through any issues quickly and with the least disruption for everyone.

With Honda, we find that a dealer network that has this level of service is open and helpful in supporting the initiative for the long haul.

Get control of your data for the benefit of the whole organisation!


6. Do it once



Many times we see data sets that overlap with others found in the same manufacturer, even within the same department. Those sets of data will have cost money to create and are still costing the business funds to maintain.

Instead, we build projects that avoid silos of data. We collect the data once, get it into a fit-for-purpose state then make it available for internal or partner use.



Honda had previously attempted to integrate its dealer network and found itself supporting a number of software and service initiatives, with separate budgets for data extraction, quality and cleansing, customer insight and alike.

Our consultants put together a single service to consolidate the data from the entire network. Corporate then had complete on-going control over the data. They were able to share that data across multiple internal and external teams for much less than the combined cost of the previous initiatives.

More than 200 dealers in the network

4 month design and implementation

98% ‘up’ time across the network

80% of dealers have had no downtime

New dealers added in less than 48 hours

Dealer DMS changes usually in place in less than 48 hours

A good system will look like this one for Honda:


Why us?

• 10-year track record in data management, working with global blue chip clients

• Unparalleled knowledge from our team of data integration experts, many of whom have been with us since inception

• Our Transformation Manager and DataHub software has been proven in even the most complex data movements

• Expert support: first line of contact is with a developer or consultant

• Data integration focus – it’s all that we do

"Honda has been seeking to achieve Dealer Network

Integration for the last ten years. With the help of ETL Solutions, this has finally been achieved.

Considering the success, Honda is now planning to extend this

approach to the European dealers."

Michael Doyle, Honda

“After recommending ETL Solutions as a preferred provider, we have been

delighted by the speed with which they were able to

demonstrate the feasibility of integration and implement the subsequent production-level

transforms."Graham Orr, Barloworld Optimus


Raising data management

standardswww.etlsolutions.com

Please get in touch for more details on our data integration services:

Karl Glenn, Business Development [email protected]

Read more on our website at:

http://www.etlsolutions.com/what-we-do/automotive/

http://www.etlsolutions.com/what-we-do/automotive/

DMS data integration: 6 ways to get it right

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