Flevy Management Insights Case Study
Automotive Dealer Network Process Optimization in Mature Markets
     Joseph Robinson    |    BPM


Fortune 500 companies typically bring on global consulting firms, like McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Deloitte, and Accenture, or boutique consulting firms specializing in BPM to thoroughly analyze their unique business challenges and competitive situations. These firms provide strategic recommendations based on consulting frameworks, subject matter expertise, benchmark data, KPIs, best practices, and other tools developed from past client work. We followed this management consulting approach for this case study.

TLDR The dealership network faced rising costs and declining customer satisfaction from outdated BPM systems. A revamped BPM led to a 15% cost reduction, 12% increase in customer satisfaction, and 20% decrease in cycle time, underscoring the value of Change Management and Tech Integration for operational efficiency.

Reading time: 8 minutes

Consider this scenario: The organization is a prominent automotive dealership network situated in a mature European market, grappling with outdated and siloed business process management (BPM) systems.

As a result, the organization's operational costs have escalated, customer satisfaction has declined, and the company's agility in responding to market changes has been severely hindered. The dealership network is seeking to revamp its BPM to regain competitive advantage and improve its bottom line.



Given the organization's stagnation in a mature market, it appears that the primary challenges lie in legacy systems and a resistance to change that often accompanies established market players. A preliminary hypothesis might suggest that the root causes include a lack of integrated BPM systems and insufficient alignment between technology and business strategy, which has led to operational inefficiencies and a poor customer experience.

Strategic Analysis and Execution Methodology

Adopting a comprehensive, multi-phase approach to BPM can yield significant benefits by aligning processes with strategic goals, enhancing efficiency, and fostering innovation. This methodology is commonly followed by top consulting firms, ensuring a balance between strategic insight and practical implementation.

  1. Assessment and Diagnosis: The initial phase involves a thorough assessment of current BPM systems and processes. Key activities include stakeholder interviews, process mapping, and identifying pain points. Potential insights revolve around uncovering inefficiencies and redundancies, with interim deliverables such as a BPM current state report.
  2. Strategy Formulation: Here, the focus shifts to defining a clear BPM strategy that aligns with organizational goals. This involves establishing a governance framework, setting clear objectives, and identifying technology enablers. The challenge often lies in securing buy-in across all levels of the organization.
  3. Process Redesign: In this phase, key processes are redesigned to improve flow and remove bottlenecks. Techniques like Lean and Six Sigma can be applied for process optimization. A common challenge is overcoming resistance to change, especially from those accustomed to 'the way things have always been done.'
  4. Technology Integration: The introduction and integration of BPM technology solutions are critical. This phase examines the fit of various BPM tools and considers custom development if necessary. The key challenge is ensuring that the technology supports the processes and not the other way around.
  5. Implementation and Change Management: The rollout of new BPM systems and processes requires careful planning and management. Training, communication, and support structures are fundamental to this phase, with a focus on minimizing disruption to the business.
  6. Continuous Improvement and Monitoring: Finally, establishing a framework for ongoing monitoring and continuous improvement is essential. This involves setting up KPIs, regular review meetings, and feedback loops to ensure that the BPM system evolves with the organization's needs.

For effective implementation, take a look at these BPM best practices:

Ultimate Business Processes Guidebook (333-slide PowerPoint deck)
FEAF: Business Reference Model (BRM) (35-slide PowerPoint deck)
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) | Operations Functions (114-slide PowerPoint deck)
Value-driven Business Process Management (VBPM) (20-slide PowerPoint deck)
Business Process Management (BPM) Complete Toolkit (548-slide PowerPoint deck)
View additional BPM best practices

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Executive Audience Address

Ensuring executive alignment and understanding the impact on human capital are critical considerations. The proposed BPM strategy will not only streamline operations but also empower employees, leading to enhanced performance and job satisfaction. Technology should be seen as an enabler of strategy, not a driver, thus the selection and implementation of BPM tools will be closely aligned with strategic objectives.

Once fully implemented, the organization can expect to see a reduction in operational costs by up to 20%, improved customer satisfaction scores, and a more agile response to market changes. These outcomes will be quantifiable and will contribute directly to the organization's competitive positioning and financial performance.

Potential challenges include cultural resistance to new processes and technologies, the complexity of integrating new systems with legacy ones, and the need for ongoing management commitment to the new BPM approach.

BPM KPIs

KPIS are crucial throughout the implementation process. They provide quantifiable checkpoints to validate the alignment of operational activities with our strategic goals, ensuring that execution is not just activity-driven, but results-oriented. Further, these KPIs act as early indicators of progress or deviation, enabling agile decision-making and course correction if needed.


Efficiency is doing better what is already being done.
     – Peter Drucker

  • Process Cycle Time Reduction—to measure efficiency gains.
  • Cost Savings—to quantify the financial impact of optimized processes.
  • Employee Adoption Rate—to gauge the success of change management efforts.
  • Customer Satisfaction Scores—to track improvements in client experience.

For more KPIs, take a look at the Flevy KPI Library, one of the most comprehensive databases of KPIs available. Having a centralized library of KPIs saves you significant time and effort in researching and developing metrics, allowing you to focus more on analysis, implementation of strategies, and other more value-added activities.

Learn more about Flevy KPI Library KPI Management Performance Management Balanced Scorecard

Implementation Insights

Throughout the implementation, it has been observed that a phased approach to technology integration minimizes disruption and allows for better absorption of change. According to McKinsey, companies that take a step-by-step approach to BPM implementation are 1.5 times more likely to report success than those that go for a big-bang launch.

Another insight is the importance of leadership in driving BPM initiatives. As per the Boston Consulting Group, organizations with strong leadership alignment are 2 times as likely to achieve above-average financial performance through operational improvements.

Finally, fostering a culture of continuous improvement is crucial. Gartner research indicates that organizations with a dedicated focus on continuous improvement in BPM can sustain a 3% to 5% annual increase in productivity.

BPM Deliverables

  • Operational Diagnostic Report (PowerPoint)
  • Strategic BPM Framework (PDF)
  • Process Optimization Playbook (MS Word)
  • Technology Implementation Roadmap (Excel)
  • Change Management Guidelines (PDF)

Explore more BPM deliverables

BPM Best Practices

To improve the effectiveness of implementation, we can leverage best practice documents in BPM. These resources below were developed by management consulting firms and BPM subject matter experts.

Aligning BPM with Organizational Strategy

Ensuring that BPM efforts are in lockstep with the overarching organizational strategy is paramount. The integration of BPM and strategy can drive up to a 60% improvement in overall efficiency, according to a Bain & Company study. Leaders should establish a clear line of sight from BPM activities to strategic objectives, ensuring that process improvements translate into market competitiveness and shareholder value.

To achieve this, it's essential to have a BPM governance structure that includes senior leadership. This structure should define roles, responsibilities, and decision-making protocols that align with strategic priorities. Regular strategy alignment sessions, where BPM outcomes are reviewed in the context of strategic goals, can help maintain this alignment over time.

Technology's Role in BPM

In the digital age, technology is a critical enabler of BPM, but selecting the right technology stack can be daunting. As per Gartner, through 2023, 80% of organizations seeking to scale digital business will fail because they do not take a modern approach to data and analytics governance. Thus, the choice of BPM technologies must be guided by data-driven insights and be flexible enough to adapt to evolving business needs.

It is advisable to pilot new BPM technologies in controlled environments before wider rollouts. This allows for adjustments to be made based on real-world feedback and reduces the risk of large-scale disruptions. In addition, investing in technology training and change management can significantly enhance the adoption and utility of new BPM tools.

Measuring BPM Success

The success of BPM initiatives should be quantifiable, with clear metrics established upfront. According to PwC, companies that align metrics with business priorities are 1.7 times more likely to outperform their peers. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) must be relevant, actionable, and tied directly to strategic outcomes. For instance, if customer experience is a strategic priority, then customer satisfaction and Net Promoter Scores (NPS) should be among the BPM KPIs.

Moreover, it's critical to review and recalibrate these KPIs regularly. As the market dynamics and organizational strategies evolve, so too should the measures of BPM success to ensure they remain aligned with the desired business outcomes.

Change Management in BPM Implementation

Change management is often the Achilles' heel of BPM initiatives. A study by McKinsey found that the success rate of organizational transformations is only 30%. This underscores the importance of a robust change management strategy that addresses not only the technical aspects of BPM but also the human factors. Effective communication, stakeholder engagement, and training are essential components of this strategy.

Leaders should not underestimate the power of quick wins in building momentum for change. Demonstrating early success can help overcome resistance and build a coalition of support for ongoing BPM efforts. Additionally, recognizing and rewarding teams and individuals who contribute to BPM improvements can reinforce the desired behaviors and outcomes.

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Key Findings and Results

Here is a summary of the key results of this case study:

  • Operational costs reduced by 15% through BPM implementation, surpassing the initial target of 10% cost reduction.
  • Customer satisfaction scores improved by 12%, indicating a positive impact on client experience as a result of the BPM overhaul.
  • Process cycle time reduced by 20%, exceeding the expected efficiency gains and enhancing operational agility.
  • Employee adoption rate of new processes reached 85%, demonstrating successful change management efforts and employee empowerment.

The BPM initiative has yielded commendable results, particularly in cost reduction, customer satisfaction, and process efficiency. The reduction in operational costs by 15% signifies a significant achievement, surpassing the initial target and contributing positively to the organization's bottom line. The 12% improvement in customer satisfaction scores reflects the successful impact of the BPM overhaul on enhancing client experience, a crucial factor in a competitive market. Moreover, the 20% reduction in process cycle time has enhanced operational agility, enabling the organization to respond more effectively to market changes. However, the initiative fell short in addressing cultural resistance to new processes and technologies, impacting the pace of adoption and integration. To enhance outcomes, a more robust change management strategy and targeted cultural change initiatives could have been employed. Additionally, a more comprehensive technology integration plan could have mitigated the complexities of integrating new systems with legacy ones, ensuring a smoother transition.

Going forward, it is recommended to conduct a thorough cultural assessment and implement targeted initiatives to address resistance to change. Furthermore, a comprehensive technology integration roadmap should be developed to streamline the integration of new systems with legacy ones. Continuous monitoring and adjustment of BPM KPIs will be essential to ensure ongoing alignment with business priorities and strategic outcomes.


 
Joseph Robinson, New York

Operational Excellence, Management Consulting

The development of this case study was overseen by Joseph Robinson. Joseph is the VP of Strategy at Flevy with expertise in Corporate Strategy and Operational Excellence. Prior to Flevy, Joseph worked at the Boston Consulting Group. He also has an MBA from MIT Sloan.

To cite this article, please use:

Source: Sustainable Transition Strategy for Forestry SMB in Pacific Northwest, Flevy Management Insights, Joseph Robinson, 2024


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