Service


THE DBS BUSINESS SERVICES TEAM
The DBS Business Services Team provides the key aspects of data handling and -processing. Customized business logic (Excel-Masterfile concept), data validation as well as report engineering – everything from an established team of highly trained and experienced experts, who initiate, manage or execute our customers’ business needs.
Our specialists in the Validation team have long-standing experience in managing data Validation – especially in German speaking markets. National Sales Companies of leading German premium brands of the automotive industry continuously put their trust on our expert team and their knowledge in order to enhance data quality and validity and ensure steady high-quality data input. Our experts rely on proven Best Practice approaches in addressing and coordinating with the dealer network. Thus enhancing acceptance of dealer support programs.
The core of any DBS implementation is the business logic, designed in accordance with customer needs (Excel-Masterfile approach). Our expert team provide design- and structural suggestions for the key element of your individual DBS solution. Localizations of the DBS setup can be considered as well as structural peculiarities in data collection and data handling. The innovative Excel-Masterfile approach allows for high flexibility and speedy and efficient adaptations in case of change requests.
As experienced, long time partners of the automotive industry we focus on competent and continuous customer service. Our Team of Service-Managers consist of proven experts with considerable practical know-how who, depending on our customers’ needs provide profound risk and opportunities analysis, support in managing and improving the dealer network cooperation. Daily dealer interaction as well as spot-on on-site consultation or the implementation of new and customized solutions are part of their range of services rendered.
DBS offers highly flexible custom report tools enabling the generation of customer customized and optimized reports, fully meeting their Corporate Identity requirements. Our team of Business Implementation specialists create any report with the highest attention to detail and accuracy. Simple queries as well as complex graphically enhanced analysis can be cast into DBS reports. The specialist team not only possess an in-depth expertise but an eye for convincing, easily understandable presentation of data – always according to our customers’ needs and adapted to the target group.
PERFORMANCE TRACKING
With almost 40 years of automotive experience, global coverage and understanding of key profit drivers we don’t just produce data for its own sake. Using bespoke tools that produce reliable information in a clear, dynamic format, our experts help you interpret data and integrate it into the successful management of your business.
- Highlights peak funding issues before they happen
- Allows dealers to proactively discuss future ‘pinch points’ with their funders
- Supports Informed implementation of corrective strategies
- Aids short & medium term planning
- Simple to implement and use, minimising the time drain on operational staff
- A Cloud-based system which can be accessed remotely ensuring the information is where you need it when you need it
- Provides stakeholders with a consolidated, real-time cash status report for multi-business operations
- An electronic interface system means it is less prone to human error
Motor retail is one of the most demanding industries for cash and working capital utilisation, forecasting and management. Even highly profitable dealers are susceptible to running out of cash as a result of large cash calls from the manufacturers, finance companies and the VAT-man. ASE have created a tool to provide dealers with a platform for efficient and effective cash flow management. A Cloud-based tool populated primarily from daily automatic data feeds from the dealer’s DMS, it is compatible with all major DMS systems. Being Cloud-based enables it to be accessed remotely with an internet connection, enabling stakeholders to get a real-time, drill-down view into the business. The tool allows the user to adjust forecasts for different, hypothetical scenarios, ‘What if?’, making it a powerful and user-friendly tool for financial planning. Motor Trade Cash Flow Forecasting in action. As a forecasting tool, this has been successfully employed to help the dealership cope with the many variables and cash flow implications associated with selling cars e.g. the anticipated date of sale and the financing options used. Once installed, it has exposed weaknesses in car delivery systems and the use of funding facilities, enabling the dealership to regain control of its working capital requirements.
In the drive to increase dealer profitability, ASE have partnered with an energy consultant to deliver considerable savings to the energy costs in a dealership. Proven to go beyond other automotive procurement schemes, ASE offers an exclusive product that delivers considerably more competitive contract prices either directly from the supplier or via a broker. As a result of aggregated buying power the economy of scale benefits are passed through to the dealership utility bills. Guaranteed to cut the cost of dealership energy bills. Industry figures estimate that utility invoices contain errors of between 3% and 5% by value of overcharging and with ever more complex contracts being used this looks set to continue.
ASE’s Projector system is designed to monitor actual versus budget performance across a dealership.
- Helps to identify trends and areas of opportunity across all departments
- Continuously improve efficiencies and take action to correct shortfalls in performance
- Focuses on both Profit & Loss and company cash flows
- Establishes best practices and eliminates poor performance
- Assists to plan training, development and coaching needs for all levels of staff
- Delivers the rewards of improved performance to the dealership, staff and customers
The Projector system helps dealers generate their own forecasts and plans that clearly illustrate the opportunities and risks associated with the potential sales volumes, gross margins, direct profit and expense levels on a departmental basis as well as for the whole operation. Projector is a highly effective measurement tool for driving continuous improvement – designed by people with many years’ experience in financial planning, on behalf of dealers and manufacturers.
- Industry knowledge means potential issues with dealer health are identified at an earlier stage
- 40 years’ of automotive experience ensures that objective measures are used to assess the financial health of the dealer network
- ASE’s expertise is used to model potential scenarios, e.g. a declining vehicle parc, and the potential impact on dealer health
- Understanding the detailed day to day operation of a dealership means it is easy for ASE to allocate actions to team members and track their completion
- Multiple data feeds allow information to flow from all relevant sources and be stored in a central reference point.
- ASE’s bank of motor industry professionals are experienced in the delivery of reviews across local, regional, national and international networks
ASE are well-placed to give early warning signals about under-performing dealerships, and advise on remedial action. We’ve developed a market leading Cloud-based risk management tool that enables the health of dealers within a franchise to be assessed on a regular basis, and categorised into red, amber and green. Required actions, notes and results can easily be allocated, attached and followed up, ensuring control is maintained over the risk management process – even with large teams and international operations. This reduces risk to key stakeholders, especially when combined with ASE’s range of Dealer Support Services e.g. Best Practice Workshops, DMS optimisation/training, financial controls and accounting support. ASE was engaged by a struggling manufacturer who was facing a significant downturn in sales volume. They were concerned about the potential implications for their dealer network. ASE helped them devise and implement a network tool which minimised risk for all stakeholders. Various scenarios were modelled and reviewed to understand the impact on the profitability of the network, resulting in the manufacturer implementing a financially sound network restructure. The understanding of the financial impact enabled them to gain the support of the dealers to implement this restructure.
PERFORMANCE OPTIMIZATION
ASE’s business tracking tools identify strengths and weaknesses in an operation, but through our many years in the automotive industry we’re able to develop, and help implement, action plans to improve efficiency and profitability. We recognise you have to act quickly and this is where our industry specialism plays a key role. Because of the scale of our team, we can respond promptly and engage our in-house experts before important issues become huge problems. We stay the course, adopting a joined-up approach that gives you the outcome you’re looking for. And as experienced analysts and impartial observers, our ideas are more readily embraced by the people who have to apply them.
- ASE provide an honest, informed opinion that helps all stakeholders make a considered decision
- ASE’s industry knowledge ensures a prompt response to enable a quick and accurate assessment of a dealership
- The breadth of knowledge within our in-house team ensures a consistent level of service without the need to rely on one key expert
- ASE will deliver a solution, rather than just a report, for the benefit of all stakeholders
- ASE leave a longer term legacy by working alongside operational staff to improve performance
- ASE workshops are valued by dealers as an independent source of support separate from the manufacturer
- The agenda of each workshop is unique and highly relevant as it is driven by the specific KPI’s of each of the attendee dealers
- New contacts and relationships between attendees ensure that knowledge is shared on an ongoing basis
- Process improvements and practical ideas to improve profitability across all departments is the workshop focus, not fixing prices and margins across the wider network
- The independent nature of the workshop facilitates the sharing of best practice to sell more cars, parts and hours, rather than a forum to discuss other franchise issues
- Proven motor industry operators assess each situation, identify quick wins from every visit and give practical solutions to deliver an immediate boost to performance
- Going beyond other consultancy services ASE leave a long term legacy as well as create an immediate fix
- Completely focussed on the automotive industry driving dealer profitability across the global motor industry, assignments include:
- In-dealership performance improvement
- Dealership turnaround
- Consultancy outsourcing & implants
- A global footprint facilitates the sharing of global market intelligence and best practice
ASE’s global consultancy division, the ASE ProFit Optimisation service comprises of a team of highly experienced motor retail operators. The team of ProFit Optimisers were specifically head-hunted directly from operational roles and selected for their exceptional track record in delivering performance improvement in motor retail.An understanding of the key profit drivers for an automotive retail business, gained over 40 years of analysing transactional data from and providing solutions to thousands of dealers across the world combined with the practical hands-on motors experience of the team of ProFit Optimisers creates the unique ProFit Optimisation service. Through the application of dealer and field team coaching, process efficiencies, KPI monitoring and measurement, risk mitigation and opportunity maximisation a measurable impact is made. The ProFit Optimisation service delivers dealer performance improvement and is aimed at dealer groups and manufacturers, with the knowledge that a healthy dealer creates a healthy group or network and a profitable Brand.
- ASE’s training is delivered by a team of specialists still actively working on a day to day basis within a dealership, which means that processes can be illustrated within a live situation in their own business
- A toolbox of profit enhancement ideas, generated by ASE during 40 years of motor industry experience, means that for every issue a practical and proven solution can be implemented
- ASE’s unrivalled access to successful dealers worldwide facilitates access to global best practice and ensures incorporation of the latest technological solutions
- Bespoke performance training courses can be devised to match the specific needs of any automotive business
- The scale of the ASE team enables a rapid response to emergency requests and secondments to support onsite training requirements
ASE’s wealth of knowledge and bank of automotive experts means that training for any area in the management and performance of a dealership can be delivered. We frequently conduct in-dealership training and coaching, delivered by specialists, current or ex-dealer staff, to improve sales processes in either sales or service. In addition, ASE regularly hold regional motor trade specific courses e.g. VAT training days and national conferences for senior management, such as the annual Finance Director’s Conference. ASE performance improvement training has been delivered for individual dealers, dealer groups, multi-franchise independent groups and manufacturer dealer networks. Dealer Performance Training in action ASE was requested by a prestige franchise to deliver a global series of dealer improvement visits. The visits involved onsite training of sales and aftersales teams, the agenda being tailored in real time by one our experienced consultants to ensure the maximum benefit to the dealers and their teams. Unanimous buy-in was achieved and tangible success was gained, including the disposal of a number of problem demonstrators.
Lee Cooper
ASE have supported Mazda with numerous ‘Independent Business Reviews’ in the UK, France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Romania, Poland and Russia. Each IBR has provided tangible, credible actions and recommendations for Mazda, the dealer and the other stakeholders to consider and implement. “Mazda continue to be impressed with ASE’s support, ideas and their flexibility and we look forward to many more years of ASE support improving our European network dealer financial health.
Manager, Sales, Network and Financing, Mazda Motor Europe
David Manchester
I have always found you act with the utmost confidentiality, professionalism and a willingness to give dealers the tools to help themselves; this becomes obvious from the comments by dealers made after you have spoken to them. “The clarity and concise nature of the composite information produced is easy to understand and meaningful and helpful for the profit improvement of the business.
Former National Retailer Council Chairman, Peugeot UK
Colin Maddocks
Thanks to the team at ASE for the fantastic way you continue to manage the relationship and business with Mazda and our dealer partners, especially around IBR’s and Business Planning.
“ASE have been fast, open-minded, flexible and we have benefited from their presence in all markets throughout the time we have worked together and I would have no doubt about strongly recommending ASE to other auto industry professionals.
Director Network Development & Financing, Mazda Motors Europe