The automotive industry is rapidly digitising, but many businesses struggle with outdated foundations that hinder scalability. Investing in a solid digital backbone can drive efficiency, enhance customer experiences, and future-proof operations.
The auto industry is undergoing a digital revolution, where technological solutions play a key role in meeting customer expectations and market demands. However, many companies neglect a crucial aspect of this transformation: the digital foundation. Building elaborate technical solutions on top of a manual and outdated foundation is unsustainable and poses significant challenges for companies as they scale and grow. If businesses invest in a solid foundation, they can reap significant benefits such as an improved user experience, efficient work processes, and time savings.
A McKinsey survey found that 42% of consumers considering buying their next car online would switch brands if their current brand lacks a satisfactory digital experience. While businesses often focus on the front end — such as websites and apps — the real engine driving digital success is the underlying infrastructure.
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An overlooked potential
Any subscription platform worth its salt is built on a stable, adaptable foundation that automates time-consuming tasks, freeing up resources for franchisees.
For example, our system automates invoicing, inspections, and other time-consuming manual tasks. Real-time updates ensure stable operations, while we continuously collect data on customer behaviour to tailor our offerings.
The result is a more streamlined business and an improved user experience that makes the app scalable. Our franchisees can scale without the need to expand their workforce – something many other subscription services struggle with. They often rely on manual processes, such as invoicing for transactions, which become overwhelming as subscription volumes increase. This applies, for example, to car dealerships that need to manage complex financing agreements, or car rental companies that often face challenges with fleet management and maintenance.
Our commitment to automation has earned us multiple accolades at the National Organization Awards in Greece, including awards for best technology, best mobile application, and innovation in user experience.
The time to act
Digital transformation can seem complex, but delaying action risks losing customers and market share. Businesses must commit to long-term digital strategies, starting with identifying manual processes that can be automated. Partnering with experienced developers to implement flexible, scalable technology is crucial for future success.
The industry is changing fast—the time to act is now.
Mathias Heegaard is CEO of :Dribe, a subsidiary of Denmark’s largest automotive player, Semler Group.
