As the world is beginning to slowly reopen and we in the UK are coming out of lockdowns, the pandemic has been eye opening to say the least to the importance of digital transformation.
In order to meet the needs of customers in the “new normal”, or the “next new normal” and beyond for that matter - the hardest hit industries like automotive companies are forced to look at new technologies and innovative solutions.
As former Intel CEO Andy Grove once said, “Bad companies are destroyed by crisis; good companies survive them; great companies are improved by them.”
So how has the automotive industry stopped driving on autopilot and taken control on how to navigate through the shift in consumers behaviour.
Below, we illustrate how BMW has transformed their digital journey.
During the peak of the pandemic last year, as shops were forced to shut their doors and workplaces closed leaving millions of companies around the globe faced with moving and working to remote workforces.
For BMW, their biggest challenge was making sure that their most valuable assets – their employees – were kept motivated and connected whilst some were put on the furlough scheme.
To tackle this challenge in managing a remote workforce, they accelerated their use of digital solutions and were pleased by how quickly their workforce was able to adapt to operating in a decentralised environment. Best of all, they were able to make the transition in less than two weeks. That accelerated pace allowed them to be where their customers needed them to be, and when they needed them to be there.
Dealing with the shifting expectations and needs of customers presented another issue. In a world where visiting a dealership was no longer an option for their customers, BMW turned to contactless interactions. Instead, they used video conferencing to connect customers with experts who could answer their questions in real time, and then added contactless delivery and contactless test-drive options.
Their ability to remain agile and pivot to meet customers’ needs was made possible by their reliance on Salesforce digital platforms, and by putting themselves ahead of the curve, BMW has established new ways of doing business that will carry on even when the current moment has passed.
BMW used Salesforce technologies to deliver potentially game-changing remote services in a time of crisis, and by innovating to overcome adversity, they’ve positioned themselves to draw a map of the future.
When it comes to the future of the automotive industry, ensuring a safe workplace will be of course a top priority. This will likely mean increased well-being checks with frequent COVID testing, as well as the further growth of remote working.
Another priority will be to improve data quality and analytical positioning, especially when it comes to making quick strategic decisions.
Digital transformation has long been an industry buzzword, but the pandemic has highlighted the importance of staying agile and being able to make lightning-fast decisions based on actionable data insights. With that in mind, automotive businesses will prioritise digitalisation, improving their online processes, collaborative tools, contactless services, and concentrating on the increasingly important customer journey.
According to a “2020 Capgemini automotive sales recovery” customer survey, 60% of respondents say that they’re more likely to buy cars online than before the pandemic, and 89% of hesitating customers say that an attractive offer or a good customer experience could persuade them to buy, so there’s little doubt that providing exceptional digital journeys is paramount in the new climate.
For automotive companies looking to thrive in the Next Normal, CRM platforms like Sales Cloud offer a way to get a 360° view of the customer and provide the personalised service they desire.
And, for companies looking to re-skill their employees to meet their shifting needs, Work.com offers several solutions, as well as helpful tools for safely reopening workplaces after COVID.
That's why at Savant Technology Recruitment we have partnered with CloudGaia.
A platinum Worldwide Salesforce partner - with more than 10 years of experience dedicated to building digital solutions on the Salesforce platform.
Our partners team of cloud experts, developers and product support specialists has extensive experience working with Salesforce cloud platforms and APIs. They can provide professional service for all Salesforce.com products as well as Technical Architecture and Integration of Data and Systems.
Our strategic partnership allows our customers to find talent within specific areas and markets that business leaders typically do not know where to find top talent.
This initiative alliance has helped large and SME firms to be connected to candidates that have been technically assessed to bring high level top talent in the ecosystem.
Through our partnership, professionals have been introduced to our partners who will put them forward for an interview.
To find out more about how our partners have supported our customers and in turn help you with your recruitment needs, please do not hesitate to contact us via technology@savantrecruiment.com or visit us at www.savantrecruitment.com
