Partner Article

Vertu Motors chooses Progress to Drive Business Growth

Progress® OpenEdge® platform reduces time to market for motor retailer’s sales support systems and applications by two thirds and generate significant savings

Bracknell, 29 January, 2015 – Progress today announced that Vertu Motors, the UK’s sixth largest motor retailer, is using the Progress® OpenEdge® platform to deliver showroom and backroom applications and websites to improve the sales process for employees and customers, providing a solid foundation for the company’s ambitious growth plans.

Harold Roberts, IT Director, Vertu Motors commented: “Showroom application and supporting systems based on the Progress OpenEdge platform have massively streamlined our operations while creating a much more engaging and responsive customer experience. The OpenEdge platform has allowed us to deploy these systems quickly and cost-effectively which for a company like ours is hugely important. By taking our development in-house and using the OpenEdge platform, we also have the freedom to react quickly to changes in the market, integrating new data streams and adding functionality as it becomes available or is needed.”

“Due to the dynamic and highly competitive nature of the motor industry, we operate on extremely tight margins, so we must ensure we are always as efficient as possible across all of our operations in each of our franchised dealerships across the country. The OpenEdge platform has provided us with a highly intuitive and intelligent solution to maximise our operational efficiencies and help us get closer to our customers in the process.”

Vertu has utilised the Progress OpenEdge platform for the entirety of its in-house development projects including its Intranet, showroom applications, management information suite and a number of integrated websites. Vertu’s showroom system supports the entire sales process from the moment the customer enters a dealership through to when they take delivery of their new car. The application enables the sales team to identify whether a customer has visited the dealership before or purchased a car previously. They can then check stock availability, configure a vehicle, construct the deal and contract, and track the order. Thanks to the powerful integration capabilities of the OpenEdge platform, the Showroom system can be connected with a new dealership’s third-party system on day one.

Mark Armstrong, Vice President and Managing Director EMEA, Progress said: “Vertu Motors is the perfect example of how agile development platforms with integrated data streams can help a business achieve its goals. Thanks to the flexibility and above all scalability of the OpenEdge platform, Vertu Motors has been able to confidently acquire new dealerships and integrate them with their existing systems from day one. We’re very proud to see how our technology has empowered the company and facilitated its significant growth.”

By using the Progress OpenEdge platform, Vertu has been able to cut the time to market of its applications by two thirds when compared to working with third-party developers. Not only has this process been time efficient, Vertu has made significant savings by moving its development in-house.

The OpenEdge platform also affords Vertu an agility that working with an outside contractor would not; should they need additional functionality these changes can be made with minimal fuss, in a matter of days or less.

Vertu has also begun equipping executives with tablets to provide real-time information and create a far more interactive experience for the customer. The company now plans to use its systems to help improve customer communications via integration with external email systems. Vertu also expects the service side of its business to make use of the OpenEdge platform to track the productivity of its technicians and customer numbers.

About Progress

Progress Software Corporation (NASDAQ: PRGS) is a global software company that simplifies the development, deployment and management of business applications on-premise or in the cloud, on any platform or device, to any data source, with enhanced performance, minimal IT complexity and low total cost of ownership.

Progress is a trademark or registered trademarks of Progress Software Corporation or one of its subsidiaries or affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. Any other trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners. Progress Software can be reached at https://www.progress.co.uk or +31 10 286 5700.

About Vertu Motors

Vertu Motors is the sixth largest automotive retailer in the UK with a network of more than 100 sales and aftersales outlets across the UK. Its dealerships operate predominantly under the Bristol Street Motors, Vertu Honda, Vertu Volkswagen, Farnell Land Rover and Macklin Motors brand names.

www.vertumotors.com / www.vertucareers.com

Progress and OpenEdge are trademarks or registered trademarks of Progress Software Corporation or one of its subsidiaries or affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. Any other trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Progress Software .