Automation of buying a car

Automation of buying a car

The client situation

Our client is present in thirty three global markets and operate as a key strategic partner to the world’s foremost premium and luxury car brands providing an effective, well-financed and customer centred route to market for vehicles and parts. They operate across every link of the post-factory automotive value chain for our original equipment manufacturer partners, providing a highly efficient, customer-focused route to market that delivers shared rewards at every stage.

With digital disruption affecting every industry across the globe our client had to act to ensure their shift to a digital era and accelerate its plans to build and automate the purchase of a car online.

The challenge

Building on the Salesforce platform and automating a number of key processes Alchemy commenced a design phase to design and engineer the new car configurator – Key to the solution was the mapping of “to be” customer journeys to streamline and ultimately Automate the processes.

Alchemy were engaged to lead and design the new car configurator and the method of delivery and to suggest methods that could be quick wins to expedite delivery. We provided a complete plan to partner with our client to deliver the car configurator.

The plan involved two clear collaborations to ensure delivery. Both collaborations were hands on and within existing delivery team constructs to expedite knowledge transfer.

1. The utilisation of Alchemy’s hybrid agile method Ei5™ as the delivery method to Automate processes and build the car configurator.

a. to map all to be customer journeys and map out processes to form the design of the build of the car configurator

b. to increase collaboration and ownership and involvement in the delivery of the projects by all global stakeholders

c. to align global sub solution integrators, customer and internal business and information technology delivery resources to a single method of delivery which could easily be communicated and utilised by the projects

d. to create a cadence for the project that allowed for the appropriate levels of engagement in rituals and also working time to achieve results

2. Provision of an Alchemy agile delivery squad to lead, oversee and coordinate all delivery of the global project.

a. squad included the following roles; agile portfolio lead, product owner, business analyst, process automation analyst and a UX designer

b. agile portfolio lead and product owner operated at the executive level of business and customers to ensure buy in and support

c. squad roles and responsibilities included the coaching and mentoring of all global solution integrators, customers and internal business and information technology delivery resources
The urgency of delivery required a priority to be placed on the unification of all delivery resources across multiple global locations and groups of stakeholders. The aim was to create a high performing team where people could work hard on focussed and clear tasks, enjoyed spending time together and felt part of a bigger purpose.

The solution

Building on the Salesforce platform and automating a number of key processes Alchemy commenced a design phase to design and engineer the new car configurator – Key to the solution was the mapping of “to be” customer journeys to streamline and ultimately Automate the processes.

Alchemy were engaged to lead and design the new car configurator and the method of delivery and to suggest methods that could be quick wins to expedite delivery. We provided a complete plan to partner with our client to deliver the car configurator.

The plan involved two clear collaborations to ensure delivery. Both collaborations were hands on and within existing delivery team constructs to expedite knowledge transfer.

1. The utilisation of Alchemy’s hybrid agile method Ei5™ as the delivery method to Automate processes and build the car configurator.

a. to map all to be customer journeys and map out processes to form the design of the build of the car configurator

b. to increase collaboration and ownership and involvement in the delivery of the projects by all global stakeholders

c. to align global sub solution integrators, customer and internal business and information technology delivery resources to a single method of delivery which could easily be communicated and utilised by the projects

d. to create a cadence for the project that allowed for the appropriate levels of engagement in rituals and also working time to achieve results

2. Provision of an Alchemy agile delivery squad to lead, oversee and coordinate all delivery of the global project.

a. squad included the following roles; agile portfolio lead, product owner, business analyst, process automation analyst and a UX designer

b. agile portfolio lead and product owner operated at the executive level of business and customers to ensure buy in and support

c. squad roles and responsibilities included the coaching and mentoring of all global solution integrators, customers and internal business and information technology delivery resources

The urgency of delivery required a priority to be placed on the unification of all delivery resources across multiple global locations and groups of stakeholders. The aim was to create a high performing team where people could work hard on focussed and clear tasks, enjoyed spending time together and felt part of a bigger purpose.

The results

Alchemy successfully designed and delivered the new car configurator by utilising journey and process mapping to automate the online purchase of a car.

Alchemy’s hybrid agile method Ei5™ use ensured common language and understanding for the global team and stakeholders.

The executive team were delighted with the delivery approach and in particular the customer journeys and process maps. These key deliverables not only were utilised for the automation of process, marketing and dealerships also utilised the processes for key campaign and training capabilities.To that they were also impressed with the outcomes and praised the professionalism of the Alchemy team for driving delivery.

Today, the car configurator has enabled significant online sales growth, during a period where purchasers were physically limited from accessing the traditional car showrooms. It has provided customers with the ability, online, to choose their model and any options and accessories wanted, place a fully refundable minimum deposit of $1000 and then wait for a dealer to contact them to arrange delivery either at home or at the closest dealership.

Final thoughts

The Alchemy team have delivered a world class automated car configurator enabling shoppers to purchase a car online, and the Alchemy team now oversees the roll out of the new technology to the Latin America and Asian markets.

Alchemy’s successful leadership of the global team involved establishing a clear delivery plan and approach supported by the following Alchemy tools and techniques

  • Alchemy’s Continuous Improvement model – is designed to create a purpose fit effective plan to minimise the risk and disruption to people, current process and technology in order to create a climate for change, engage and enable stakeholders and implement and sustain new behaviours.
  • Alchemy’s Ei5™ method – designed to be engaging and clear for business and technology resources and identifies business ownership as critical to delivery success. The use of agile techniques, tools and rituals ensure that everyone understands their role and conflicts are resolved quickly.
  • Partnering Framework – Alchemy’s partnering framework ensures a clear pathway for everyone involved to experience success. Alchemy’s people and culture transfer knowledge and provide a collaborative environment and tools for all parties to engage in a safe, visible and positive way.


Alchemy’s key sponsor wrote “The Alchemy team have demonstrated digital leadership and know-how team to deliver the Australian car configurator. The automation of our process through the techniques Alchemy brought to the table have provided us with a powerful set of delivery tools and a configurator that we will roll out globally for our customers. Alchemy will lead the next roll outs to Latin America and Asia and we feel in safe and reliable hands for these implementations”

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