Data intelligence: a vital management tool

Case Study: how Mazepoint is helping Steven Eagell manage and track success on a daily basis

Partner feature: Steven Eagell Group is one of the most successful retailers in the Toyota and Lexus network. Named as the best UK performer at the brand’s annual dealer awards in 2019, Steven Eagell has grown rapidly since its formation in 2002 and now runs 30 sites across the two franchises.

The Mazeinsight business intelligence platform from Mazepoint has played a vital role in helping both senior and operational executives manage growth, streamline reporting functions and integrate newly acquired dealerships into a single, consistent and easily understood view of performance.

Mazeinsight touches many aspects of the business including management accounts, forecasting, annual budgets, daily operating controls (DOCs), sales trackers and a newly created sales league.

Simplified reporting

Divisional director Sheraz Rashid explains how Mazeinsight has not only simplified the reporting structure but also saved managers’ time as annual turnover has jumped from £300m to £500m.

“The platform has been massively helpful at streamlining our operations,” he says. “It’s not easy when you’re budgeting for 30 sites and yet, I would say, our budgets are probably the most streamlined they have been in the 10 years I’ve been doing them.

“From a forecasting perspective, it used to be that we had to rely on the finance team a lot. Now the operational team can see accurate forecasting in a live manner and compare it with prior periods. Also, we’re able to look at site level and group level just by clicking a button.

“You can easily see when something is out of kilter. It quickly enables us to refocus quickly, have a conversation and then take the necessary action.”

Operational insight

Mazeinsight has a key role to play at the operational level, with all managers in Steven Eagell using the platform for daily reporting and tracking, not just at their own site but also across the group.

“Mazeinsight is an essential operational tool for the managers at the sharp end, and they do use it daily,” explains Paul Parsons, group aftersales director. “Nobody’s had a huge amount of training on it because you don’t need it. It’s all quite straightforward.

“The main advantage of the system is having the information when you want it, as you want it, in the format you want it. And the ability to drill down to get the information that you want quickly and easily.

“It allows us to identify areas of the business where there’s a potential performance improvement; not an issue, but an area that we could make better. We can be really nimble and flexible and identify it much quicker than we could before.

“For instance, just yesterday, I looked at the DOCs and one of our centres was at 43%. I went to the aftersales diary and they’d reduced the diary back because they think they’re too busy, and they’ve got three people on furlough.

“I spoke to them and brought some technicians back, so now the diary is open again and customers can book in from tomorrow. Previously, I would not have seen that until the end of the month.”

Invaluable tool

Parsons compares using Mazeinsight to having SatNav or air-conditioning in your car: “we didn’t really know what we were missing before we used it. But now we have it, and the visibility it allows, how did we get by without it,” he asks.

AUTHOR: Tracy Ellam, commercial director, Mazepoint. Find out more at Mazepoint.com or call 07375 675384 to book a free demonstration of Mazeinsight