Advertisement feature from Cooper Solutions

Andy Garrett, Breeze Volkswagen group underwriter/buyer, has been using FullAppraisal since December 2015. He wanted to overhaul how the dealer group went about appraising stock to the point of embarking on developing a system internally, before he discovered the tool from Cooper Solutions.

Andy said: “Buying has now become more efficient as I have a much clearer, real time, picture of potential retail opportunities coming in part- exchange across the group.

“We were using a paper- based system before and switching to digital has really sharpened up our process. The sales guys are taking more quality information for the part-ex and are engaging better with the customer whilst doing so. It’s helped to increase accuracy in descriptions with photos and time and date stamping. We also now get to see good appraisals on distance selling deals.”

The FullAppraisal system was introduced to Breeze’s six sites during a week of training put on by Cooper Solutions and Andy said it had a massive buy-in from staff across the group. Breeze operates a checklist system with FullAppraisal, which means sales staff must complete specific fields until they can finish the process. It means every detail the group is looking for as part of its checklist is collected.

Andy said: “The sales guys know they can get any vehicle underwritten by me instantly, 24-7, and I know that I’m getting quality information from the system. 

“I can look at our part-ex stock on a group level on my computer, phone or ​tablet wherever I am in the country or the world. It really helps manage that and lets me make decisions quickly on how I’m going to maximise the profit of that that stock."

Underwriting and buying for six sites meant Andy had several different log-ins to access the  appraisal system for the group, this became difficult when flipping between accounts.

He put in a request to be able to easily switch between profiles within the FullAppraisal system and Cooper Solutions modified the process within six weeks.

He said: “Cooper Solutions has have been really good at listening to what we need and adjusting the system.”

Breeze’s trade department is a big profit centre for the group and Andy says it’s become a big part of the business directly affecting bottom line profit.

While some groups may be happy to “clear decks”, the group uses Andy's experience to maximise the profit on each vehicle.

He said: “I will look at each car or van and make a decision on where that vehicle will make its biggest profit.

“Moving to a digital appraisal system can only improve our bottom line profitability even more with more accurate appraisals, better efficiency, leaving less room for error.”