From traditional dealerships to future mobility hubs: How A365 is helping automotive dealerships evolve 

Share on

The automotive industry is experiencing a dramatic transformation that is reshaping not only how we think about cars but how we access mobility itself. Traditional car dealerships, which once solely focused on vehicle sales and maintenance, are now being forced to evolve in response to shifts in technology, consumer behavior, and the broader mobility ecosystem.  

This change isn’t just incremental—it’s monumental, with the rise of electric vehicles (EVs), autonomous technologies, and shifts in consumer expectations around ownership versus access. 

Today’s consumers demand seamless, flexible, and often digital-first mobility solutions. Instead of simply purchasing a car, they seek personalized experiences, whether that’s renting a vehicle for a few days, subscribing to a long-term leasing program, or utilizing shared electric vehicles.  

According to the 2023 Oliver Wyman Shared Mobility Report, the shared mobility market is set to more than double its share of urban transportation by 2030, increasing from 3% today to an estimated 7%.  

With the market size projected to reach nearly $400 billion, this shift will push car dealerships to expand their services beyond traditional vehicle sales. To stay competitive, they will need to offer a wider range of mobility solutions, evolving into what are now being called “mobility hubs.” 

What is a mobility hub? 

Picture this: instead of a dealership being a place where you just buy or service your car, it becomes a comprehensive center for all things mobility. Need to rent an EV for the weekend? You’ve got it. Want to subscribe to a car for six months? No problem. Need a place to charge your vehicle or get some work done while your car is being serviced? Easy.  

Mobility hubs are transforming the customer experience by offering a variety of services that cater to today’s shifting needs. These hubs are not just physical spaces. They represent a new business model, one that integrates vehicle sales, leasing, car-sharing, and even fleet management services.  

It’s a massive leap from the traditional “buy, sell, service” model of the past, and it’s happening now. 

But what’s powering this change? 

Key trends powering the mobility hub transformation 

From traditional dealerships to future mobility hubs: How A365 is helping automotive dealerships evolve  3

  • Digitalization: According to the Auto Trader Retailing report, car buyers increasingly prefer an online purchasing journey, with a 17% rise in cross-platform visits in Q1 compared to the previous year—equating to 31 visits per second in the UK. Additionally, two-thirds of consumers are open to the idea of buying a car entirely online. 
  • Electrification: The International Energy Agency (IEA) reports that EV sales grew by 20% in 2023, with the market expected to hit $17 million in 2024, reflecting a 25% growth rate. 
  • Shared Mobility: The traditional car ownership is shifting toward ride-sharing and mobility services, with the North holding 25% of the mobility market in 2022, a share expected to remain steady through 2030, according to the 2022 Oliver Wyman Value Pool Report. 
  • Autonomous Vehicles: As autonomous vehicles rise, Bain & Company notes that automotive companies are rapidly partnering with tech firms. For example, Daimler is collaborating with Nvidia on a software-based vehicle architecture. 

With these trends accelerating, dealerships have a choice: stick to the old ways or evolve into mobility hubs that cater to modern consumers’ needs. 

The rise of mobility hubs: A win for dealerships and customers 

By becoming mobility hubs, dealerships open up new revenue streams. Not only can they offer traditional car sales, but they can also introduce short-term rentals, fleet management, EV charging services, and more. This shift toward becoming a one-stop shop for all mobility needs also enhances the customer experience. A dealership is no longer a place for one-off transactions; it has become a long-term partner in mobility. 

But with more offerings come more complexities. Dealerships must manage multiple service lines, offer personalized customer experiences, and integrate these new services into a seamless ecosystem. For example, a dealership may now need to handle not only car sales but also vehicle leasing, ride-sharing, and maintenance for electric fleets—all while ensuring a consistent customer experience across every interaction. 

Is your dealership ready for the future? 

This is where the conversation gets critical. How do dealerships manage this complexity? How do they efficiently pivot from traditional vehicle sales to providing mobility services? The answer lies in having the right technology—an agile, scalable platform that can evolve alongside the business. 

This is where Annata’s A365 comes in.

A365: Powering the future of automotive dealerships 

A365 isn’t just another software solution—it’s the backbone for the modern mobility hub. Built on Microsoft’s trusted Dynamics 365 platform and fortified with other technologies from the Microsoft ecosystem including Microsoft Power Platform, Azure, Copilot, and the Dataverse, A365 is designed to grow with your business, offering flexibility and scalability that traditional systems can’t match. 

From traditional dealerships to future mobility hubs: How A365 is helping automotive dealerships evolve  2

  • Unified platform: By integrating ERP, CRM, and DMS functionalities, A365 offers a holistic solution that covers all aspects of dealership operations, from vehicle sales and leasing to fleet management and customer service. This centralized platform ensures that data flows smoothly across departments, reducing inefficiencies and improving decision-making. 
  • Advanced analytics: A365’s built-in analytics tools provide valuable insights into consumer behavior, helping dealerships optimize their offerings and better understand market trends. With these insights, dealerships can anticipate customer needs, adjust inventory, and fine-tune their marketing strategies. 
  • Scalability: As the automotive industry continues to evolve, so must dealerships. A365 offers the scalability needed to add new services, adapt to changing market conditions, and stay competitive. Whether you’re incorporating electric vehicle services or expanding into shared mobility, A365 grows with you. 
  • Artificial intelligence: The integration of Microsoft Copilot gives dealerships access to cutting-edge AI capabilities, enabling them to manage data more effectively and make smarter, data-driven decisions. 
  • Customer-centric approach: A365 focuses on delivering a seamless, personalized customer experience. By unifying customer communication histories and creating intuitive workflows, dealerships can provide the level of service today’s consumers expect. 
  • Sustainability and future-proofing: A365 supports the transition to sustainable transportation by promoting electric vehicles and shared mobility solutions. Its scalable and adaptable design ensures that dealerships are well-positioned to thrive in the future mobility landscape.  
How does A365 cover it all? 

As car dealerships evolve into comprehensive mobility hubs, they will be required to embrace a range of services like vehicle leasing, ride-sharing, and fleet management. While this can be tedious at first, having nearly no experience handling some of these processes, A365 is designed to handle this transformation seamlessly, covering everything from A to Z. 

From traditional dealerships to future mobility hubs: How A365 is helping automotive dealerships evolve  1

  • Efficient fleet management: As the dealership grows its fleet, A365 ensures real-time tracking and management. This feature keeps vehicles well-maintained and readily available, preventing downtime and optimizing fleet performance. 
  • Advanced customer relationship management (CRM): With an increase in customer interactions, A365’s CRM centralizes customer profiles and automates communication. This helps manage inquiries, bookings, and personalized service efficiently, enhancing customer satisfaction and retention. 
  • Seamless booking and reservation systems: Transitioning to mobility services means handling more reservations. A365 integrates with mobile apps and online platforms, providing real-time booking management and ensuring a smooth reservation process for customers. 
  • Streamlined billing and payment processing: Managing various payment models, whether subscription-based or pay-per-use, becomes crucial. A365 simplifies billing and invoicing, ensuring financial operations run smoothly without unnecessary complexities. 
  • Comprehensive service and maintenance management: With a larger fleet, managing service schedules and repairs is critical. A365 tracks vehicle service histories and warranty claims, helping maintain vehicle reliability and preventing unexpected issues. 
  • Powerful analytics and reporting: To make informed decisions, the dealership needs insights into vehicle usage and operational efficiency. A365 offers robust analytics and reporting tools that provide valuable data to drive strategic decisions and optimize operations. 
  • Integration with third-party services: The dealership will interact with various external services like GPS and telematics. A365’s seamless integration with these services ensures real-time tracking and comprehensive management across all platforms. 
  • Regulatory compliance management: Adhering to local regulations and industry standards is essential. A365 helps manage compliance by handling documentation and reporting requirements, reducing the risk of legal issues. 
  • Operational efficiency tools: As operations expand, automating routine tasks and streamlining workflows become essential. A365’s operational efficiency tools enhance productivity, allowing the dealership to focus on delivering exceptional service. 
  • Enhanced user experience: Transitioning to a mobility hub requires user-friendly systems. A365’s intuitive interfaces for both customers and staff ensure a smooth experience and ease the adaptation process. 
  • AI-powered insights: With the need to stay ahead in a competitive market, A365 leverages AI to analyze data, predict trends, and make smarter decisions. This enhances fleet management and improves customer service through advanced analytics. 
  • Streamlined import management: Managing the importation of vehicles and parts efficiently is vital. A365 handles logistics and compliance, ensuring that the import process supports the dealership’s operational needs without delays. 
  • Rental and leasing capabilities: As the dealership offers rental and leasing options, A365 provides integrated management tools for contract creation, fleet utilization, and billing. This ensures the smooth operation of rental and leasing services. 
The competitive advantage 

In a world where the lines between ownership, access, and mobility are blurring, dealerships that don’t evolve risk being left behind. A365 provides the agility needed to adapt to these changes and lead the charge in the mobility revolution. 

By implementing A365, dealerships aren’t just keeping up with the trends—they’re shaping the future of mobility. Whether it’s streamlining operations, improving customer experiences, or expanding into new mobility services, A365 empowers your dealership to stay competitive in this ever-evolving landscape. 

A partner for growth 

With transformations continuing, dealerships must embrace the role of mobility hubs to remain relevant. This shift brings complexity, but with the right solution, it also brings tremendous opportunity. A365 is proof that agility, scalability, and comprehensive functionality are the keys to thriving in the new mobility landscape. 

If your dealership is ready to take the next step, A365 is the solution that will drive you there. Connect with us today to find out more.

Similar posts

Hydrogen-powered commercial vehicle purveyors selects Annata to fulfill global scale ambitions

North America
Manufacturer

In 2020, Annata was chosen by a heavy truck manufacturer to assist in developing their business processes and the systems required to support them. The company has more than 400 employees to support its rapid growth as a leading automotive innovator in zero-emission vehicles and trucks.

After a rapid and intensive validation cycle, Annata was chosen because of Annata’s 20-year automotive industry experience and extensions to the Microsoft Dynamics platform that formed the basis of the manufacturer’s finance and manufacturing systems.

Designed with cloud scalability and agility built in, the solution covered all critical processes. To ensure a complete and compelling customer experience, Annata’s solution will ensure the organization is well connected to customer behaviors, both pre-and post-sale for years to come.

The company decided to engage in a multi-year partnership with Annata after the success of the solution implementation. Annata provided the manufacturer with industry insights and experience to drive more value in all its business processes.

Annata picked for superior material handling performance by Leading North American equipment dealer

North America
Dealer

A prominent material handling equipment dealer, with a network spanning over 60 locations across North America, is committed to delivering a comprehensive range of services, including new and used equipment, rentals, parts, service solutions, and training, with a strong emphasis on exceptional customer service.

The collaboration between Annata and Microsoft that led to the successful partnership with the customer was built on a foundation of team expertise and trust, ensuring a strong working relationship.

In their initiative to replace the current system, the company aspired to migrate to a modern, Azure cloud-based platform to optimize their Microsoft Dynamics investment. The primary goals included achieving business transformation, ensuring scalability, and eliminating system performance constraints.

The decision to upgrade to Dynamics 365 stemmed from challenges such as instability, poor performance, and growth limitations experienced in their previous solution installation. 

The overarching objective was to address these issues and enhance the overall efficiency and stability of their operational environment. Annata’s offering stood out with its comprehensive equipment lifecycle functionality, addressing the customer’s specific needs in a tailored manner. System performance and adherence to Independent Software Vendor (ISV) compliance were pivotal aspects that contributed to the decision, assuring the customer of a robust and reliable solution.

Annata’s commitment to ongoing development, reflected in their ecosystem investment and roadmap, aligned well with the customer’s long-term goals. Microsoft’s Proof of Concept (POC) support played a crucial role in demonstrating the capabilities of the proposed Dynamics 365 solution.

The success of the partnership was further cemented by the strong collaboration and partnership ethos shared between Annata and Microsoft, ensuring a holistic and effective approach to meeting the customer’s requirement.

Automotive powerhouse selects A365 for next-level business optimization

North America
Distributor

A privately-owned enterprise with a significant presence in the automotive industry, operates as a key distributor for a globally recognized automotive brand. As the largest independent distributor for this brand on a global scale, the division serves a network over 150 independent dealerships.

Previously relying on an outdated “Green Screen” system and managing a complex network of around 200 applications, the company recognized the need for a transformative change. The existing system, developed over 25 years, had become inadequate for evolving dealer needs, leading to technical debt rather than delivering value. To address this, the enterprise sought a modern solution to meet the dynamic requirements of the automotive industry and enhance overall operational efficiency. The Microsoft Dynamics 365 and A365 combination were selected to improve forecasting, streamline vehicle ordering processes, and reduce lead times from inspection to final delivery.

The enterprise now leverages the full A365 platform, including warranty management and rental services, to optimize its operations. The pivotal factor in selecting this solution was the ability to offer a platform tailored to the automotive industry, providing comprehensive visibility, management, and controls throughout the entire vehicle lifecycle. This capability formed the cornerstone of a compelling value narrative, resonating strongly with a diverse group of stakeholders.

The decision to choose Microsoft Dynamics and A365 exemplified a strategic approach, wherein technology was prioritized first, aligning subsequently with the market for a systems integrator. This decision underscored the strategic fit of the chosen technology to the specific needs of the enterprise, setting the stage for a successful implementation and business transformation.

Key automotive importer and dealer adopts A365 for comprehensive operational enhancement

Latin America
Importer and dealer

Founded in 1963 in Latin America, this key player in the local automotive industry has solidified its standing among the top groups in the sector. Over six decades, the company has maintained consistent growth, establishing a robust financial foundation.

Central to their success is a commitment to transparent management, enabling them to overcome challenges. The company prioritizes key strategic pillars, including business sustainability, delivering exceptional customer experiences, nurturing a skilled workforce, embracing technology, and forming strategic alliances. These pillars reflect the company’s comprehensive approach to ensuring long-term success and resilience in the dynamic automotive industry.

To enhance their operations, the company opted for Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations combined with A365 and Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement combined with A365. In the evaluation process, various global and regional players were considered, with the chosen combination ultimately selected based on key factors.

The decision to choose this particular combination was influenced by factors such as embracing new technologies for future growth, an abundance of experienced consultants for technology implementation, a holistic solution with cloud hosting and flexible services, and an excellent cost-benefit Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) ratio.

Additionally, the choice of Annata was motivated by their extensive expertise in the automotive sector, a strong market presence, a robust research and development (R&D) plan, and certification capabilities with a cost-effective Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).

This combination of solutions was deemed the optimal choice, aligning with the organization’s strategic goals and ensuring a comprehensive and effective solution for their business needs.

European vehicle manufacturer unlocks competitive edge with Annata

Europe
Manufacturer

The European automotive manufacturer was increasingly challenged with their internal reliance on their existing systems as they felt that they were losing a competitive edge by not having the ability to benchmark functionality, performance, and cost. 
To address this, they started to investigate adding D365 as a second practice. They, however, soon found a need to bring in the Annata extended solution to fully understand the capabilities of the underlying D365 platform with the vertical extension for their specific business. 

Through the roll-out, the manufacturer was able to move from local, siloed solutions to a common enterprise standard solution which drives down costs, mitigates risks, and improves the customer experience with a consequential uptick in sales. 
In essence, the customer views the solution as providing the systems that run their captive fleet dealers in-country, as well as providing the integration from captive and non-captive dealers into the central solution.

Annata expands Dynamics solution for South African arm of major importer and distributor

South Africa
Distributor

A South African arm of a major importer and distributor of cars and spare parts was looking to expand the use of the solution into Dynamics 365 Sales. A365 Sales was selected as the preferred industry solution.

The reputation of Annata working with the Microsoft team in South Africa helped to land the deal. The underlying Common Data Model for Automotive was also an important factor in the decision.

The expansion of the use of Dynamics CE for sales was already planned but the business felt that the Annata Sales app would provide ‘out of the box’ functionality and save them a considerable amount of time and effort. The business estimated that implementing the Annata Sales app would save them up to 3 years compared with developing the functionality themselves.

The Annata Sales app provides functionality to handle vehicle configuration, and sales quotations including financing options, trade-ins, test drives, etc.

The Annata Sales app will hopefully be the first of several products that the business will implement. This includes D365 F&O; A365 for Dealer management; Customer service; Annata Dealer portal and; Annata Field Service. The 5-week implementation of the Annata Sales app was another compelling factor.

Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer arm selects Annata to replace existing vehicle division systems

Northwestern Europe
Importer

A division of a Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer serving developing markets chose Dynamics 365 + A365 to replace all their current systems for their vehicle division across Africa and selected countries in Latam and Asia. 

The implementation was complex as it involved replacing three heavily customized, on-premise solutions with a standard, (based on a global template), cloud-based offering. The complexity was further increased as the connectivity in some African countries can be intermittent, and delivering a project across many countries requires a great deal of experience and planning.

The solution implemented covered importation, dealerships, aftersales, and service, in addition to rental and fleet in specific markets. The device types cover all vehicles; from motorbikes to cars, lorries, tractors, construction machinery, etc. – and in some markets even boats.

D365 + A365 provided the manufacturer with the confidence that  existing processes would all be supported and that moving to the Azure cloud would drive additional benefits.

Annata brings agility to a Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer

East Asia
Manufacturer

The North American arm of a Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, with a 450,000-square-foot bus manufacturing and forklift assembly facility, required an agile solution to manage its supply chain, assembly, dealer orders, and post-sales processes for parts, warranty, and dealer management.   

The existing solution was unable to support these business processes cost-effectively with the same flexibility and agility. Annata’s automotive original equipment manufacturer (OEM) experience and track record of successful and agile implementations, particularly in the U.S. market were key to winning against other competitors.  

Key decision makers of the manufacturer were primarily of Chinese descent, with some residing in corporate offices in China. Working with Microsoft China, Annata was able to leverage its insight into Chinese business culture and its relationships with the business’s corporate IT.

Annata’s ability to adjust to an unconventional sales process and accommodation for cultural differences, coupled with an implementation approach and agile solution that could grow with the North American arm, was key to winning the business. 

Swedish commercial vehicle manufacturer partners with Annata to drive the shift towards sustainable transporting

Scandinavia
Manufacturer

A Swedish trucking manufacturer selects Annata and Dynamics 365 to replace their current wholesale and dealer management systems around the globe. By adding A365 to the Dynamics solution, the company is provided with the comfort to cover almost all its operational processes and drive additional benefits by moving to a cloud-based system.

The company’s primary challenge was that it was dealing with large sets of homegrown solutions and legacy vertical solutions with a separate outdated dealer management system that did not communicate with each other. The current on-premise portfolio needed to be replaced with a standard, cloud-based solution, that covers imports, dealerships, aftersales, and service operations, in addition to its rental and fleet-based markets.

Annata, Microsoft, and the manufacturer worked together to build a golden template and blueprint to be used in future rollouts globally. The solution combination adds future capabilities and support for ML, AI, IoT, and more automated business executions, which will have a positive impact on the ROI.

The manufacturer has transformed its dealer management system, replacing its outdated solutions with Annata’s integrated, cloud-based solution using Microsoft’s infrastructure.

RV manufacturer streamlines business processes with Annata

North America
Manufacturer

Annata was chosen as a solutions provider to replace a 20-year-old heavily customized legacy system for an RV manufacturer. The systems in use were not supplying prompt information to the management team and model changes for production were painful to implement. 

The implementation was vital to simplify access to data and increase service levels to its different dealers. The manufacturer selected Annata due to Annata’s global ISV status and strong solution functionalities to manage their critical workload, particularly those that require interaction with their dealer channel.   

Annata’s robust dealer portal solution has improved dealer relationships with a quicker turnaround on warranty claim decisions and processing.

In parallel, the manufacturer can now leverage warranty rules and validations. The dealer portal is a win for the manufacturer in reducing warranty costs while improving dealer and customer relationships.

The manufacturer expects overall improved management reporting for executives and operations. Operational improvements include rationalized bills of materials, costing, and managing production change orders effectively. The manufacturer expects its dealers to have a more efficient process for warranty claims that will result in a reduced payment time, while still preventing fraudulent or duplicate claims.

Swiss agricultural equipment and machinery supplier accelerates cloud migration with Annata

Central Europe
Importer

As an existing customer of AX and Annata IDMS on-premise, the Swiss company decided to start its journey to the cloud in early 2020. Annata’s finance and operations solution was the core of the solution proposed to the company.  

Annata’s full suite of capabilities was implemented and included extensive device management functionalities that support the entire lifecycle of a machine encompassing imports, sales, and lifecycle management with service/work order management, warranty handling, parts management, and rental. 

In addition to a proven solution, Annata was the primary choice due to the strongly committed executive management team which is very much supportive of the strategic project goals.

The project enjoys a high focus at the executive management level and is supported by a strong change management approach aiming to avoid unnecessary customizations. 

The industry competence of the Annata implementation team was well equipped to mitigate challenges typically encountered when setting up new customer solutions in replace of their heavy customized “homegrown” solution.

Annata selected to digitally transform distribution channel of agricultural equipment manufacturer

Central Europe
Manufacturer

With a primary focus on excellent product quality and outstanding customer service, the equipment manufacturer made a company-wide decision to shift their business process to the cloud using Dynamics 365 and Annata’s Finance & Operations solution. 

The solution was rolled out to several major markets within Europe and the Americas in a span of 3-4 years, before offering the industry template to their independent dealer network. Annata was selected as the preferred industry solution partner to move their on-premise solution within their headquarters to the cloud within three months, utilizing its extensive industry and digital competencies in the Annata team. 

As soon as Annata engaged with the equipment manufacturer, it was clear to them that the industry IP was key to their goal to digitally transform their distribution channel.

Coupled with finance and operations implementation expertise, the equipment manufacturer was confident that D365 with Annata was the best to provide industry knowledge to help them make the right process choices and a full set of industry functionalities around the full lifecycle of their equipment.

Mexican subsidiary of an international motor company implements Annata solutions to modernize business processes

Southern North America
Manufacturer

A Mexican subsidiary of an international motor company was utilizing multiple and heavily customized legacy systems which were around 20 years old and did not improve the business. The financial reports generated caused many discrepancies in the business which dampened business decisions. 

The management was looking for an Integrated system that was consistent and easily manageable, in which all users from different departments could manage business processes in a co-dependent and competent manner.  

Annata’s extensive solution provided the Mexican subsidiary with a technology transformation through its transition to digitized workflows.

The new system enabled the company’s dealerships to seamlessly communicate and collaborate with suppliers and service partners, while the company focused on creating an integrated supply chain. 

With Annata’s unified solution, the company benefited from providing accurate, analytical data through the implementation of key functions in cost management, inventory management, warranty management, sales, and service departments. It also provided the company with a range of business data (in real-time) for analysis at a reduced time rate and this provided the organization with major improvements in its management reporting. 

Hydrogen-powered commercial vehicle purveyors selects Annata to fulfill global scale ambitions

North America
Manufacturer

In 2020, Annata was chosen by a heavy truck manufacturer to assist in developing their business processes and the systems required to support them. The company has more than 400 employees to support its rapid growth as a leading automotive innovator in zero-emission vehicles and trucks.

After a rapid and intensive validation cycle, Annata was chosen because of Annata’s 20-year automotive industry experience and extensions to the Microsoft Dynamics platform that formed the basis of the manufacturer’s finance and manufacturing systems.

Designed with cloud scalability and agility built in, the solution covered all critical processes. To ensure a complete and compelling customer experience, Annata’s solution will ensure the organization is well connected to customer behaviors, both pre-and post-sale for years to come.

The company decided to engage in a multi-year partnership with Annata after the success of the solution implementation. Annata provided the manufacturer with industry insights and experience to drive more value in all its business processes.

Forestry equipment global manufacturer selects Annata for company-wide digitization

Europe
Manufacturer

Operating in forestry markets of more than 40 different countries, the manufacturer had an IT landscape that was complex, fragmented, and varied greatly between countries. As part of their future-proofing efforts, they needed a platform to bolster them as they navigated into the future, providing them with the flexibility required to digitize their entire business. 

Annata’s complete set of industry functionalities around the lifecycle of heavy equipment, the strength of the application and platform, as well as in-depth knowledge and vast experience within the industry were reasons why Annata was selected to support them along their transformation journey. 

Annata also displayed strong awareness of future capabilities specific to the manufacturer’s needs aside from proving a strong partnership with Microsoft. 

Annata’s flexibility, scalability, and capabilities to take on the ever-changing environment in the forestry manufacturing industry have since enabled the manufacturer to maintain a competitive edge digitally.