Data-Driven Digital Transformation of a Car Rental Business
Summary
Russmann wants to increase business efficiency by revisiting its IT ecosystem
In 2016, Russmann understood the need for redesigning their operational processes to improve cost-effectiveness and increase its fleet utilisation rate. They wanted to transform the fleet management process and enable informed and more accurate fleet transfer decisions by making them centralised, automated and data-driven.
Russmann aimed to integrate and orchestrate all its IT systems to improve operational efficiency, reduce errors and minimise IT risks. They also wanted to adopt an automation solution that would eliminate the need for station managers to distribute vehicles manually, and would work towards higher fleet utilisation rates and lower transfer costs.
Russmann contracted ELEKS as a technology partner to help them address their needs with an efficient IT solution.
A centralised fleet management solution reinforced by data science
As a first step, ELEKS performed an on-site product design phase for Russmann, to understand their key needs and translate them into a technological solution. As soon as the scope had been agreed with Russmann, ELEKS proceeded with MVP development. One of the critical challenges for the team was the timeframe of two months for the MVP, delivered from scratch.
The Central Disposition System that ELEKS designed and delivered for Russmann works as a complex solution for the customers’ needs. The solution provides centralised fleet management, data-driven car disposition and fleet planning. The system also includes a customer service module and a dashboard to facilitate managerial decisions.
The solution uses data science to provide a weekly forecast on car rental demand, based on the historical data and taking into account seasonality and other factors. ELEKS’ data science
specialists also created a number of analytics modules for fleet relocation optimisation, advanced fleet planning, customer segmentation and behaviour prediction.
The solution was installed on each Russmann’s station, helping managers make long-term and short-term decisions about fleet disposition. The ELEKS team provides ongoing improvement and maintenance.
