Problem: we needed to integrate our technology across three merged companies and multiple departments.

Solution: we implemented a new dealer management system - and paid for it through rental, protecting our cash flow and giving us total flexibility.

Driving Bicknell's business forward with a new dealer management system
Bicknell (Malvern) Limited is a registered Vauxhall car dealership. Established in 1998 in Great Malvern, Bicknell took over an established Vauxhall dealership in Worcester in July 1998, and expanded to Tipton in July 2000. Bicknell has a large range of new and used cars, offers flexible finance plans for contract hire and hire purchase, and has more than 500,000 genuine Vauxhall parts in stock.

A new system for Bicknell's consolidated business
Between 1998 and 2000, Bicknell merged three companies - each of which had their own dealer management system. In order to improve efficiency across the business, they knew they needed to upgrade the systems and integrate them fully across departments and dealerships. Bicknell opted for the Elite Dealer Management System from software company Kalamazoo, and chose to acquire the system through rental.

Managing Director John Bicknell explains why. "We were running three ancient systems across the three companies. We knew we needed to invest in new technology and link everything together. The Elite system links our services, parts, marketing, sales and accounting departments, and allows us to produce multi-management and yearly management accounts very efficiently. If our old system was a Morris Minor, this is a Ferrari," explains John."

The best option for our situation
When Bicknell implemented the new system, they realised rental was the only feasible financing option. "We'd just taken over a very large dealership, mainly through a cash acquisition, so it suited us to lease our technology. Our software company Kalamazoo recommended CCL - and they put together a very competitive quotation. The service they offer is very efficient too."

The flexibility we need to grow our business
So how does John sum up the benefits of rental for his business? "It's enabled us to acquire the level of technology we need to expand and run our business effectively. It's also left us with enough capacity, in terms of cashflow, to expand again in the future," explains John. "Our new system gives us the scalability to incorporate new departments and companies as our business grows. Thanks to CCL's flexible Rental Exchange® agreement, we can also incorporate any new technology into our finance package, without increasing our monthly payments."

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