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Autonation Engineering

To deliver a peerless customer experience through innovative technology systems that transform automotive retail.

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To deliver a peerless customer experience through innovative technology systems that transform automotive retail.

Strengths

  • PLATFORM: Proprietary digital retail platform handles 45% of sales
  • SCALE: Tech infrastructure supporting 300+ locations nationwide
  • PARTNERSHIPS: Strong OEM integrations with 32 auto brands
  • TALENT: Engineering centers in FL, TX, and CA with 400+ staff
  • DATA: Unified customer data platform with 10M+ customer records

Weaknesses

  • LEGACY: Aging backend systems limit integration capabilities
  • MOBILE: Subpar mobile experience with 3.2 stars app store rating
  • TESTING: Insufficient automated testing coverage at only 47%
  • SECURITY: Outdated security protocols in dealer systems
  • ONBOARDING: Complex digital tools require extensive training

Opportunities

  • OMNICHANNEL: Integrate physical dealerships with digital retail
  • ANALYTICS: Leverage vehicle and customer data for personalization
  • EV: Build specialized EV digital retail and service experiences
  • MARKETPLACE: Expand digital marketplace beyond traditional sales
  • APIs: Create developer ecosystem with open automotive APIs

Threats

  • DISRUPTION: Direct-to-consumer models from manufacturers
  • COMPETITION: Pure digital retailers like Carvana and Vroom
  • TALENT: Difficulty attracting top tech talent to automotive
  • COMPLIANCE: Growing data privacy and automotive regulations
  • CYBERSECURITY: Increasing sophistication of automotive hacks

Key Priorities

  • PLATFORM: Modernize core digital retail platform architecture
  • MOBILE: Overhaul mobile experience for customers and staff
  • DATA: Implement advanced analytics across customer journey
  • TALENT: Build specialized automotive technology talent pipeline
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To deliver a peerless customer experience through innovative technology systems that transform automotive retail.

MODERN PLATFORM

Build next-gen digital retail architecture

  • MICROSERVICES: Convert 40% of monolithic components to microservices with 99.9% uptime by Q2 end
  • API: Launch v2 developer portal with 25 new APIs and documentation for key inventory functions
  • PERFORMANCE: Improve page load speeds by 45% across digital properties measured via Core Web Vitals
  • ARCHITECTURE: Complete and approve overall 3-year technology roadmap with executive alignment
MOBILE FIRST

Create seamless mobile experiences everywhere

  • APP: Rebuild customer mobile app with 4.5+ rating and 35% increased monthly active users
  • STAFF: Deploy new associate mobile platform to 85% of dealerships with 70% daily active usage
  • OFFLINE: Implement offline capabilities for critical functions with 99% sync reliability
  • DESIGN: Establish mobile-first design system with 95% component reuse across applications
DATA MASTERY

Turn data into actionable insights

  • PLATFORM: Launch unified customer data platform connecting data from 8 primary systems
  • ANALYTICS: Implement predictive analytics in 5 key customer journey points increasing conversion by 20%
  • DASHBOARDS: Deploy executive analytics dashboard with real-time KPIs used by 90% of leadership
  • GOVERNANCE: Establish data governance framework with 98% compliance across tech organization
TALENT ENGINE

Build world-class automotive tech teams

  • HIRING: Reduce engineering vacancies from 11% to 5% through focused automotive tech recruiting
  • TRAINING: Complete AI certification for 75% of engineering staff with applied projects
  • STRUCTURE: Implement product-aligned engineering team model with 12 cross-functional squads
  • CULTURE: Improve engineering satisfaction scores by 15 points through engagement initiatives
METRICS
  • Platform Adoption Rate: 85% by end of 2024
  • Digital Transaction Time: 35 minutes average (down from 55)
  • System Reliability: 99.95% uptime across critical systems
VALUES
  • Customer Focus - Delight our customers through technology
  • Innovation - Pioneer digital solutions for automotive retail
  • Operational Excellence - Build scalable and reliable systems
  • Integrity - Create secure and transparent technology
  • Teamwork - Collaborate across business and technology teams
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Align the learnings

Autonation Engineering Retrospective

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To deliver a peerless customer experience through innovative technology systems that transform automotive retail.

What Went Well

  • DIGITAL: Online sales platform drove 38% of customer acquisition
  • ADOPTION: Service scheduling app usage increased 27% year-over-year
  • INFRASTRUCTURE: Cloud migration reduced outages by 58% over prior year
  • INTEGRATION: Expanded OEM data integrations to 95% of vehicle lineup
  • ANALYTICS: Predictive inventory tools improved turn rates by 12%

Not So Well

  • PERFORMANCE: Mobile app experience rated 12% below industry benchmarks
  • VELOCITY: Software delivery cycle times increased by 18% this quarter
  • SECURITY: Remediation time for vulnerabilities exceeded targets by 9 days
  • FRAGMENTATION: Customer data remained siloed across 4 primary systems
  • TALENT: Engineering vacancies remained at 11% above target level

Learnings

  • ARCHITECTURE: Microservice approach outperformed monolithic components
  • METHODOLOGY: Cross-functional squads delivered 31% faster than siloed teams
  • DATA: Unified customer views drove 24% higher conversion rates
  • TESTING: Shift-left security testing reduced production issues by 40%
  • CLOUD: Dynamic scaling reduced peak infrastructure costs by 27%

Action Items

  • PLATFORM: Accelerate legacy system modernization with priority on CRM
  • MOBILE: Rebuild mobile experience with native app development approach
  • TALENT: Launch automotive tech specialist recruiting and training program
  • DATA: Implement unified customer data platform across all touchpoints
  • DEVOPS: Reduce deployment cycle time by 40% through CI/CD optimization
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To deliver a peerless customer experience through innovative technology systems that transform automotive retail.

Strengths

  • CHATBOTS: Well-established AI assistants handling 35% inquiries
  • PRICING: Proprietary AI vehicle pricing algorithm updated daily
  • INVENTORY: Machine learning optimization for inventory placement
  • CUSTOMER: AI-powered customer segmentation with 85% accuracy
  • INFRASTRUCTURE: Scalable cloud platform supporting AI workloads

Weaknesses

  • INTEGRATION: Limited AI integration with legacy dealer systems
  • SKILLS: AI talent gap with only 15 dedicated AI engineers
  • DATA: Siloed data structures limiting AI model performance
  • GOVERNANCE: Inconsistent AI governance and ethics framework
  • PERSONALIZATION: Limited personalization across customer journey

Opportunities

  • GENERATIVE: Implement GenAI for personalized communications
  • VISION: Computer vision for vehicle condition assessment
  • VOICE: Voice assistants for in-store and in-vehicle experiences
  • MAINTENANCE: Predictive maintenance recommendations using AI
  • FINANCE: AI-driven financing options and approval workflows

Threats

  • COMPETITION: Big Tech entering automotive with superior AI
  • BIAS: Risk of biased AI outcomes in pricing and financing
  • PRIVACY: Consumer concerns about AI and data usage
  • REGULATION: Emerging AI regulations affecting automotive retail
  • EXPECTATIONS: Rising customer expectations for AI experiences

Key Priorities

  • PLATFORM: Build unified AI platform across customer touchpoints
  • TALENT: Establish dedicated AI Center of Excellence
  • VISION: Implement computer vision for vehicle assessment
  • DATA: Create unified data lake optimized for AI/ML workloads