Specialist Vehicle Hire Company
The client has engaged with us to investigate a number of vehicle damage claims, where the hiring customer has damaged the hired vehicle.
Our specialist vehicle inspection services enabled us to provide strong evidence that the vehicles had been driven beyond their limitations. The damage caused in one case alone ran to around £5 k, which was all recovered on the strength of our reports. Our fees were also met by the hirer meaning that the client obtained full reimbursement for the damage involved.
Ipsum has also provided fleet management and technical support and advice to the company over the past four years.
International Vehicle Damage Estimating Company
The client intended on breaking into the Irish Market, and had limited knowledge and contacts within the region. Ipsum enabled discussions and meetings between the two companies and assisted with the development of the offering in the region.
Over a period of six months, constant support was provided with Ipsum having the specialist knowledge for the region.
The region is now under development with a number of companies building viable offerings in Ireland.
Classic Car Restoration Company
This business had the enviable opportunity to develop a restoration service from it’s early beginnings, supporting the retail side of the business.
After a two week consultation process, the business was advised that higher profitability was possible based on it’s current business alone, and measure were put in place to provide a budget for the year, alongside a number of actions in order to realign the business.
There were some tough changes required, including restructuring the middle management team in order to free up the workflow and development of the business.
A plan of action was developed and in the first five months, the EBITDA was up by 16% on same period the previous year. Projections were an increase in EBITDA 45% of turnover once developments bedded in. Changes in the culture of the business were difficult for the management team to approach in a short period, and the changes were left with the company to develop at their pace.
The company had been through a number of changes in the previous two years, and a number of metrics needed urgent attention. Cash-flow was poor and the debtors list growing. This was reduced from over £165 k to a more palatable £45 k within the five months, creating available cash for workshop changes and capital investment.
The social media exposure of the company was poor and sporadic. This was addressed, with changes to the process, and engagement increased ten fold. In that market, the customers are scattered and disconnected. The provision of a monthly newsletter provided a window to the world for customers past and present, and enabled better engagement with the customer base.
Internal struggles with quality were addressed with a staff structure change, empowering the team and improving the incidence of major quality control issues.
Prior to our being appointed, the workshop had three major rejections and the cost effectively wiped out any profit, and more on those restorations.
Soft skill changes created a more focussed working team, with pride in the final result.
Local Service Garage
A service garage was not expanding as expected or indeed benefiting from a great working relationship with it’s local customer base. After analysis and a developed plan of action, the client was able to establish a new line of work, from diversification. The client provided services which could be managed and adapted to the needs of a local business adding value to that business and that of our client.
The increases in turnover were considerable, without major investment, and the net profitability was a proven increase of 8%.
The client had much more of an understanding of the business and it’s inherent issues, and was able to adapt their working practices by empowering their team, providing much improved engagement, and thus employee buy in.
Introducing a customer database was critical to enabling repeat work, and providing engagement with it’s local customer base.
The client now has an annual business review with Ipsum providing the saw sharpening every twelve months.