Avis strengthens customer relationships with Open Source
Avis has chosen to implement the open source system SugarCRM in order to strengthen its contact with customers and business partners throughout the Nordic Region. The transition to open source will take place in partnership with Redpill Linpro, which was able to offer Avis a cheaper CRM tool with the same breadth and quality as the proprietary, closed, solutions on the market.
Avis in Denmark, Sweden and Norway have implmented a new integrated CRM system, which will improve the efficiency of sales and marketing work while also strengthening contact with the company’s customers in all three countries.
“Avis needs a new and improved CRM system in order to increase the impact of our Nordic sales and marketing campaigns,” explains Avis Scandinavia’s CRM Manager Tom Orvei, who is responsible for the project. “If we are to maintain our competitiveness, it is essential that we are able to tailor our customer contact within the sales channel and strengthen our communication with our many business partners throughout the Nordic region. At the same time, we also want to ensure a high degree of knowledge-sharing within the Nordic region so that we can benefit from our experiences in each individual country. We were won over by the Open Source system SugarCRM, which includes a particularly strong campaign module and the opportunity to add extra modules such as the Avis card module and an SMS module.”
Before deciding on a new CRM system, Avis carried out in-depth research to find out which IT system best suited its needs.
A strong competitor to proprietary systems
“We had no previous experience of Open Source at Avis,” continues Tom. “So the obvious first step was to look at proprietary, closed, CRM systems which would be compatible with our existing Microsoft environment. The new system needed to be flexible, with the option of consultancy and support from an external partner. However, we soon discovered that an Open Source solution would be just as strong, and just as easy to integrate into our existing IT environment as the more conventional solutions.”
Today, SugarCRM is the most popular open source CRM product on the market. The system uses specific tools to enhance users’ communication with customers and partners, improve control of the sales cycle, and help to forge closer relationships with the company’s various target groups.
More companies choose open source
“We are delighted with our productive new partnership with Avis, and have great respect for the courage which the company has shown in choosing new technology,” adds Kristian af Sandeberg, Product Manager Sugar CRM at Redpill Linpro. “Here at Redpill Linpro, we are finding that more and more companies which had never used Open Source IT systems before are now starting to use these systems. The reason for this is the high quality which they offer, combined with the financial savings which they bring. And this is a particularly decisive argument at critical times when IT systems need to be upgraded. As a result, there is a steadily growing market for professional Open Source services in the Nordic region, for example with SugarCRM, which can be tailored to suit all industries.”
Avis and Redpill Linpro have completed a successful CRM-implementation in all three of Avis’ Nordic companies in just five months.
Client
Avis
Industry
Car hire
Deliverable
Implementation of SugarCRM Open Source CRM solution
Benefit
An integrated Nordic CRM system with a robust campaign module which provides better internal knowledge sharing and closer contact with business partners. Increased efficiency in sales and marketing across the companies offices in Denmark, Norway and Sweden.
Quote
“At Avis we didn’t have any previous experience with Open Source. Therefore a natural first step was to look at proprietary CRM systems that were compatible with our existing Microsoft environment. The new system had to be flexible and offer consulting and support with an external collaboration partner. Suddenly we realized that an Open Source solution would be just as robust and easy to integrate into our existing IT environment as the conventional solutions.”
Tom Orvei, CRM Manager, Avis Scandinavia
The challenge
Avis wanted to improve its CRM system across the Nordic countries in order to increase its competitiveness. The firm suffered from a lack of knowledge sharing among its offices in Denmark, Norway and Sweden, which made the coordination of their Nordic sales and marketing campaigns less efficient. At the same time they needed more direct contact with customers in the sales channel, and better communication with the firm’s business partners in the Nordic region.
The solution
Redpill Linpro developed an integrated Nordic CRM solution for Avis based on SugarCRM. The solution was implemented throughout Avis’s offices in the Nordic region. SugarCRM’s features include a robust campaign module and the option to select specialised modules. Redpill Linpro implemented the new system for Avis in only five months.
The result
SugarCRM has increased the efficiency of Avis’s sales and marketing campaigns in the Nordic region. Today the firm is able to customise its contacts with customers in the sales channel much better. Communication with Avis’s many business partners has improved as well. Knowledge sharing among the Nordic offices has increased, so the staff can benefit from the experience of each individual country. At the same time Avis has chosen the additional Avis card and SMS module options from SugarCRM’s specialised modules, which benefits its customers.
SugarCRM is flexible and just as easy to integrate into existing IT environments as conventional solutions.