Using Profitbase’s Budgeting and Forecasting Tool: Audun Bjerke Stranden, Business Controller at Volvo Car Stor-Oslo
On July 1, 2022, Volvo Car Greater Oslo launched, simultaneously adopting the budgeting and forecasting tools from Profitbase.
-We were recommended Profitbase tools by Kverneland Bil, who have extensive experience using them, says Audun Bjerke Stranden, the business controller at Volvo Car Stor -Oslo.
Read the customer case about Kverneland Bil here.
We are sitting in a meeting room on the second floor at Økern. Below us, various types of Volvo cars are lined up, some rows of used cars, others brand new.
A Major Player
-Last fall was marked by many deliveries before Christmas, he notes.
Despite starting up on July 1, the company managed to achieve sales of just under one billion kroner by the end of the year.
-That is quite a significant turnover, both for being a dealer and for being a newly established one.
In addition to the Økern location, Volvo Car Stor-Oslo also has locations at Fornebu and Lillestrøm, with a range of different sub-departments, from workshops to tire hotels.
-We are a major player, but we also need to be proactive. This requires the right tools, Stranden points out, continuing:
-We will likely undergo significant transformations in the coming years, both as an industry and as a company. In many ways, the car industry is moving towards becoming a service provider, and we intend to be at the forefront. That’s why a tool that is off-the-shelf but customizable fits us perfectly,” says Stranden about Profitbase.
Like Hand in Glove
-In other words, it’s a good match to maintain the speed and pace of change you desire?
-Yes, it is positive. If one were to build a tool from scratch, as many larger players do, it would be a very cumbersome process. Here, you can get a lot ready-made, but also some customization. You can experiment and make adjustments along the way, just like Kverneland Bil has customized it for themselves. It’s up to us to use it as effectively as possible going forward. Learning to use the tools better and becoming more efficient. We aim to be more than just a regular dealer; we aim to be a flagship.
Providing Security in Changes
Stranden explains that since they started, there have been many changes, as the locations transitioned from Bilia to Volvo Car Stor-Oslo on July 1.
-I started in my job in May 2022 and had a chance to familiarize myself with the software before we launched on July 1. But of course, there have been many new things, systems, and cultures to establish, so it takes some time before everything is in place. We still have a way to go with the software and its use, but we know the direction we want to go, Stranden reiterates.
Currently, only a few people are working with the budgeting and forecasting solution from Profitbase. However, Stranden has clear plans to change this by giving department heads the opportunity to use the software.
-It’s important for us to get the numbers and information out and accessible so that ownership can be spread to the various departments. And many have requested this, he starts, continuing:
-Some people want more access to see, not necessarily to make changes, but to get an overview. Everything is interconnected. All departments are linked. You might think that new car sales are the locomotive that pulls the rest of the business. Selling a new car means selling parts and preparing the car. It also brings new customers to the workshop and tire hotel. Everything is interconnected. Therefore, it’s important to move away from thinking about ‘my department’ and instead see the whole picture. For instance, parts have the best margins, but parts wouldn’t have many customers without the other departments, he concludes.
– Despite having had the software for a short period, how would you summarize the benefits?
-You have the security of being able to share information, make it accessible, and be sure it’s stored correctly. You avoid the uncertainty of which version is the latest, a common issue with spreadsheets where multiple versions can cause confusion. With this tool, you can be confident you have the correct version. It’s easy to update and share with others, promoting ownership and bringing the entire organization on board, he concludes.
