BYD
Driving Innovation: Customer Software Development Fuels BYD’s Success
When BYD entered the automotive market in Ireland, they were starting from scratch with no established dealerships, marketing materials, or online presence. Our firm was asked to develop the national website in Ireland as well as individual retailer websites for each vehicle dealership under a tight deadline. We quickly launched a robust, user-friendly website, laying the foundation for their digital presence. The platform has been continuously expanded and optimised over time, with plans for ongoing enhancements. This allows BYD to effortlessly connect with dealers and customers as the brand continues to grow. This strategic approach has been instrumental in establishing BYD’s presence in the Irish market.
- Bespoke Web-App Development
- Web Development
- UX Prototyping & Testing
- Content management
Who is the client?
Established in February 1995, BYD is a high-tech company committed to using technological innovations to improve quality of life. Over the past 28 years of rapid growth, playing a pivotal role in industries such as electronics, automotive, renewable energy, and rail transit. BYD provides comprehensive zero-emission new energy solutions.
What services did we provide?
We provided web development and digital strategy services for Ireland’s National Website and individual Dealership Websites. This included website creation, maintenance, and enhancing the client’s CRM strategy to improve customer engagement and streamline operations. We developed key features like Vehicle Stock Management, a Car Configurator, and a Service Booking system, offering a seamless user experience for exploring and customising vehicles, checking availability, and scheduling services.
We leveraged Lucid, our advanced Content Management System (CMS) and eCommerce platform, an enterprise-grade solution launched in 2012. Built on industry-leading technology and best practices, Lucid delivers a robust, scalable platform that powers websites and services across Europe, the UK, and North America for some of the world’s top brands. It ensures high performance, reliability, and innovation in every aspect of digital operations.
Lucid allows the dealer websites to be centrally managed by the national team, while also giving individual dealerships control over their specific content and offers. It enforces brand consistency by restricting the editor choices such as image size, font size, font family and colour along with other content including pre-approved content modules and imagery yet offers flexibility for dealers to customise their own materials without straying away from the brand’s CI guidelines.
In addition to this, we used Lucid to develop a range of bespoke technical features for the websites. This included a vehicle feed for both new and used cars and a powerful finance calculator engine that supports both PCP and HP finance options. We created a custom-built car configurator, enabling customers to build and personalise their vehicles directly on the website, and we implemented a dealer locator tool, which includes an option to switch to an electric car charging point locator. This feature helps customers find their nearest charging station and provides details about the charging point’s power capabilities.
What was their challenge?
Their challenge was entering Ireland’s highly competitive automotive industry from scratch, facing a monumental task within a very tight timeframe. They not only had to establish an entirely new brand presence in Ireland but also manage multiple aspects of the business simultaneously. This included developing a functional and engaging website, setting up dealership networks, and creating comprehensive marketing materials across various platforms like TV and radio. In addition, they had to coordinate the importation of vehicles, which was a logistical challenge. The combination of these critical elements made it an enormous undertaking.
How did we approach it?
In collaboration with the client, we ensured that all project requirements were fully met by leveraging a highly interactive and collaborative approach. The Lucid platform, designed as a modular system, allowed us to provide a scalable solution that not only met the client’s current needs but also positioned them for future growth. With this modular design, new components can be seamlessly integrated over time, including additional features like eCommerce, to enhance functionality and capacity.
Throughout the process, our experienced in-house team worked closely with BYD, ensuring the successful integration of the system with existing features while maintaining flexibility for future enhancements. This combination of advanced web development and strategic CRM support provided the client with a holistic digital solution, optimising their online presence and customer management capabilities.
Were there any obstacles?
Yes, we encountered a few obstacles during the project. As the website launch needed to coincide with the launch of the client’s new vehicle, one of the key challenges was the short time frame. This timeline became even more demanding due to the delayed availability of essential marketing materials.
To overcome these challenges, we maintained constant communication with the client, adapting our project plan to ensure that critical milestones were still met. Our team implemented a flexible, agile approach, allowing us to proceed with the platform’s development even as we awaited the final marketing assets. This approach ensured we delivered the solution on time without compromising quality.
How did we go above and beyond?
We went above and beyond by launching the official website within an incredibly tight timeframe of just six weeks, aligning perfectly with the release of the BYD Atto 3 in Ireland. This required meticulous planning, coordination, and commitment from our team to ensure everything was ready for the vehicle’s debut.
Meeting this deadline was essential for maximising the impact of the launch and creating a seamless experience for potential customers eager to learn more about the BYD Atto 3. Our ability to deliver a fully functional website in such a short period exemplifies our dedication to exceeding client expectations and providing outstanding service.
What was the result?
The result was a successful launch, with the client meeting all of their critical deadlines. The newly implemented platform not only supported the initial launch but was also designed with a modular and flexible architecture. This ensures that the platform can easily evolve to meet future business needs, enabling seamless adaptation and scalability as the business grows and requirements change.
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