Intelligent CIO Europe Issue 50 | Page 61

CASE STUDY available to those who needed it and that it served the unique demands of the drivers and fleet managers in each and every country we operate in .
Denodo checked all of our boxes . It is a technologyagnostic platform , allowing us to connect to a wide variety of data sources and data-consuming applications . As we built our Global Data Hub , we wanted to create a platform that can adapt to fast- changing technology in the data space , so having an agnostic data platform was important for us . Here , we can easily switch technologies if necessary without impacting any business operations . Denodo ’ s virtual layer enables us to be as flexible as possible , while also allowing us to manage and efficiently govern the data .
How does the Denodo Platform enable you to remain a global leader in the automotive industry ?
As a company , we decided that in order to knit our data together and make the most out it for our customers , we needed modern data storage that was scalable , reliable , efficient and less expensive . The result was the move to the AWS Cloud and incorporating the Denodo platform to form the core of our data fabric .
Denodo ’ s technology now sits at the heart of our Global Data Hub . It provides an abstraction layer to create a single , secure point of entry to the data ecosystem . By providing a centralised framework for data governance , the platform also protects our customers and ensures the highest level of data safety .
How has leveraging your vast pool of data meant you can deliver an innovative service to your customers on a global scale ?
From a customer experience perspective , being able to mobilise all this data enables us to provide more innovative services . For example , it helps us to enable precise car damage detection . We can gather data from internal and external systems to more accurately detect car damage and calculate maintenance charges and other related costs . This not only helps with passenger safety but also reduces the overall cost of any damage .
In addition , we can use this data to boost customer convenience . We can now predict far more accurately when a car may need to be serviced and steer our customers to preferred garages in time . We can even schedule appointments for them if they would like us to . Our analytical capabilities have been boosted so much that , by merging information from one car with the historical information from other cars , we can predict when a car needs urgent maintenance so that we can take preventive action .
How do you incorporate datadriven initiatives into your overall business strategy ?
For us , it starts with having the right conversations – by seeing through all the complexities , finding common ground and establishing priorities on which everyone can agree . Data-driven culture starts at the very top . By taking a leadership position early and creating a NextGen data platform that can serve all business needs , we were able to build data into products and services , improving processes and creating value for customers .
On top of this , we also transformed the capabilities of LeasePlan within the data space itself . We made sure that data is embedded into business tools and gives fleet managers data-driven insights that are readily accessible and supported by statistical models generated by our team in the backend .
As CIO , what are some of the challenges you see in the automotive industry from a business / technology perspective and what advice can you offer to other CIOs in the way of this ?
LeasePlan operates in an extraordinary market that has been strong and resilient for nearly 60 years . Looking ahead , we can achieve so much more . There are megatrends driving growth in our business such as Mobility-as-a-Service , electrification of fleets and the changing pattern of car ownership to car subscription services .
To capitalise on these opportunities , our strategy is to become the world ’ s first fully digital Car-as-a-Service company . Our digital approach will enable us to enter new market segments , delivering digital services at digital cost levels .
What do the next 12 months have in store for LeasePlan ?
We are well on our way to implementing a fully digital business model that will accelerate further growth through scalable systems , harmonising our products and services and standardising the processes . Our digital team is fully focused on delivering NextGen solutions for our organisation and sunsetting the legacy systems . Data is playing an important role in this journey especially to be able to make sure we standardise our processes . p
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