Proof in Action

Challenge: 

Hudson Automotive Group was first referred to OWL by a mutual colleague in late 2019. The relationship began with a series of operational assessments. Partners Tom Olney and Sally Lopez, along with their team, conducted a comprehensive evaluation of Hudson’s operations, accounting, HR, and IT systems. At that time, Hudson had 14 stores but was poised for significant growth. Following in-depth conversations on how to leverage the insights from the assessments, Hudson began its first engagement with OWL in early 2020. As of December 2024, OWL has collaborated with Hudson on over 50 engagements and now serves as their Managed Services Provider (MSP). Hudson has since grown to an impressive 52 dealerships, showcasing their remarkable expansion. This case study explores how working with OWL helped Hudson grow and lay the foundation for their continued success.

One key challenge Hudson Automotive Group knew they wanted to tackle was consolidating data from diverse systems into comprehensive and actionable analytics. As Hudson prepared to expand its dealership footprint, it required streamlined processes to:

• Easily onboard new dealerships and ensure they were operational on day one with standardized DMS configurations.
• Simplify accounting systems and processes, enabling accurate and efficient financial analysis and reporting.
• Enhance operational and management efficiency to support scalability.

Additional obstacles included:

• Lack of a standardized Chart of Accounts (COA) across all dealerships.
• Inconsistencies in user access levels throughout the organization.
• Dependence on outdated IT infrastructure that hampered efficiency and growth.
• Absence of standardization, even among dealerships using the same DMS, resulting in inconsistent processes and reporting.

Hudson recognized the critical need for standardization and sought OWL’s expertise to implement the right solutions. They were looking for a single, trusted partner to provide:

• Managed IT services to modernize their infrastructure.
• Hardware procurement to support their expansion goals.
• Professional services to optimize operations and drive sustainable growth.

Solution: 

OWL initiated their engagement by conducting a thorough assessment of Hudson’s processes across all departments: Sales, Finance & Insurance, Accounting, Parts, and Service. Through a comprehensive analysis of Hudson’s various dealerships, OWL identified which systems were effective and which required updates. Recognizing the need for a standardized Chart of Accounts (COA), OWL collaborated with Hudson to develop a COA that could be seamlessly implemented across all dealerships. 

The next step was to assist Hudson in selecting the best DMS for their needs. OWL facilitated demos of the latest products and obtained quotes by working closely with Hudson's current vendors. Leveraging strategic partnerships with multiple DMS providers, OWL negotiated a contract with CDK, Hudson's preferred vendor. This agreement included converting all existing dealerships to CDK Drive and integrating any future acquisitions under the new contract. A dedicated team of CDK resources supported Hudson and OWL to ensure consistent implementation, setups, and training across all Hudson dealerships. Additionally, OWL collaborated with Hudson and CDK to develop standard profiles for each job role to ensure appropriate user access levels and compliance with industry security standards.

OWL initiated the project management for the multi-phase conversion, transitioning all non-CDK stores to the CDK Drive software. During this period, setups for all departments were aligned with the standard "Hudson" configuration, including the new COA and standard user profiles. OWL also integrated CDK University training, providing weekly progress reports to ensure users were proficient with the new system upon installation.

During the conversion phases, Hudson continued to acquire new dealerships, adding 1 to 6 stores at a time. OWL worked diligently to implement the new Hudson standards on CDK, ensuring each new deployment was both efficient and in line with the updated processes. These newly acquired dealerships underwent a complete overhaul of all network and IT equipment.  OWL’s procurement team ordered and shipped all the new equipment directly to the dealerships for installation by our IT Team. OWL IT Project Managers collaborated closely with OWL DMS Project Managers to ensure that all new systems were operational on the day of acquisition. Consequently, Hudson teams were able to go live in Accounting from day one, meeting all standardization requirements.

The final step to achieving complete standardization involved migrating the dealerships already using CDK to the standardized chart of accounts and user profiles.
 

Results: 

With a standardized DMS, COA, and user profiles, Hudson has seen numerous benefits including: 

• Enhanced Operational Efficiency: Streamlined processes and consistent procedures across all dealerships.
• Improved Data Accuracy: Reliable and uniform financial and operational data for better decision-making.
• Cost Savings: Reduced costs related to maintaining and supporting multiple systems and procedures.
• Increased Security: Enhanced security measures with consistent user access controls.
• Simplified Training: Easier onboarding and training for staff, resulting in increased productivity.
• Better Compliance: Ensured compliance with accounting principles and regulatory standards.
• Seamless Integration: Smoother integration of new acquisitions, maintaining operational consistency.
• Higher Customer Satisfaction: Improved customer service through consistent and efficient operations.

These benefits have collectively contributed to Hudson’s growth and success, enabling them to maintain a competitive edge in the market.