Autoklass, an authorized Mercedes-Benz, smart, Honda and Hymer sales and service center, and one of the Mercedes-Benz partners with the longest-standing experience in Romania, has implemented the complete IT Genetics electronic labels solution and optimized the label replacement process across the entire network. Thus, the time allocated to this operation has been reduced from 8 hours per month for each branch to just a few seconds per day for the entire chain.
The initial challenge
Autoklass, founded in 1996, currently has 7 branches and one workplace, distributed nationwide, 3 of which are in Bucharest and Ilfov. Implementing a discount campaign was a challenge, as updating prices and replacing paper labels was a lengthy and exhausting process, often prone to errors. In each branch, one person was appointed to carry out this task, and up to 8 hours/month per branch were allocated to label changes.
This cumbersome process impacted not only employee productivity but also the company’s profitability. Since prices were not updated in real time at the start of campaigns, many clothing items and accessories benefited from the new conditions much later, and sales were affected.
The IT Genetics solution
These challenges were addressed by automating the price change process: the complete IT Genetics electronic label solution was implemented. This includes: a hardware component – electronic labels, gateway, mounting accessories; a software component – the price change management application; and solution implementation and installation services, plus specialized technical support.
“Wanting to keep up with technology and make work easier for colleagues in the branches, we turned our attention to a modern solution: electronic shelf labels. These help us have all prices changed as soon as the campaign begins and also revert to the initial prices once campaigns end,” said Nicolae Manea, Accessories Manager at Autoklass.
Implementation was carried out in two stages:
The first stage, lasting 3 months, involved implementing a pilot project in one of the Bucharest branches. In this first project, all the technical settings were made to install the solution on the client’s server, and the necessary number of electronic labels and mounting accessories for the entire chain was determined.
A particularity of this project was that the stores have both accessories displayed on shelves and a collection of clothing placed in special stands. Therefore, 45% of the implemented labels were electronic textile labels. These are smaller in size, lighter, but offer the same performance. Even though the implemented solution included two different types of labels, a uniform design was maintained across all branches.
In the second stage, which lasted less than a month, the project was implemented in the remaining branches.
Autoklass benefits
Once the electronic label solution was implemented in all 7 branches, the results and benefits for Autoklass were immediately visible:
- Time saved: Thanks to synchronization between the company’s internal ERP and the shelf labels, the 8 hours allocated monthly for this task are no longer necessary, and price changes are made in just a few seconds.
- Total control over displayed prices: Campaigns can be set for clearly defined periods, and the correct prices are displayed in real time as soon as the campaign begins. Returning to the original prices is done automatically at the end of the campaign.
- Fewer errors: Eliminating manual label processing has significantly reduced errors, with prices always matching those set in the system.
- Increased employee satisfaction: Relieving staff from this monotonous, time-consuming task and reallocating them to more important projects has led to greater satisfaction among the teams responsible for this process.
“This was the first project of its kind that we implemented, so we started with a few reservations. But these have already been overcome; implementation was smooth, and the solution works without any technical issues.
We can now manage marketing campaigns much more efficiently, and this is reflected in sales figures. Moreover, the productivity and satisfaction of our employees have increased significantly since implementation.
We can say without reservation that the decision to implement this solution is one of those that significantly contributes to maintaining the standards of professionalism and quality our customers and partners have come to expect, following the Mercedes-Benz principle: ‘The best or nothing’,”* said Nicolae Manea, Autoklass.
Partnership with IT Genetics
“The flexibility, support, and dedication shown throughout the project convinced us that IT Genetics is the partner with whom we can implement this solution at the desired standards.”
