Pace Car Rental partners with Odoo to streamline operations and drive growth

Increasing Pace Car Rental's sales by 300% made possible with a powerful management system. 

Pace Car Rental. Photo: odoo.com. Portal ERP South Africa. 

Pace Car Rental, a South African automotive company founded in 2006, has expanded significantly over the years, incorporating multiple subsidiaries to offer a broad range of services within the car rental industry. The group provides solutions that cater to both individual and corporate clients, covering short- and long-term rentals, vehicle tracking, fleet management, and rent-to-buy options. As the business grew, the need for a centralized, real-time management system became crucial. The company sought a solution that could integrate its various operations, reduce inefficiencies, and enhance decision-making processes.

Before implementing Odoo, Pace Car Rental relied on disparate systems and paperwork to manage its operations. The lack of integration between these tools led to data inconsistencies, errors, and delays in processing information. Additionally, the absence of formalized workflows made it difficult to track progress, ensure accountability, and maintain operational efficiency. As the company continued to expand, these challenges became more pronounced, highlighting the need for a comprehensive management system.

In 2021, after evaluating several options, Pace Car Rental selected Odoo’s management system, partnering with AP Business Software, a local Odoo Silver partner, to oversee the implementation. The transition was carried out in multiple phases to ensure a structured approach. The initial phase focused on integrating inventory and accounting processes while developing a custom workflow within the Odoo Services app to manage vehicle check-ins and check-outs, repair tracking, customer satisfaction, and invoicing. Subsequently, the CRM app was introduced to enhance lead management within the SA Motor Lease business unit, allowing the company to handle customer acquisition and compliance processes on a single platform.

Further enhancements were made to establish a cohesive workflow from customer acquisition to contract fulfillment, encompassing vehicle delivery, deposit payments, recurring billing, and contract management. The subsidiary Pace Tracking also benefited from this transformation, as website design, inventory management, recurring billing, and tracking device installations were integrated into the system. Additionally, a helpdesk module was deployed to manage events, repair activities, and customer service inquiries, while APIs were implemented to automate billing and payment collections.

Given the complexity of Pace Car Rental’s operations, tailoring Odoo to fit the company’s needs required a high degree of customization. To maximize the benefits of the new system, the company invested in an internal team dedicated to fine-tuning and continuously optimizing the platform. This approach ensured that the management system remained aligned with the business’s evolving demands, providing a scalable and adaptable solution for long-term growth.

The impact of Odoo’s implementation was significant. The company experienced a 300% increase in sales performance within its lease and rent-to-buy divisions, driven by improved processes, enhanced customer relationship management, and more efficient contract workflows. Moving from fragmented systems to a fully integrated platform allowed Pace Car Rental to streamline operations across all subsidiaries, improving data accuracy and overall efficiency. The CRM and Services apps also transformed customer interactions, reducing response times and enabling a more personalized service experience. As a result, half of the company’s customers now use the self-service portal, allowing employees to focus on service quality.

Financial management also saw notable improvements, with real-time visibility on sales, inventory, and purchasing activities. This enabled more precise forecasting, budgeting, and financial decision-making, while enhanced compliance and transparent billing processes further strengthened the company’s financial operations. Internal communication and collaboration improved as well, fostering better teamwork and coordination across departments.

Operational efficiency gains extended to vehicle maintenance, with repair times improving by 80% due to smoother workflows. The reduction in downtime increased customer satisfaction and optimized fleet utilization. By centralizing data and automating key processes, Pace Car Rental transformed its organization into a system-driven business that leverages real-time insights for strategic decision-making.

According to Murray Price, Director of Pace Tracking, “Odoo has played a pivotal role in transforming Pace Auto Group's operations, addressing many of the initial challenges the company faced through its comprehensive suite of business applications and customization capabilities.”

The successful implementation of Odoo positioned Pace Car Rental for continued growth, fostering a more agile and forward-thinking business culture. With a scalable and integrated management system in place, the company is now well-equipped to navigate the evolving automotive industry landscape while maintaining its commitment to customer satisfaction and operational excellence.