MOTORPOINT

How cloud computing changed business operations and drove growth for Motorpoint Ltd.

The Customer

Founded in 1998, Motorpoint Ltd has since established itself as the leading car supermarket in the country. The company which stocks a mix of over 3,000 new and nearly new cars has seven sites across the UK, including Birmingham, Burnley, Chingford, Derby, Glasgow, Newport and Peterborough.

As a rapidly growing company, Motorpoint wanted a solution that not only helped them to open new sites quickly, but also made existing sites more efficient. The company required a means of assigning IT resources to new branches swiftly, whilst bringing all hardware and software across all Motorpoint sites into one coherent unified platform.

Mark Carpenter, Managing Director said, “Our ambitious growth plans were being hindered by the fact that our IT infrastructure was inconsistent across the branches. The solution we deployed needed to show a much more efficient way of managing our IT”.

HOW CLOUD COMPUTING WILL CHANGE BUSINESS

For the likes of Motorpoint and other companies, cloud computing can bring about significant changes in the way businesses operate, especially when a unified platform is needed. Here’s how:

Scalability: Cloud services are designed to be scalable, meaning they can be easily expanded as per the business’ needs. This makes it possible to unify operations across multiple locations or departments. For example, if a company needs more storage or computing power, it can easily scale up its cloud resources.

Accessibility: Cloud computing allows access to the unified platform from anywhere, anytime, as long as there’s an internet connection. This means that employees across different geographical locations can work on the same platform, fostering collaboration and increasing productivity.

Cost Savings: With cloud computing, companies don’t have to invest in expensive hardware, maintenance or upgrades. The pay-as-you-go model of cloud services can lead to significant cost savings, especially for businesses that need to quickly expand or contract their operations.

Consistency and Standardisation: Cloud computing allows businesses to standardise their software and processes across all branches or departments, leading to a more consistent and efficient operation. This ensures everyone is using the same versions of software, reducing compatibility issues and training needs.

Data Integration: Cloud computing enables easier data integration. When businesses use multiple software systems, integrating them on the cloud can provide a more unified view of business operations. This can lead to more informed decision-making.

Security and Disaster Recovery: Cloud providers offer robust security features, protecting sensitive business data. In addition, cloud services include data backup and disaster recovery solutions. This ensures business continuity in the event of data loss or a disaster.

Speed and Agility: Finally, cloud computing allows businesses to move quickly. Whether a business is launching a new product, opening a new branch, or responding to a sudden market shift, cloud resources can be deployed or adjusted rapidly. This agility can provide a competitive edge in today’s fast-paced business environment.

By leveraging these benefits, cloud computing can effectively unify a business’s IT operations on a single platform, increasing efficiency, flexibility, and ultimately the potential for growth and innovation.

“Thanks to Node4, we can now set up the IT for new branches within minutes”

MOTORPOINT TEAM

THE CHALLENGE

Each of Motorpoint’s sites were using different versions of software combined with dated hardware. The inconsistency that this brought about meant efficiency improvements were needed. This led us to explore how cloud computing will change business operations by standardising software across all branches.

The Solution

Node4 provided its private cloud-based solution N4Cloud, illustrating how cloud computing is changing the face of business. Running primarily from its Northampton data centre, it’s backed up and replicated securely at its Derby data centre. The whole IT infrastructure is built on powerful unified Cisco platform blades.

Embracing the transformative impact of cloud computing on business, the legacy infrastructure was replaced with functionality brought into the cloud which can be updated centrally and backed up. Servers that power the day-to-day operations of the company have now been moved to the cloud.
As well as minimising ongoing costs with managing the IT system in-house, Motorpoint’s new infrastructure means that when they’re opening a new site, the resources can be allocated in minutes. This rapid deployment is just one example of how cloud computing will change business, making it more agile and adaptable.

“Moving to the cloud has really given us the smoother infrastructure we needed to develop the business.”
Mark Carpenter, Managing Director at Motorpoint