Best Use of Technology AWARD Winner: Ridgeway
Richard Spencer, Ridgeway, (2nd left) collected the award from Sean Taylor, Redwood Technologies (right)
With a mouthwatering main course having literally provided the food for thought on the alternative main course of the evening – the Awards – Fiona Bruce called diners’ attention to the stage.
She explained that this first award category was specifically looking for innovators and problem solvers producing or implementing ground- breaking software, solutions, systems, hardware or processes.
And the six finalists had plenty of scope and sector impact for the judges to consider, from global multi-channel marketing to ‘black box’ solutions for insurance markets, telecoms and IT services to car retailing and sales presentation transformation.
A leading provider of cloud communications technology – Redwood Technologies – led off for the category sponsors with the presentations.
Ridgeway motor retail group, the overall winner, impressed the judges with its “…willingness to embrace new ideas, a passion for great customer service and a genuine enthusiasm for the technology they use.
“In a highly competitive industry, our winner has shown great ingenuity in seeking ways to enhance the customer experience and differentiate their services through an innovative and intuitive application of technology. Their drive to build a solution which enhances their relationship with the customer truly epitomises what our award is all about.”
Ridgeway has focused on sales of proven prestige car marques – Audi, BMW/MINI, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Land Rover, Jaguar, Maserati and SKODA – and has achieved brand-range expansion while enjoying continual growth. It is now ranked
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in the Top 20 largest motor retail groups in the UK and listed 12th in the latest Sunday Times Top Track 250 table (2014) of Britain’s leading mid-market private companies.
Ridgeway’s group after-sales director Richard Spencer who was presented with the award by Sean Taylor, managing director of Redwood Technologies, assisted by Nick Hewer, later explained how the Newbury-based company had used smart technology to improve customer service and operational efficiency.
“Our business is built on honesty, trust and transparency with all our customers – they need to see what we see, so we have developed a ‘workshop window’.”
Video-clips of actual damage or repairwork for MOT or safety reasons are taken by Ridgeway technicians who can advise on their relative importance through a traffic-light system – red for dangerous or illegal, amber for advised action, and green for ok. The technology includes a click- button for the customer to approve action or to arrange a follow-up contact to discuss matters further.
“We send it to customers as a weblink to view on any PC, smart or mobile device. It doesn’t take a lot of data so it is quick, slick and easy to use.
“The positive feedback we get from customers on a daily basis is just phenomenal, and we are now introducing a ‘showroom window’ to assist customers with purchases of second-hand or new vehicles.”
Taking second spot for this award category was Wokingham-based Volume, founded in 1997 and already a proven award-winning global provider
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – DECEMBER14/JANUARY15
of digital content, technology and innovation for channel marketing and business campaigns.
Third placed was Drivenlower from Thame with its ‘black box’ telematics device providing a scalable, cloud-based solution developed specifically for insurance mass-markets.
Receiving Highly Commended award certificates were NewVoiceMedia of Basingstoke which helps to drive effective sales and marketing for clients in 116 countries, Hampshire-based iPresent, whose technology turns iPads and mobile devices into high-impact sales presentation tools, and AIM-listed Coms plc founded in 2000 and already providing end-to-end telecoms and IT services throughout UK and Europe from its Loudwater, Bucks headquarters.
BUSINESS MAGAZINE AWARDS 2014
THAMES VALLEY
SPONSORED BY Celebrating its 20th year
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