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In an industry where transport costs and logistics have traditionally been overlooked, Jigcar is emerging as a game-changer for AM100 dealerships.

Launched just last year, the company is addressing the complexities of vehicle movements between dealership sites and customers with its AI-powered platform.

Backed by industry heavyweights and founded by experts in automotive and transport technology, Jigcar has already secured major clients, including franchise groups like Glyn Hopkin, Steven Eagell and Perrys.

Elliott Perks, CEO of Jigcar, recently spoke with AM to shed light on how the company is tackling the unseen costs of transport planning and optimising logistics for dealerships.

“Transport is one area where dealerships can achieve massive cost savings, but it’s often overlooked,” he explains. “With the financial pressures many dealers are facing, transport can no longer be a back-of-house operation. It needs to be a key part of cost-cutting strategies.” Jigcar’s mission is to bring this issue to the forefront and help dealerships realise the potential savings they’re missing out on.

This focus on transport comes from Perks’ prior experience at Cazoo, where, despite the massive resources available, the company struggled to find a solution that could manage vehicle movement efficiently. “We quickly realised that the solutions available were built for moving parcels, not vehicles,” he recalls. This realisation laid the foundation for Jigcar, and the company is now helping dealerships navigate the complexities of third-party providers, internal drivers, and transport logistics.

The Challenge: Lack of Visibility and Rising Costs

According to Perks, the primary challenge dealership groups face is visibility over their transport expenses. With multiple sites operating independently, tracking costs related to fleet and retail movements is difficult. “One of the first things we focus on is helping dealerships see how many cars are moving, how much is being spent per mile, and where inefficiencies exist,” says Perks.

The cost of fleet movements has surged, particularly with the rise in electric vehicle (EV) deliveries. Unlike traditional vehicles, new EVs often require transporters instead of trade plates, further increasing expenses. “We spoke to one group that spent £2.4 million last year on just fleet deliveries, with each movement costing £250,” Perks reveals.

Perks attributes the growing transport problem to the evolution of omnichannel retailing. “Five or six years ago, fewer cars were moving between sites. Now, 38% of all retail cars sold - new and used - are sold from a different site than where they were originally located,” he explains. Increased cross-selling, EV salary sacrifice schemes, and purchasing from private markets like Carwow and Motorway have also made vehicle logistics a central focus for dealership operations.

What Sets Jigcar Apart?

Unlike other solutions, Jigcar is not a marketplace but an operational software platform that streamlines transport at the group level. “There is no direct competitor to what we do,” says Perks. “We provide a holistic approach, integrating multiple transport methods - whether internal drivers, third-party providers, or marketplaces - into one unified system.”

Jigcar critically focuses on optimising the speed of movement which can be a significant factor in reducing cost while improving a dealership group’s stock turn. It is not unheard of movements between sites, once a sale has been agreed, taking up to 5 days. With a cost per car per day of £30 to hold stock, a 3-day improvement using Jigcar’s platform could mean a £90 saving on every car sold.

Another key advantage is compliance. Many dealerships unknowingly work with uninsured or ill-equipped transporters, particularly when transporting heavier EVs. Jigcar ensures dealerships collaborate with vetted, established providers, helping them negotiate better rates and service-level agreements.

Jigcar’s AI capabilities are revolutionising how dealerships manage transport. “The first step is collecting data -most groups had no real visibility before,” says Perks.

Jigcar has already demonstrated success, with five AM100 groups adopting its platform.

“We helped one group reduce its 52 transport providers to just two, cutting costs and improving efficiency,” says Perks.

Perks explains that one group with an internal driver model saw their drivers double productivity while another reduced vehicle movement times from five days to two, lowering inventory holding costs and boosting stock turnover.

Fast Vehicle Logistics Intelligence

The process of integrating Jigcar into a dealership’s operations is impressively quick, often requiring just a few calls and a week of setup. Once on the platform, the data begins to yield valuable insights, revealing areas where cost per mile can be reduced or where internal processes can be improved.

"The real benefits show after about three months of data collection," Perks explains. “By that time, we can make really impactful recommendations.”

Jigcar’s platform also offers the ability to drill down to a car-level analysis allowing the dealership to see exactly how much it costs to move a specific vehicle, track how long it takes to move a car, and identify which transport providers are most efficient. This visibility, Perks says, is essential for making data-driven decisions that improve both cost efficiency and operational speed.

Looking to the future, Jigcar aims to continue its expansion within the UK market while exploring opportunities in aftersales and even international markets. Perks sees the company as part of a broader movement to enhance operational efficiencies across the automotive sector but remains committed to keeping the focus on transport. “We’re just scratching the surface,” he says. “There’s so much more to do, and we’re excited to see where it goes.”

https://jigcar.com/