The Client:

In 2007, Enterprise Holdings (previously known as Enterprise Rent-A-Car) acquired Vanguard, including the National Car Rental and Alamo Rent A Car brands, to make itself a leading player in both corporate and retail car rental at the airport. As with all large acquisitions, there was a need to integrate the business operations, financial systems, and HR processes. Enterprise selected Dell Services as its IT partner to accomplish this ambitious integration.

Situational Analysis:

Following the acquisition, new business processes had to be developed to integrate two very different organizations while leveraging the strengths of each. The challenge was to combine the operations of Enterprise, National and Alamo and create a fully integrated solution. Ultimately that solution needed to support all three brands with consolidated financial and back-office systems that streamlined operations, eliminated unnecessary expense, and provided the highest levels of customer service.

Solution:

Dell Services leveraged its deep industry knowledge, strength in application development and the power of multi-national support teams. Working with Enterprise on an ambitious 24-month integration program, we developed and implemented change that touched most major operational and back-office systems.

The program included a significant effort to rework business processes and modify operational systems. Those modifications enabled consolidation of the fleet, deployment of multiple point-of-sale systems in more than 150 airport locations, and expansion of the capabilities offered to Enterprise Holdings customers across all three car rental brands.

As part of the companywide initiative to integrate National and Alamo employees into an enhanced organizational structure, Dell Services also consolidated the company’s employee database into a single PeopleSoft HRMS application.

Success Metrics:

The integration project successfully achieved all business objectives and was implemented on schedule. Most notably, the project allowed Enterprise Holdings to achieve synergies and increase market share – the true business benefits from the integration.

• Operations. The Enterprise Holdings fleet was consolidated into a single database platform and synchronized through near-real-time integration across the entire business, providing enhanced capabilities to manage frequent renter recognition and brand loyalty throughout the customer base.
• Organization. In March 2009, the combined workforce of 68,000 Enterprise, Alamo and National employees was migrated to the new PeopleSoft platform. New reporting and management structures were implemented for more streamlined operational controls and reduced operating expenses. To further integrate business processes, back office applications were consolidated for vehicle maintenance, titling, fleet management, and financial systems.
• Business Process. Tens of thousands of development hours were invested to augment operational system capabilities and provide needed support for enhanced business processes. The applications development efforts leveraged the strength of each brand in a coordinated fashion to provide a wide range of services to the combined customer base.