Car Planet — Dealership Inventory & Sales Management
Upgrading a Dealership System for Speed and Live Data.
System upgrades, performance optimization and a Horizon API integration for the FileMaker management system of a UK used-car dealership.
Business challenge
More than a sales system
Car Planet needed a platform that could manage the complexity of its day-to-day operations: car sales and modifications, customer relationships, invoicing and mechanic scheduling, across multiple showrooms and a large stock of vehicles.
The dealership already ran on a FileMaker management system that centralizes these processes, allocates resources efficiently and gives managers a real-time view from vehicle stock to payments in progress.
Implemented solution
Upgrading and extending the existing system
As Car Planet grew, FM Solutions stepped in to upgrade the system. The work focused on optimizing speed, adding new functionality and integrating the Horizon API.
The Horizon API integration gives the dealership direct access to real-time vehicle data, which sales teams and managers use when making decisions. Staff can track vehicles, manage customers and monitor payments from one system.
This page describes FM Solutions’ upgrades, optimization and integration work, not the original build of the system.
Functional areas
What the system covers
The main areas, as described by the project and shown in its screens.
Vehicle stock
- A stock list with make, model, variant, registration, colour, mileage, price and status.
Vehicle records
- Vehicle information, buying details, service history and advert description.
- A checklist of documents and checks with photo capture.
Exterior condition
- A vehicle diagram with condition items by location, category, status and cost.
Sales enquiries
- Leads with advert source, customer information, status notes and call tracking.
Customers and payments
- Customer management and monitoring of payments in progress.
Live vehicle data
- Real-time vehicle data through the Horizon API.
Screenshots
The system in use
Screens from the application. Customer and buyer details, prices, costs and some internal fields are redacted in the image files.
Stock list
The stock list, with sortable columns for make, model, variant, registration, colour, mileage, price, location, advertising and status.
Car information
A vehicle record with vehicle information, advert description, service history, sales history and leads history. Owner details and some internal fields are redacted.
Exterior details
A diagram of the vehicle beside a table of condition items by location, category, subcategory, size and status. Buyer details and costs are redacted.
Sales enquiries
The sales enquiries list, with lead counters and rows for lead source, car details, status and call statistics. Customer information and notes are redacted.
Car details
A vehicle’s document and check list, each with a camera button, beside service history and key count. Customer details, balances and comments are redacted.
Integrations and technology
What the project connects to
One integration is documented for this project.
- Horizon API
- Gives the dealership direct access to real-time vehicle data for sales teams and managers.
Employee counts are omitted because the source gives conflicting figures.
Outcome
What the work delivered
The upgraded system is described as fast, reliable and comprehensive, letting Car Planet run its dealership from one platform with live vehicle data.
The client’s own account of its growth appears in the feedback below. It is the client’s statement, and this page does not present it as an independently verified result.
Client feedback
What the client says
FileMaker has been a game-changer for us, helping us grow from just 30 cars to nearly 1,400 in stock. We’re especially grateful to Džanan and Nihad for their dedication, hard work, and countless hours of building and fixing in the past year. Their commitment ensured our operations ran smoothly and gave us the solid foundation we needed to achieve this growth. Thank you for everything!
Taz
Car Planet
About the client
Car Planet publishes its current stock and branch information on its own site.
Related services
The services behind this project
Outgrowing Your Current System?
Tell us where speed, data or integrations are holding your team back. We upgrade and extend systems in place.