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Revving Up Efficiency: Automating Automotive Operations

The Australian automotive industry is shifting gears. With consumer expectations rising, electric vehicle (EV) adoption accelerating, and global supply chain pressures remaining a constant challenge, automotive businesses—from Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) to dealerships to parts suppliers—appear to be rethinking how they operate. For many, legacy systems and manual processes can no longer keep pace.

Process automation offers a smarter path forward. By digitising core workflows and integrating systems, these help businesses reduce overheads, improve customer experience and loyalty, and unlock new efficiencies across the value chain. At FUJIFILM Process Automation, we’re helping Australia’s automotive industry embrace this opportunity—starting with intelligent solutions designed to integrate with leading dealership management systems (DMS) like Titan DMS, TUNE DMS and Salesforce DMS.

A High-Performance Industry Under Pressure

The automotive industry in Australia is valued at over $180 billion, employing more than 310,000 people across manufacturing, retail, maintenance and logistics1. But beneath this scale lies complexity: paper-based processes, fragmented systems, and time-consuming administration are holding many businesses back.

Many dealerships are still managing tasks such as supplier invoices, test drive bookings, service and repair orders and reminders, deal packs, parts ordering and inventory management, staff on and off boarding, compliance and risk management, rebate processing and lead management, manually; which are likely to result in double entry of data into DMS platforms. This is not only time-consuming and labour-intensive, but potentially be prone to errors and delays, especially during peak periods like the end of financial year. According to Ardent Partners, the average cost to process a single invoice manually is $9.40, with an average cycle time of 9.15 days2.

Targeting Key Challenges in a Changing Landscape

The automotive industry is navigating a complex environment:

  • Supply Chain Volatility: Automation helps streamline parts ordering and reduce errors in goods receipting.
  • EV Transition: Increased demand for EV-specific parts and service workflows places pressure on operational teams to adapt rapidly.
  • Rising Consumer Expectations: Customers expect faster service, seamless communications, and digital convenience across every interaction.
  • Manual Bottlenecks in Finance Operations: 41% of AP leaders say longer invoice cycle times are a major challenge2.

Automating routine tasks means staff can focus on meeting these expectations—not drowning in paperwork. For dealerships, this could mean digitising test drive forms and finance approvals. For manufacturers, it may mean automating warranty claims, recalls or inventory reconciliation.

As of 2024, 67% of AP departments are using or planning to use electronic invoicing solutions, reflecting a widespread shift towards digital efficiency2.

Why Automation Makes Sense for Automotive Operations

In response to these pressures, automotive leaders should be re-evaluating their processes and looking for smarter ways to adapt.

Automotive operations are likely to be ideal candidates for workflow automation because they often involve repeatable, rules-based processes that intersect with core platforms like DMS, ERP, and accounting software.

By automating processes like accounts payable (AP), warranty claims, HR onboarding, and parts ordering, automotive businesses can look to:

  • Reduce Costs and Administration Time: Intelligent data capture, PO matching, and validation minimises the need for manual entry and reduce processing costs.
  • Improve Visibility and Control: Real-time dashboards offer insight into cash flow, outstanding invoices, and process bottlenecks.
  • Strengthen Compliance: Automated workflows could be utilised to retain full audit trails and version control— an essential consideration for financial integrity and franchise agreements.
  • Enhance Employee and Supplier Experience: Fewer errors, faster processing, and streamlined approvals help improve satisfaction across the board.

Real-World Impact: Automating AP in Automotive Environments

FUJIFILM Process Automation works with leading dealership systems to deliver AP automation solutions tailored to automotive environments. From invoice capture and PO matching to approvals and payment processing, our integrated solutions help dealerships:

  • Minimise storage and retrieval time by digitising documents at entry.
  • Reduce errors with automated validation and exception handling.
  • Accelerate payment cycles and improve cash flow forecasting.
  • Retain full traceability for every transaction.

Automated solutions have been shown to reduce AP processing time by up to 66%, improving operational efficiency and allowing finance teams to focus on more strategic initiatives2. Our solutions are designed to align with your existing systems and processes, helping you achieve measurable results with minimal disruption.

Beyond AP, at FUJIFILM Process Automation, we support a growing range of other critical dealership and service processes that ccan be often overlooked. For example, digitising and enabling eSignature for deal pack processes and service or repair orders could help reduce errors, improve governance, and create a smoother handover between sales F&I teams.

Planning for the Road Ahead

With over 61,000 automotive businesses operating across Australia, digital transformation should no longer be viewed as optional. It’s considered a necessity to stay competitive3.

At FUJIFILM Process Automation, we help automotive organisations of all sizes map their journey—whether it’s a single process improvement or a full digital transformation. Our consultative approach seeks to ensure that automation aligns with your business goals and integrates with the tools you already use.

Let’s Work Smarter, Together

The road to automation doesn’t have to be a leap. It can be a series of smart, strategic steps that build value over time.

Ready to accelerate your operations? Learn how FUJIFILM Process Automation can help you shift into top gear.

Explore our automotive automation solutions

 


References

1 IBISWorld. (2024). X0014 Automotive Industry in Australia Industry Report. p. 4.

2 Ardent Partners. (2024). The State of ePayables 2024: Money Never Sleeps. pp. 9, 17, 21, 24.

3 IBISWorld. (2024). G3911 Motor Vehicle Dealers in Australia Industry Report. p. 4.