Pinewood DMS South Africa, an automotive dealer management software (DMS) provider, and Ampersand Communications, a value-add services provider to automotive dealerships, have joined forces to launch a consolidated offering called Motify. The main intention behind this merger is to create a people-driven auto-tech business that serves as a single point of reference for all digital needs of customers.
The decision to merge Pinewood and Ampersand is supported by their existing shared stakeholders and clients. Through the establishment of Motify, the two companies aim to accelerate their shared vision of transforming the automotive industry by focusing on service delivery. The founders of Pinewood and Ampersand, along with other key stakeholders, believe that in the midst of radical digital transformation across all sectors, the automotive industry cannot afford to be left behind.
Julie Caldicott, the founder of Pinewood, director at Ampersand, and now the Managing Director of Motify, emphasizes the importance of amplifying digital transformation efforts for dealerships and service centers. According to Caldicott, Motify will achieve this by enhancing the usability, integration, and customer-centricity of digital offerings. The merger will bring together Pinewood’s expertise in DMS, catering to vehicle sales, parts, workshop, and accounts management for over 30 manufacturers, with Ampersand’s reputation for value-add services such as customer satisfaction and retention, marketing, and brand strategy development.
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Why the Merger
The decision to merge Pinewood and Ampersand was driven by several key reasons. Both companies recognized the ongoing digital transformation across various industries, including the automotive sector. With the advent of advanced technologies and changing customer expectations, it became evident that a consolidated offering would enable them to stay competitive and relevant in the evolving market.
Pinewood and Ampersand already shared common stakeholders and clients, indicating a degree of synergy between their operations. By combining their resources, expertise, and client base, the companies sought to leverage these existing relationships and strengthen their market position.
Furthermore, the merger allows Pinewood and Ampersand to create a more comprehensive and integrated solution for automotive dealerships. Motify will provide customers with access to a wide range of value-added services, including processing consultancy, proactive workshop bookings, aftersales marketing campaigns, business intelligence, and application programming interface (API) integrated website development. This holistic approach aims to enhance operational efficiency, improve customer experiences, and drive business growth for dealerships in South Africa.
A Look at Both Companies
Pinewood DMS South Africa was founded as an automotive dealer management software provider in 2009. It specializes in offering DMS solutions for vehicle sales, parts management, workshop management, and accounts management. Pinewood services over 30 manufacturers in South Africa and focuses on streamlining operations through the integration of different divisions. The company’s primary markets include the automotive industry, with a strong emphasis on supporting dealerships in optimizing their processes.
Ampersand Communications, on the other hand, is a value-add services provider to automotive dealerships in South Africa founded in 2019. Its core areas of expertise lie in customer satisfaction and retention, marketing, and brand strategy development. Ampersand aims to help dealerships enhance their customer experiences, strengthen their brand positioning, and drive long-term growth.
With the launch of Motify, the merger between Pinewood and Ampersand aims to combine their respective strengths and offerings. By integrating Pinewood’s DMS capabilities with Ampersand’s value-add services, Motify aspires to transform the way auto-dealerships operate in South Africa. The consolidated company seeks to put people at the heart of the industry and deliver a comprehensive range of digital services to meet the evolving needs of automotive dealerships and customers alike.
Motify auto dealerships Motify auto dealerships
Charles Rapulu Udoh
Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based lawyer, who has several years of experience working in Africa’s burgeoning tech startup industry. He has closed multi-million dollar deals bordering on venture capital, private equity, intellectual property (trademark, patent or design, etc.), mergers and acquisitions, in countries such as in the Delaware, New York, UK, Singapore, British Virgin Islands, South Africa, Nigeria etc. He’s also a corporate governance and cross-border data privacy and tax expert.
As an award-winning writer and researcher, he is passionate about telling the African startup story, and is one of the continent’s pioneers in this regard