The leaders at an American auto group with a multitude of sites dotted around the country fell into that latter category, interested in identifying opportunities. They were deliberating their own course of action when they realised it would be beneficial to develop a greater understanding of the financial risks and rewards.

The organisation had dozens of mechanics on the books, but bosses needed a different kind of automotive expert to look under the bonnet of their business. Specifically, they required someone with decades of experience in the car industry, a wide breadth of subject knowledge, and the ability to identify the wider impacts of and responses to the EV influx.

Furthermore, a more commercially orientated and entrepreneurial individual was required to provide insight that could drive the decision-making process. Without such a consultant to sift through the technical details and find the points most applicable to the group’s situation, there would be a risk of information overload.

By combining an overview of the EV environment with company-specific analysis, leaders would have a far clearer picture of what the road ahead looks like for the business. It was up to Hyphen to examine the opportunities for this strategic research and implementation engagement.

The pair went back to basics and discussed every aspect of EVs with our client, ranging from the different kinds of electric vehicles on the market and the batteries used within them to more technical points. With a knowledge baseline established, the client and project team worked from a position of mutual understanding, moving beyond merely hypothetical discussions. After all, there is no point in talking strategy without first understanding day-to-day reality.

Working in sprints over a three-month period, our team researched the options and opportunities available to the business. These included evaluating potential pilot schemes, looking at possible partnership introductions and examining existing practices elsewhere to build up a comprehensive picture.

Europe is acknowledged to be roughly four years ahead of America when it comes to EV adoption, so our technical expert was able to relay details of what he has already seen. However, the suggestion was not to merely adopt these ideas wholesale; opportunities to improve upon what is being done were also identified.

As discussions continued with client leaders, our project team developed a clearer idea of what strategies might be most suitable. As the engagement progressed, more stakeholders on the client’s team took an interest in the work, intrigued by the subject and what it could mean.

Work eventually reached a point where our expert and consultant had assessed the opportunities open to the organisation, fleshing them out to give managers a clear idea of what would be required. Our project team even included detailed plans for how to implement some of those strategic options once a decision was reached.