Sector
Central Government
Services
Software Development
The client
Crown Commercial Service
Crown Commercial Service (CCS) is the UK's largest procurement organisation, responsible for ensuring that the public sector achieves maximum value when purchasing goods and services. Among their responsibilities is the management of the car leasing portal, a vital tool that allows UK public sector organisations to compare vehicle options and secure the best deals through live competitive quoting across all suppliers and vehicle types.
The NHS has a fleet of approximately 33,000 vehicles, whilst the total public sector fleet is estimated to be about 100,000 vehicles.
The challenge
Outdated car portal requires TLC
The car leasing portal, originally developed by PDMS twenty years ago, had not seen significant upgrades or enhancements for some time. While the functionality remained valuable to their operations, the interface looked dated and more sophisticated users requested additional functionality to enhance search, layout, and reporting.
The solution
Relaunching a refreshed platform
To address these concerns, a major overhaul was necessary to modernise the portal, improve user experience, and incorporate recent technological advancements. New features included enhanced search functionality to include more common criteria and the ability to compare up to three vehicles, mobile responsiveness to ensure usability across various devices, and additional functionality to feature special offers and news from CCS and suppliers.
The project
PDMS embarked on a refactoring and enhancement project. The objectives were to retain the core functionality while significantly improving the look and feel of the platform. Using extensive user feedback, the project focused on redesigning and redeveloping the platform to ensure that the updated portal met both contemporary user expectations and operational needs.
There were significant enhancements to the portal’s front-end, providing a more contemporary and refreshed website appearance while also providing CCS with the ability to maintain content themselves. The project also improved reporting and features for compliance with GDPR requirements across the public sector.
The results
The enhanced fleet portal was well-received by users who found it easier to navigate and felt better equipped with information for improved vehicle searches and comparisons. In the first two years post-launch, user registrations quadrupled to approximately 1,600 site users, far exceeding CCS’ initial target.
In addition, the improved search and filter functionality contributed to key sustainability benefits. Registrations for ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEVs) increased from 7% to 30%, with this trend continuing to rise as more ULEVs enter the market.