Business Case : DEKRA France - 10 Years of Continuous Digital Transformation with Melis Platform

With over 28 million vehicle inspections conducted each year worldwide, DEKRA Automotive is the global leader in technical inspections. In France, the entity operates 1,560 light vehicle testing centers, including 200 company-owned locations, as well as 150 heavy vehicle centers, all managed directly.

Under the leadership of Karine Bonnet, DEKRA has steadily advanced a pragmatic and ambitious digital transformation, while maintaining a hybrid network model combining franchised and company-owned locations.

🗨️ "We were pioneers in online appointment booking and payment as early as 2012. With Melis, we accelerated the modernization of our platform to match new user expectations."
— Karine Bonnet, CEO – DEKRA Automotive France

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A Strategic IT System for a Dense Network in a Highly Regulated Industry

Managing 7 million inspections per year in France requires an IT system that is robust, secure, and interconnected with government authorities (Ministries of Transport and Interior), while remaining user-friendly for the end customer.

DEKRA progressively digitized its processes (reports, invoices, booking) while strictly complying with GDPR and adhering to high cybersecurity standards, managed by a dedicated department.

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Why DEKRA Chose Melis: More Than a Provider—A Long-Term Partner

The partnership with Melis began over 10 years ago, as DEKRA sought to redesign its outdated booking site into a fully functional e-commerce platform tailored to their business.

With Melis Platform, DEKRA was able to:

• Build a complex store locator for a multi-branch network
• Integrate a multi-affiliate escrow payment system
• Deploy advanced e-commerce features: promotions, dynamic time slots, yield management

 

🗨️ "With Melis, we activated every e-commerce lever. What truly made the difference was their support — a real project team integrated into our IT and marketing departments."

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Success Built on Agility and Engagement

In a network as structured as DEKRA’s, successfully onboarding franchisees requires persuasion, proof, and co-construction.
Melis stood out by:

• Collaborating closely with the joint network committee
• Adjusting developments based on field feedback
• Ensuring smooth, fast, and well-managed deployment

The result: a partnership that has lasted over 10 years and even expanded to cover the Code by DEKRA project (driver theory test), which Melis recovered after a failed version delivered by a different provider.

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Tangible and Long-Term Results

The transformation led by Melis delivered measurable business value:

🗨️ "Today, 30% of our business goes through the website. It’s not just about customer convenience — it’s a true performance driver."

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Next Horizon: AI, Digital Sobriety, and Carbon Neutrality

DEKRA is now exploring artificial intelligence, initially in back-office use cases:

• Supporting hotline staff via a regulatory knowledge base
  
• Assisting affiliates, clients, and auditors with official correspondence
• Automating customer review responses
  
  

AI will also be integrated into the future version of the technical inspection software, pending approval from government authorities.

On the sustainability front, DEKRA is fully committed:

• Deployment of solar panels
  
• Achieved EcoVadis Platinum status for 3 consecutive years (top 1% worldwide)
  
• 19% energy savings through eco-friendly practices
• Strong emphasis on employee training and workplace wellbeing
  
  

🗨️ "Our objective is clear: to achieve carbon neutrality while optimizing our processes through digital innovation."

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An Ongoing Collaboration Geared Toward Innovation

Melis is currently developing a new AI module, capable of interfacing with knowledge bases and chatbots. DEKRA has already expressed interest in this upcoming initiative.

🗨️ "We haven’t deployed AI for the hotline yet, but we plan to work with Melis when the project kicks off."

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Conclusion: A Foundational Partnership for Digital Business Transformation

• DEKRA’s experience illustrates the full potential of Melis Platform to:
• Transform outdated IT into a modern e-commerce platform
  
• Boost operational performance through digital tools
  
• Accommodate network complexity and regulatory demands
  
• Build long-term trust through expertise and flexibility