Holistic Information Management System (IMS) Transformation for A Global Automaker
Our Clients
Engagement Overview
Our client is one of the world’s most recognizable automakers. Their Company Product Distribution (CPD) lifecycle was being run on spreadsheets and email, with critical data scattered across isolated Excel files and manual processes. This slowed operations, increased risk, and made it hard to see or manage work end to end.
TechBlocks partnered with the client to design and deliver a modern Information Management System (IMS) that centralized CPD data, automated workflows, and created a secure, scalable platform for future integration and innovation. We moved the team from spreadsheet-driven chaos to a modular, API-first system built on enterprise-grade engineering practices.
Key Challenges
The CPD lifecycle was managed through outdated, manual processes that revolved around Excel.
Data lived in siloed files, workflows were coordinated through emails and ad hoc steps, and there was no single source of truth. This created duplication, errors, security concerns, and made it hard to plan resources or monitor progress across stages.
Excel-Based Processes & Fragmented Data
The CPD lifecycle depended on Excel spreadsheets to manage critical information. Data was scattered across multiple files and folders, which led to duplication, inconsistent versions, and a lack of trusted, consolidated views. Teams spent time reconciling data instead of managing distribution.
No Workflow System or Lifecycle Visibility
There was no workflow engine to coordinate CPD activities across stages. Tasks and approvals were tracked manually, with limited visibility into who owned what, where items were in the process, or how long steps took. This slowed execution and made it difficult for leadership to see bottlenecks.
Manual, Repetitive Administrative Work
The CPD team spent excessive time on repetitive administrative tasks, such as updating spreadsheets, sending reminders, and manually compiling reports. These manual steps increased the risk of errors and diverted attention away from higher-value planning and optimization activities.
Security Risks & Limited Scalability
Storing sensitive operational data in unsecured spreadsheets created security and compliance risks. There was no robust access control, audit trail, or disaster recovery. The ad hoc architecture also limited the ability to integrate with other systems or scale to support new tools such as portals, automation, or advanced analytics.
Approach & Solutions
1. Modular IMS Architecture & Secure Data Repository
We designed and built a modular IMS to serve as the central system of record for CPD, using modern patterns that could grow with the business.
- Designed a modular IMS based on microservices and REST APIs to ensure scalability, resilience, and extensibility
- Centralized CPD data in a secure repository that became the single source of truth for all lifecycle information
- Implemented full role-based access control using AD, SAML, and OAuth to manage permissions across user groups
- Applied encryption and disaster recovery protocols to meet IT security and business continuity standards
2. Workflow Automation & Lifecycle Orchestration
We replaced manual coordination with an automated workflow layer that orchestrated CPD activities end to end.
- Implemented workflow automation for CPD stages, including configurable multi-step approvals
- Embedded KPIs and alerting into workflows to flag delays, exceptions, or SLA risks in real time
- Reduced repetitive administrative work by automating reminders, status updates, and transitions between lifecycle stages
- Created clear ownership and status visibility so stakeholders could see progress and address bottlenecks quickly
3. Dashboards, Reporting, & Data Pipelines
We focused on making CPD data easier to reconcile, analyze, and use for compliance and operational decisions.
- Delivered dashboards and reporting views to support reconciliation, compliance checks, and operational oversight
- Built streamlined import and export pipelines to move data in and out of the IMS accurately and consistently
- Reduced time spent on data management and reconciliation by enforcing standardized formats and validations
- Enabled audit-friendly reporting so stakeholders could trace data changes and decisions across the lifecycle
4. Integration, CI/CD, & Innovation Testbed
We made sure the IMS could integrate into the broader ecosystem and support future modernization initiatives.
- Embedded CI/CD pipelines for continuous delivery so enhancements and fixes could be shipped reliably and frequently
- Implemented an API gateway to simplify and secure third-party and internal system integrations
- Positioned the IMS as a testbed for sales modernization and innovation, including future RPA initiatives and the planned CPD Associate Portal
- Combined the agility of a creative agency with enterprise engineering maturity, giving the client a platform ready for both rapid experimentation and long-term stability
Impact & Results
The automaker moved from Excel-based CPD management to a secure, workflow-driven IMS that centralized data, automated key processes, and created a foundation for future integration and innovation.
The CPD team gained better control, less manual work, and clearer visibility, while IT gained a platform that met enterprise standards for security and resilience.
Elimination of spreadsheet-driven workflows
CPD data was centralized in a secure repository, eliminating redundant Excel-based workflows and reducing errors from scattered, unmanaged files.
Less manual effort & higher efficiency
Multi-step approvals, alerts, and reporting were automated, which reduced manual effort, sped up processing, and improved consistency across the CPD lifecycle.
Faster data management & reconciliation
Streamlined import and export pipelines reduced the time required to manage and reconcile data, freeing the CPD team to focus on planning and decision-making.
Uptime achieved
Near-perfect 99.99% availability, disaster recovery, and OWASP-compliant security were implemented, ensuring the IMS met corporate compliance requirements and supported business continuity.
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