Hämeen Autovaruste

Hämeen Autovaruste Oy is a customer-focused car dealership with locations in three cities. In Jyväskylä, the company operates under the name Hämeen Auto, while in Kuopio and Iisalmi, it is known as Avain Vaunu. Hämeen Autovaruste is an authorized dealer and service center for Volvo, Renault, and Dacia. Additionally, the company offers a wide selection of hundreds of reliable and high-quality used cars.

“Hurja was selected as our partner primarily due to their impressive proposal and vision. Their local presence also played a role in our decision. Although unexpected changes occurred during the project, the Hurja team handled them commendably. Communication with Hurja was easy throughout the entire project, and we always had the “real person” on the line to address and solve any issues that arose. This is not always a given nowadays, as many companies rely on faceless ticketing systems, which can lead to delayed responses.

As is often the case, our thoughts and needs became more defined as the project progressed, but this was not a problem for Hurja. They accepted our requests with grace, and if they were feasible, they implemented them. For the less viable suggestions, they provided sound reasoning as to why they might not be worth pursuing and offered alternative, better solutions. Excellent collaboration!

Ahti Räsänen, Development Director, Hämeen Autovaruste Oy

The need for renewal arose from the outdated design and technical and administrative challenges

Hämeen Autovaruste identified the need to revamp their website due to both aesthetic updates and technical and administrative challenges. The previous site was outdated and difficult to use, relying on numerous plugins that made management complicated and unclear. Improvements were sought in both the visual design and the site’s functionality to better meet modern customer needs. The goal was to make navigation easier and ensure that desired information could be found effortlessly by customers.

The redesign also aimed to update the site’s appearance to align with the brand’s new color schemes following a rebranding. The primary objective for the new website was to significantly enhance functionality and user experience, particularly in finding and comparing cars. The placement of the financing calculator was simplified to make it more accessible to users, helping them make purchasing decisions more quickly. Overall, the new website needed to meet the demands of a modern e-commerce platform.

Technical features and improvements of the website

The visual design of the website was handled by the advertising agency Hero Creative, while Hurja was responsible for the technical implementation.

• Platform and theme
  • The website overhaul was executed using a combination of Bedrock and Sage 10, offering a modern and modular development environment. Bedrock enables better directory structure and manageability, while Sage 10 provides a powerful and flexible theme development platform. This combination ensures high performance and security.

• Content management
  • The content management system was upgraded from the Classic Editor and outdated content management tools to the Gutenberg editor. Gutenberg offers a modern and flexible content management environment that meets the requirements of a contemporary website.
  • Several custom blocks were also created for the site, providing versatile and user-friendly solutions, such as accordions, tabs, and a car grid that can be based on either automatic or manual selections. A similar approach was used to create a staff grid block.
  • To simplify content management and layout, several easily manageable blocks were created, such as an article grid with various settings, box links, a content area with versatile settings, and a text+image block with different configurations. Image links and a slider add visual interest and functionality. A special feature is the car’s technical details block, where animated numbers can be added.

• Search functionality
  • The search function has been enhanced, particularly for hybrid car searches. The new search function is more user-friendly on mobile devices, with easy access to search filters at any point on the car search page. The filters scroll with the user and open on top of the screen, significantly improving usability and making search operations smoother. This enhancement ensures that users can quickly and easily narrow down search results based on their criteria, whether they are looking for hybrid cars or other types of vehicles, improving user experience and making it more efficient to find the desired cars.

• Integrations and data management
  • The website was integrated with the Alkali system used in the automotive industry, enabling scheduled retrieval of updated car information from Websales directly to the site. Since the information for a single car contains a lot of data, a separate controller was developed to ensure the accuracy and management of the information.

• Cookie management and search functions
  • Cookie management was implemented according to Consent Mode V2, helping ensure that the site complies with current data protection requirements and provides a secure experience for users.

The technical solutions implemented ensure that the website is not only visually appealing but also technically advanced and built to last.

Benefits brought by the redesign

The clear and logical structure of the Hämeen Autovaruste website we developed makes it easier for users to navigate and quickly find essential information related to cars and services. Compared to the previous version, management has also been significantly streamlined, and content updates have been clarified, freeing up the client’s time to focus on their core business. Integrations with data sources accelerate maintenance and automate site management, which enhances Hämeen Autovaruste’s overall processes and thus accelerates car sales.

The new website is user-friendly, fast, and visually appealing, supporting Hämeen Autovaruste’s business goals. We also handle the technical maintenance of Hämeen Autovaruste’s website. With our WordPress maintenance service, we ensure that the website and its installed plugins are always up to date. We maintain separate development and production environments, enabling smooth continuous development and quick changes to the site, as we already have access to site management.

We also offer you the right solutions when you need impressive and functional websites or experts for other digital communication needs. Feel free to contact us, and we will help you find the best possible solution for your needs.