The Buchard Group, based in Leytron, has taken a major step in the digital transformation of its repair and maintenance workshops. In collaboration with the Sion-based company Spektrum, the Valais SME has developed a custom application to digitize the entire repair management process. This project, supported by the Fondation The Ark both financially and through advisory services, illustrates how digital tools can transform traditional processes to improve efficiency and transparency.
The Buchard Group’s repair workshops handle the daily maintenance and repair of a large vehicle fleet. Until recently, a significant portion of the processes relied on manual methods: paper forms, tracking of interventions, quotations, and invoicing required numerous repetitive entries and made it difficult to centralize information.
A solution designed with and for field teams
The success of the project is largely based on the collaborative approach adopted by Spektrum. “We spent a lot of time on site observing the day-to-day operations of the workshop and speaking with several employees,” explains Loïc Dessaules, web developer at Spektrum. “These discussions helped identify the most time-consuming tasks, as well as areas where a digital solution could simplify processes.”
Based on these exchanges, features were defined and prioritized according to real operational needs. Each new feature was then tested with employees, whose feedback made it possible to gradually refine the tool to optimize usability and efficiency in daily work.
This approach made it possible to transform largely informal processes into structured digital workflows, while ensuring smooth adoption by the teams using the application on a daily basis.
An end-to-end digitalized process
In practical terms, the solution enables the full digitization and structuring of repair tracking. “When a vehicle arrives at the workshop, the workshop manager creates a quote to have a clear view of the work to be carried out and the associated costs,” explains Michaël Buchard, Head of Repair Workshops at the Buchard Group.
A repair order is then generated, bringing together all the information needed by the employees working on the vehicle: tasks to be carried out, parts to be used, and the mechanics or bodywork specialists assigned to the job. The customer can then approve the work via an electronic signature directly on the repair order.
During the repair process, each mechanic or bodywork specialist uses the platform to track the time spent on different tasks and to indicate progress. “This allows precise tracking of interventions and working hours, while significantly reducing repetitive data entry,” according to Michaël Buchard.
Once the repairs are completed, the workshop manager reviews all recorded information and can proceed with invoicing. The data is then automatically transferred to the company’s ERP system to finalize administrative processing, ensuring full consistency between systems.
Advanced features tailored to the industry
Beyond simple digitization, several specific features have been integrated to meet sector needs: detailed tracking of working hours per vehicle, creation and management of quotes, invoice generation, electronic signature, centralization of technical and administrative information, ERP integration, and inventory movement management.
“The project also aims to bring value to teams by facilitating activity management and improving traceability of interventions,” notes Loïc Dessaules. This approach not only optimizes existing processes, but also provides actionable data to continuously improve workshop efficiency.
“The application is now operational and has enabled us to gain in efficiency, transparency, and agility in a context of sustainability. It is worth noting that we started from scratch, and this solution allows us to work with the group’s ERP, which was a decisive factor in the process,” concludes Michaël Buchard.
In brief
Amount invested by Fondation The Ark: CHF 4,900
Project duration: 6 months (June 2025 to December 2025)
Partners: Buchard Group, Spektrum