Research
ICDP’s collaborative research programmes …
… Cover all aspects of automotive distribution, retailing, and aftersales environment, with support and participation from organisations from right across the sector. Each programme operates with a common agenda, timetable, and outputs, to ensure that members derive maximum insights and benefits from across the inter-linked range of topics.
As an independent, not-for-profit organisation, ICDP is able to take a holistic view of the sector in developing its programmes, and to benefit from confidential insights from all types of player in the course of the research. This enables us to take a broad perspective and to identify strategic options and operational improvement opportunities, and related models and tools, which members can then apply to their own businesses.
Membership of ICDP’s research programmes delivers to members …
Periodic research in key areas of automotive distribution which allows them to benchmark performance and processes against their peer group and the industry as a whole for key European markets. In certain cases, we also include case studies and analyses from other sectors.
Strategic and operational insights on distribution and network issues from sales and aftermarket perspectives, which members then apply to their own strategic and management initiatives in order to derive tangible business improvement.
Informal networking with peers in the industry through ICDP-hosted events providing an opportunity to share insights, understanding and practical experience on areas of mutual interest, which then assists internal decision making.
The research programmes operate …
… By developing a portfolio of topics in conjunction with existing and prospective members – we then deploy a variety of methods to build our insight for each of them. These include:
Proprietary consumer surveys, which typically encompasses new and used car, and service buyers. For the European programme, our consumer survey covers 10 different markets.
Regular online surveys of industry players, including manufacturers, dealers, independent repairers, spare parts distributors, and third party agencies.
Detailed data collection and benchmarking exercises, feeding into our custom supply chain, networks, and aftermarket simulation and projection models.
In-depth qualitative senior-level interview programmes.
Extensive desk research within and outside the automotive sector, at a global level.
Research content and insight is then delivered to members via a calendar of programme events and in-house presentations, alongside briefings and other written outputs, all of which are available to download by registered employees of any member from our website.
Our current programme covers Europe. In the past, we have also run research programmes covering China, the USA, Australia, and the commercial vehicle sector in Europe.
Research plans for 2025-2026
Gaining traction in a challenging environment
On 11th December 2024, we held a webinar to launch our next research programme starting on 1st April 2025 - you can view the video recording and slide handout HERE.
We have also produced a flyer summarising the planned research and the benefits of membership download below.
research Plans for 2024-2025
Picking a path to future success
The current phase of research started on 1st April 2024 and is entitled ‘Picking a path to future success’. On 13th December 2023 we held a webinar to launch our plans, the presentation shown can be downloaded below plus a video recording of the webinar and an overview outline. If you want to find out more about ICDP membership, please contact projectoffice@icdp.net