Successful integration of two mobility companies
Managing the operational takeover of LeasePlan by ALD Automotive and rebranding to Ayvens.
Integrating reliable source systems from both organisations' core systems.
Preserving business-critical knowledge built up over years, often automated and not always documented.
Effective project management: despite complex scope, the project was successfully delivered through Harmony's robust methodological approach and flexible team support
Successful technical data migration from core systems was delivered within the set timeline, forming the foundation for complete integration.
The new Ayvens identity was launched with positive market reception and momentum.
The way everything was managed right from the start: stakeholder management, structural approach, methodological approach, follow-up, escalations...<span class="text-color-red">we were genuinely impressed.
</span>
The figures speak for themselves. With over 590 dedicated employees and over 161,000 lease vehicles in Belgium, Ayvens ranks among Belgium's largest providers of leasing, mobility consultancy, and used vehicles (at the end of their lease contracts).
LeasePlan first hit Belgian roads in 1972. More than fifty years later, their expertise merged with ALD Automotive's innovation when the official takeover by ALD was completed in 2023.
Both legendary brands evolved through this process into one new brand: Ayvens.
The integration of ALD Automotive and LeasePlan into the new Ayvens brand was one of the most ambitious projects in the mobility sector in recent decades.
A crucial bottleneck emerged around the technical data migration - the heart of the integration. Ayvens was looking for a project manager who could take this task and run with it, fast.
The biggest challenges were:
Technical complexity with no margin for error: Migrating critical data from LeasePlan's core systems to those of ALD Automotive, where any mistake could have operational consequences.
Project continuity under pressure: In the middle of the integration process, there was urgent need for an experienced project manager who could quickly grasp the highly complicated technical details without losing valuable time.
Bridging cultural differences: "We had two teams from ALD and LeasePlan. Naturally, there's a cultural difference there," explains Daria. These teams had to collaborate on one of the most critical aspects of the integration.
Knowledge gaps: Years of business-critical knowledge and automated processes that weren't always documented had to be preserved during the transition. "Every company has extensive history, and sometimes knowledge has simply built up over years - the knowledge gaps aren't immediately visible."
The deployment consisted of two strategic components: senior expertise for the critical data migration and additional capacity for the complex final sprint.
Senior project management for technical migration: Janne, an experienced project manager, was deployed to lead the technical data migration. "Despite joining midway through the project, she managed to grasp the highly complicated details and scope incredibly quickly," Daria explains.
This expertise was crucial because the technical migration formed the absolute foundation of the entire integration. "You could immediately notice the leadership qualities - I quickly realised we were in good hands."
Methodological reset: The Harmony team immediately brought a professional, structured approach. "Their methodology was spot on: how they handled project scope, the taskforce, every task detail... it was extremely professional. Other stakeholders quickly gave us positive feedback about Harmony's work too."
Additional capacity in the critical phase: Beyond senior expertise, additional project support was also deployed. "We were limited by budgets, and Harmony proposed bringing in an additional junior resource," Daria notes. This strategic reinforcement proved crucial for cross-functional activities like end-to-end testing.
"We were all genuinely impressed by Tatyana, who really gave us that final push over the last six months. How she could step in on complex topics, without prior knowledge of the company or market, was incredible!"
Daria also noticed that Harmony's contribution went beyond expertise and methodology: "The personality of both ladies was crucial for the level of collaboration we had. I really can't emphasise enough how grateful we are for that!"
The integration was successfully completed within the set timeline, resulting in the launch of the new Ayvens brand and operational continuity.
Technical achievement: The data migration formed the foundation of the integration. "For me, this integration simply wouldn't have happened without this technical migration project. We wouldn't have been able to operate as one company on one IT landscape without this project."
Proven crisis management: The ultimate test came during the cutover weekend. The Harmony team demonstrated their commitment here too: "They were just as involved as our internal people, even during weekend hours or evenings, supporting, organising, on top of every detail."
Long-term impact: The integration wasn't just delivered within deadline, but also formed the basis for Ayvens' future growth. Following the successful brand launch, the company is now in a hypercare period to further optimise operational processes.
