Seamless Vehicle Data Extraction for a Leading Automotive Intelligence Provider

In the automotive industry, having access to comprehensive, real-time vehicle information is essential for making informed decisions. However, gathering this data from online sources comes with many challenges, such as security barriers, IP restrictions, and complex firewall configurations. These can significantly disrupt the flow of critical data needed to support key business operations. 

In this article, we will share how we helped a client from the automotive industry to overcome these challenges that emerged during vehicle data extraction and how we delivered real-time quality data. 

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TL;DR

• A leading automotive intelligence provider struggled with IP restrictions, login blocks, and security barriers while extracting vehicle data.
• Grepsr implemented proxies, credential rotation, and automated crawlers to ensure uninterrupted and secure access.
• Data was delivered via API integration, enabling real-time, accurate vehicle information for the client.
• The solution improved operational efficiency, data accuracy, scalability, and gave the client a competitive edge in the automotive industry.

About the client

The client is a prominent automotive data and insights services provider specializing in delivering comprehensive vehicle history reports. Their services are crucial for individuals and businesses in the automotive sector, helping their clients (car buyers, dealers, and businesses) make informed decisions when buying or selling vehicles. By gathering detailed information from multiple online sources, the client offers valuable insights into a vehicle’s ownership history, accident records, mileage, and other key details. Operating in Ireland and the UK, the client’s reports are trusted by a wide range of stakeholders, including car buyers, sellers, and industry professionals.

Their requirements 

The leading automotive data provider required us to extract vehicle data from multiple websites based on the VINs (Vehicle Identification Numbers) they provided.  

1. Accurate and reliable data

The client needed detailed, accurate vehicle information to ensure the quality of their reports. The key data points included:

• Ownership history: Comprehensive records of the vehicle’s past ownership, including the number of previous owners, duration of ownership, and any changes in ownership status.
• Accident records: Information on any accidents or incidents involving the vehicle, including whether it was a total loss or involved in major collisions.
• Mileage details: Verified odometer readings and records of any discrepancies or odometer tampering.
• Service and maintenance history: Details about the vehicle’s repair work, maintenance, and parts replacements over its lifespan.
• Vehicle specifications: Information about the vehicle’s make, model, year, trim level, engine, transmission, and other specifications.
• Title status: Whether the vehicle has a clean title or is associated with any legal encumbrances, such as liens, salvage, or rebuilt titles.

2. Ad-hoc data extraction

A flexible solution that could pull data on-demand, rather than on a fixed schedule. This allowed them to pull the latest vehicle information whenever needed to provide real-time reports to their users.

3. Handling multiple websites

The solution needed to extract data from several different online sources, each with its own unique structure and access protocols. The ability to handle these diverse sources seamlessly was crucial for consolidating accurate data into one unified report.

The challenges in vehicle data extraction

The client faced significant challenges in the vehicle data extraction process, which created barriers to delivering timely, accurate reports.

1. Security barriers and IP restrictions:

The client struggled with IP-based restrictions and security measures on the target websites, which often resulted in login blocks and prevented access to the data they needed. Websites, especially those with stringent security systems, flagged the multiple login attempts from different country IPs, leading to access denials. This created major bottlenecks in the data collection process.

2. Complex firewall configurations:

Many of the target websites required specific firewall configurations to allow data extraction. The client had difficulty meeting these requirements as they lacked direct control over the configuration of the websites’ security protocols, which added complexity to accessing the vehicle data.

3. Frequent login issues:

With multiple login attempts from different sources, the client frequently encountered account lockouts. These login issues hindered the ability to collect data consistently and disrupted the flow of real-time information needed for accurate reports.

4. Manual and time-consuming data extraction:

Due to security and login challenges, much of the data extraction process was performed manually, consuming considerable time and resources. This resulted in delays and inefficiencies, making it difficult to scale the data collection process to meet growing demands.

5. Need for data accuracy and real-time reporting:

Given the need for real-time data access, the client struggled to maintain the accuracy and timeliness of the vehicle information, as delays in data extraction affected the quality and delivery of their reports. The need to extract data from multiple sources further complicated ensuring that the information was complete and consistent.

6. Scalability issues:

As the client’s data needs increased, their existing systems couldn’t keep up with the scale required for large volumes of data extraction. They needed a solution that could scale seamlessly without sacrificing performance or efficiency, which was difficult to achieve with their current approach.

The solutions

To address the challenges faced by the client, we at Grepsr implemented a customized solution that ensured reliable, secure, and efficient data extraction.

1. Secure and scalable proxy setup:

Grepsr implemented a dedicated regional IP address through proxy servers to bypass IP restrictions and prevent account blockages. This allowed the client to appear as though they were accessing the websites from the same location, ensuring seamless access to the data without triggering security measures. The proxy setup also ensured that multiple login attempts could be spread across different credentials without causing security alarms.

2. Credential rotation for uninterrupted access:

To solve the issue of account lockouts caused by too many login attempts, our experts set up an automated credential rotation system. This allowed the system to use multiple login credentials in sequence, ensuring continuous access to vehicle data without interruption, even when some accounts were temporarily blocked.

3. IP whitelisting:

The client required specific outgoing IPs for security reasons. Grepsr coordinated with the product team to identify the IP addresses used by our crawlers and provided them to the client. This enabled them  to whitelist Grepsr’s IP addresses in their firewall, ensuring that only trusted IPs could access the target websites and simplifying the security configuration process on their end.

4. Automated data extraction with API integration:

To reduce the need for manual intervention and improve the efficiency of data collection, we designed an automated data extraction process. So, the extracted vehicle data was delivered through an API, allowing the client to seamlessly integrate it into their existing systems. This ensured that data was collected on demand and delivered in a timely manner.

5. Handling multiple websites:

Then, we created a solution capable of extracting data from multiple websites, each with its own structure and requirements. By building tailored crawlers for each source, Grepsr ensured that the client could collect accurate and consistent data across various platforms without having to manually handle each one.

6. Scalable solution for growing data needs:

Finally, we implemented a solution that was designed to be scalable. As the client’s data requirements grew, the system was able to handle larger volumes of data extraction without compromising on performance. This allowed the client to scale their operations without having to worry about system limitations or delays.

The final outcome / competitive advantage

Grepsr’s solution had a transformative impact on the client’s business:

• Enhanced operational efficiency: With uninterrupted data access and automated extraction, the client significantly reduced manual effort, leading to faster report delivery and improved operational efficiency.
• Stronger competitive advantage: Real-time, accurate vehicle data enabled the client to provide timely, reliable reports that gave them an edge in the competitive automotive industry. This allowed them to meet customer demands faster than ever before.
• Scalability for future growth: The solution allowed the client to easily scale their data extraction process as their business grew, ensuring they could handle increased data volume without sacrificing performance or speed.
• Improved data accuracy: The automated solution ensured consistent data quality, which boosted customer trust and satisfaction, positioning the client as a reliable industry leader.
• Stronger security and compliance: The secure, compliant extraction process met the client’s stringent security requirements, ensuring peace of mind while accessing sensitive vehicle data.

Grepsr’s industry-leading vehicle data extraction gives you the edge you need. Get in touch today to drive smarter, data-driven decisions!

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