Halfords

The Halfords and WPP Enterprise Solutions teams have a long standing relationship, working together since 2004. Recently WPP Enterprise Solutions helped embed AI into Halfords' core Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) transforming the company’s digital capabilities with zero disruption.

Halfords is the UK's leading retailer of motoring and cycling products, operating a massive physical network of over 370 retail stores, 600+ auto-centers and hundreds of mobile expert vans. That means there is a Halfords location within a 15-minute drive of 85% of the UK population.

Halfords, like many businesses, was under constant pressure to deliver more for less. Though the company was reluctant to turn to offshoring to manage costs, the move looked inevitable in the face of market pressure.

Design

As a long-time trusted partner, we offered to work on a full Software Delivery Life Cyle (SDLC) Proof of Concept with Halfords. We wanted to prove that higher quality can be delivered more efficiently by smaller teams, with AI at the center of the entire operation. We aimed to deliver not just on the agreed scope but also add 10% more without extending the timeline or the costs – all while proving a new AI-first delivery model in the process.

The goal: Deliver more value, faster, and at higher quality.

Build

We made this project a proof of concept for Halfords' AI-driven SDLC. We sized it without AI first so we could establish a baseline. Then we ran it with AI in the mix and aggressively tracked multiple variables in order to identify the specific gains. Key activities included:

• AI-first workflow – integrating Windsurf AI tooling and WPP Open Architecture LLMs directly into the dev process.

• Reusable context – building a knowledge base so the AI could get smarter sprint after sprint.

• Atomic design principles – constructing the front end from robust, reusable components.

• High-caliber team – developers, architects, QA, and analysts all trained and tooled up for AI-assisted delivery.

As part of this foundational build, our team delivered the behind-the-scenes essential elements – middleware, base components, architecture. This critical phase, running from January to April 2025, established the robust headless architecture, delivered 110% of scope in 9 weeks (3 weeks early) and increased unit test coverage from 80% to 99%.

Operate

After proving the model with the foundational build, we rolled the AI-first approach out wider, applying it to Halfords' ongoing BAU development and maintenance.

Starting in July 2025:

• We gave all developers access to Windsurf and ran an enablement program to get the best out of the tool.

• We reduced headcount while maintaining velocity. With a baseline of 120 points, and subsequent 140-250 points once the new arrangement went live, we are seeing an increase in velocity in the first 4 sprints of this model.

• We continued to refine the component-driven architecture for cleaner, faster builds.

This transition to an AI-augmented BAU model delivered significant, measurable improvements in live site performance.

We achieved 99.99% platform uptime, increased development velocity by 20-35% above target, and reduced overall team costs by 20%. Significant efficiency gains were recorded across 4 sprints of the foundational work:

• QA: +32%​

• Technical Architecture: +38%​

• Front-end Development: +25%​

• Back-end Development: +27%​

• Business Analysis: +44%

What started as a targeted AI-assisted POC has helped rewrite Halfords' digital delivery playbook. By embedding AI directly into the SDLC, the engineering ecosystem now gets smarter with every sprint. It reuses code blocks, accelerating knowledge transfer and freeing up talent to focus on high-value features rather than routine maintenance. In the words of Halfords Delivery Director, Dave Cross, “Anyone can offer lower day rates, but can they deliver increased scope in less time while growing revenues and protecting margin benefits for their client? That's the value of genuine capability and partnership.”