It’s easy to assume that modern car dealer software is built for and only benefits the dealership. After all, such systems are installed at their premises and only used directly by dealership staff.
Or are they?
As it turns out, today’s automotive software offers significant benefits to drivers too. In fact, we argue that the impact of cloud-based, omnichannel automotive systems on the consumer has been transformative.
Here’s three reasons why.
1. The customer is finally in control
The modern car buyer, already accustomed to online sales, expects to be more in control of the buying process than ever before. They expect an always-on connection to the dealership, too, with instant messaging and inquiry capabilities, from any location or device.
Automotive software today makes customer interaction fast, seamless and efficient, which finally gives your dealership the peace of mind that customers won’t feel left out in the cold or ill-informed about sales and service progress.
This is particularly true for the millennial generation who love instant, end-to-end digital communication. The ability to arrange test drives, discuss finance deals, plan your service, exchange photos and even book your replacement car over a digital platform is therefore a huge differentiator for dealerships.
A 360-degree view of the customer’s expectations and their relationship with the dealership informs everyone about upcoming commitments, too, such as key service dates, tire changes, lease renewals and product or service offers.
This omnichannel connection boosts customer experience and solidifies the customer/dealership relationship, bringing you happy repeat customers and increasing the overall customer lifetime value.
2. A truly mobile sales and aftersales process
Modern dealer software often includes virtual dealership functionality. This compliments the bricks-and-mortar operation perfectly by providing a contemporary, end-to-end digital experience for both car buyers and owners.
This works for both the sales and aftersales processes; a virtual dealership can be placed in the palm of every customer’s hand, enabling them to configure their new car and go through every step of the buying journey digitally.
However, not every customer will want to complete the journey online (yet). Hence, dealership systems offer a seamless bridge between the virtual and traditional dealership where a sale that started online can be picked up by a salesperson in the showroom, and vice versa, thus leaving the customer in control and never too far from their purchase.
3. Super-convenient servicing
We’ve already noted the ability for the latest automotive technology to keep car owners abreast of upcoming commitments, but what about those that aren’t always that obvious?
Today’s systems are capable of communicating with the latest connected cars in order to keep track of key vehicle and telemetry data. They can also track driving habits and vehicle warning data, which is shared in real-time with the appropriate dealership departments.
This enables dealerships to address vehicle issues before the driver is even aware. Pioneered by the likes of Tesla, this form of predictive maintenance can be incredibly beneficial for car owners. What’s more, every piece of information about the driver-dealer-service center relationship is contained within one mobile app and therefore never far from reach.
Car owners live in a busy, hectic world that leaves little time for managing scheduled or unexpected maintenance. The ability for dealerships to remove this burden from customers offers ultimate peace of mind and vastly improves dealer brand traction and loyalty.
Wrapping up
If your automotive software isn’t benefitting both your business and customers in equal measure, something isn’t right.
Isn’t it time you looked for a system that will make digital transformation a reality for both your business and your customers?
