IRVINE, Calif. -

With more than 3 million active subscribers using its GPS-based vehicle telematics and Business Intelligence solutions, Spireon recently highlighted that its SkyLink solution is enabling dealerships to streamline inventory management as well as add a new finance and insurance profit center with a unique connected-vehicle service offered to buyers.

According to SNS Research, connected-vehicle services will account for $14 billion in annual revenue by the end of 2016. Connected-vehicle applications include telematics, infotainment, remote diagnostics, UBI (Usage Based Insurance), semi-autonomous driving and others.

Spireon insisted this connected-vehicle business opportunity has largely escaped dealers, as manufacturers and aftermarket services reap the benefits of this growing market.

With Spireon SkyLink, dealers now have the ability to offer connected car services to their customers, adding a new source of revenue for their business while also providing a compelling connected car product and service for their customers.

Streamlined inventory management

With SkyLink, dealers partner with Spireon for a one-time install of the GPS tracking device to use for their inventory management, saving precious time and resources on the floor.

“Floor plan checks that took over six hours now take less than 90 minutes,” Arrowhead Cadillac general manager Rick Meewes.

“The Find It feature allows my sales department to locate vehicles quickly, which has cut my total transaction time down to less than three hours,” continued Meewes, who oversees the luxury model store in Glendale, Ariz. “SkyLink is an invaluable partner."

New F&I profit center

Once a vehicle is purchased, dealers can add on the SkyLink mobile app service for the buyer, connecting them to the already-installed GPS tracking device. The buyer simply connects to the SkyLink mobile app via their smartphone.

“SkyLink has produced a significant amount of income for our company and our group of dealerships,” Berkshire Hathaway national director Chris Depperman said. “Their customer service is unmatched, and I highly recommend them to any other dealership group or insurance company.”

Stolen vehicle recovery

SkyLink’s connected-vehicle features include a modern solution for consumers to easily recover their vehicle if ever stolen. Owners using SkyLink can quickly locate their vehicle using the SkyLink mobile app, while Spireon SkyLink works directly with law enforcement to recover the vehicle.

SkyLink also features optional theft guarantee coverage, providing up to $5,000 in trade-in benefits should a vehicle be stolen and not recovered in 30 days.

 Additionally, users can save up to 25 percent on insurance premiums that offer discounts for vehicles with theft recovery devices installed.

“With over 14,000 car dealerships currently connecting their inventory with Spireon products, we are a trusted partner in the dealer community,” Spireon senior vice president Bill Stephenson said.

"Our satisfied customers can attest to SkyLink’s win-win of being able to not only save time and resources dedicated to inventory and lot management, but also add a new F&I profit center to their business by offering the connected car features that car buyers really want," Stephenson went on to say.