CLEARWATER, Fla. -

It’s hard to keep track of all online sales leads — and it is especially hard to discern which shoppers are ready to buy.

AutoLoop has launched a new tool it says alerts sales personnel when ready-to-buy prospects are generated from dealership Web traffic, in real-time.

The company’s Essentials product now includes what it’s calling Instant Online Leads.

 “As more and more people turn to the Internet for car shopping, dealers need the ability to engage them immediately,” said Matt Rodeghero, AutoLoop’s chief product officer. “They are a dealership’s most viable customers because they’ve already expressed interest in a specific vehicle online. If sales reps aren’t alerted to inquiries in real-time, however, they can’t follow up … and the sale may be lost.”

Here’s how it works:

Shoppers interested in a vehicle have access to a customized form that allows them to request follow-up through the dealership website.

When a customer submits one of these forms, the Instant Online Leads feature immediately notifies a specific salesperson via phone and email.

Dealerships can prioritize their contact lists, as well, determining which sales rep is alerted to an online lead first.

If that person is unavailable, the system automatically contacts the next one on the list, the company explained.

“The Instant Online Leads feature makes Essentials even more efficient, putting your best sales personnel in touch with your best prospects at the most crucial moment,” said Rodeghero. “It’s one more way we help you turn browsers into buyers.”