In a move that can help dealers generate much-needed trade-ins, AutoTrader.com’s Trade-In Marketplace will now be integrated into vAuto’s suite of inventory management tools, the companies revealed Monday.

The integration was planned to enable “dealers to efficiently acquire more trade-ins and deliver a more market-transparent and customer-satisfying appraisal and purchasing process,” officials explained.

Both companies are part of  the AutoTrader Group.

Jim Menard, vice president and general manager for vAuto, expressed his enthusiasm for the news, noting, “This integration advances our goal to build greater synergies between AutoTrader Group companies and provide more value for dealers.

 “Combining TIM and vAuto simplifies the trade-in appraisal and acquisition process at dealerships. It helps dealers more efficiently identify and purchase a greater number of the used vehicles they need from the best source possible — their own customers,” he continued.

And what exactly are the benefits for dealers?

First, the companies contend the partnership will ensure that it takes “less time and effort” to access TIM offers and complete appraisals. Officials noted that now, specific vehicle data will move “seamlessly” from TIM to vAuto’s appraisal tool.

“This eliminates the data entry and multiple logins dealers currently perform to view vehicle condition and valuation reports to complete appraisal offers,” officials added.

Next up, the partnership also provides dealers with additional market data. Specifically, the integration includes the new TIM Market Report, “which dealers can use with customers to detail the vehicle-specific options and conditions that drive TIM offers and their own appraisal amounts,” the companies explained.

Lastly, officials noted the partnership could inspire “greater confidence in trade-ins.”

The companies noted that the integration synchronizes vAuto Provision’s Inventory Recommendations List with TIM offers.

“Dealers no longer have to guess or double-check whether a customer’s trade-in vehicle is a ‘right’ car for their store,” officials asserted.

“Similarly, Provision’s letter grade ranking helps dealers quickly assess the retail opportunities and risks each TIM offer vehicle represents. Dealers can receive e-mail or text alerts when customers complete TIM offers that match vehicles Provision recommends for their used vehicle inventories. The feature allows dealers to respond more quickly when vehicles they need most become available,” they continued.

Wrapping up the commentary on the new partnership, David Berry, senior manager of operations for TIM, said, “TIM offers car shoppers the most transparent and easy-to-use method to determine the current market value of their trade-in vehicle and locate a dealer who wants their car.

 “This integration streamlines the workflow for dealers as they match TIM offers to their used vehicle buy lists and use market-specific data with customers to appraise and acquire their vehicles,” he concluded.