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Dealer Groups; Dealers; Dealerships

AutoAlert’s latest patent: An OEM incentive management tool

Monday, Dec. 09, 2019, 01:41 PM
By Auto Remarketing Staff
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - 

Mike Dullea says AutoAlert has been looking at ways that OEMs could “manage incentive spend.”

“What will move the consumer to buy, while improving the overall journey and increasing profits?” said Dullea, who is AutoAlert chief executive officer.

“That’s the answer AlertOptics provides,” he said in a news release, noting that “it comes down to personalization for the consumer.”

AutoAlert said it has secured a patent for AlertOptics, which it describes as an OEM incentive management and data-analytics platform.

AlertOptics, according to the company, is an AI tool, and with that tool, OEMs can apply targeted incentives to a dealership’s consumer base.

That drives sales and loyalty, according to AutoAlert.

AutoAlert says AlertOptics optimizes incentive spend through “analyzing and actionizing” OEM and dealer data.

That, according to AutoAlert, allows for the best incentive level to be generated for the right customer. And that can result in elimination of wasted incentive dollars and identification of incremental sales opportunities.

AlertOptics’ personalized, OEM-branded offers engage customers via text, email, mail, and other channels, according to the company.

AutoAlert said that with AlertOptics’ flexible incentive programs and detailed reporting, OEMs can quickly assess ROI, and they can make better predictions about future buying trends.

“We want to strengthen communication among OEMs, captive finance companies, and dealers to increase their success,” said AutoAlert senior vice president Kendall Billman.

Billman added, “That means unlocking the right data, fully analyzing that data, and turning it into the best experience for customers.”

AutoAlert connects OEMs, captive companies, dealerships, and consumers in this way. The company said AlertOptics is just one piece of its complete customer experience services.

According to the company, that also strengthens communication and collaboration at the dealership, provides complete service lane services, and improves customer loyalty and retention.

“The goal is to provide the very best customer experiences while also increasing sales and profits,” AutoAlert said.

AutoAlert’s first U.S. patent, for its Equity Mining and Financial Alert Process, came in 2010.

The company said successive patents in 2011, 2012, and 2013 enhanced its data mining and sales on the service drive functionalities.

  • Read more about AutoAlert’s latest patent: An OEM incentive management tool

Mitsubishi dealers can now use all of Dealer eProcess’ latest web tools

Friday, Dec. 06, 2019, 02:17 PM
By Auto Remarketing Staff
LISLE, Ill. - 

Now that it is part of the Mitsubishi MiDigitalSolutions Website, Digital Advertising, Chat, Trade-In Tool, and Social Reputation Management programs, Dealer eProcess says Mitsubishi dealers can now choose from Mitsubishi website designs that are fully responsive.

The designs are also ADA compliant and feature SSL security, according to Dealer eProcess, an automotive website and digital marketing company.

Mitsubishi dealers now can use all of Dealer eProcess’ latest tools and features and stay within their OEM program guidelines, Dealer eProcess said.

Each section of the websites features high-converting elements, such as the user-focused SRP, or search results page; and advanced VDP, or vehicle details page. Voice search is another element.

Dealer eProcess says features such as website personalization with targeted banners, Smart Search bar and customized service offerings enhance user experience and maximize conversions.

Dynamic SEO on each website maximizes organic visibility, according to the company. The ability to add on Custom Content that works with the site SEO features and is written in-house is another feature.

The company says that with its Integrated Chat Platform, dealers’ customers can get answers to their questions at all hours. Those options include dealer-managed chat with available texting functionality, co-managed chat with texting and AutoBot chat.

With the user-friendly chat, dashboard dealers can monitor and jump in on all chats, and they can do that through whichever package they choose.

Tools such as local SEO and reputation management help dealers target their unique set of customers.

“Keeping up with reviews is a full-time job, but with social reputation management, dealers will streamline the way they manage their social accounts,” Dealer eProcess wrote in a news release.

In addition to the website program. Dealer eProcess was chosen to be a partner in the Digital Advertising Program. Through that program, three package options plus add-on items allow dealers to choose the types of digital advertising that are suited to their market and their budget.

The CARoi: DMS Attribution tool to see profit matched to conversions from the website, digital advertising, and other avenues such as organic are some of the Dealer eProcess digital advertising features. Options for advertising on Waze, Facebook, and Amazon Advertising help reach customers through social media.

As part of the MiDigitalSolutions program, eAutoAppraise, the Dealer eProcess proprietary trade-in tool, is also available to Mitsubishi. A customer can complete the newest version of the eAutoAppraise platform in less than 10 seconds. Using Google-like predictive search functionality, it eliminates extra clicks for the customer and generates leads, according to Dealer eProcess.

Dealers can use Black Book, Kelley Blue Book or NADAGuides in choosing how aggressive they want to be with the value they give to a customer for their trade-in.

Mitsubishi Certified website, Digital Advertising and additional tools through Dealer eProcess are available immediately.

  • Read more about Mitsubishi dealers can now use all of Dealer eProcess’ latest web tools

Total customer lifetime value for dealers estimated at more than $50K

Wednesday, Dec. 04, 2019, 02:35 PM
By Auto Remarketing Staff
LAWRENCEVILLE, GA - 

Many automotive sales professionals mistakenly view car buying transactions as “one-offs.” They assume that the customer is unlikely to do business with their brand, or dealership, ever again.

But Black Book and The Appraisal Lane estimate that after factoring in the potential revenue from referral business, the lifetime value of a customer to a dealership is more than $50,000.

According to the joint white paper, titled, “The Value of Loyalty: Customer Lifetime Value in the Automotive Industry,” dealers can increase automotive customer lifetime value, or ACLV, by improving the trade-in process.

Black Book and The Appraisal Lane write that customer satisfaction in the automotive industry lags behind other industries.

The Appraisal Lane chief executive officer Jeff Risner said in a news release that customer experience is the most important “success differentiator” for dealers. The Appraisal Lane describes itself as a mobile app-based community of expert appraisers who put guaranteed cash offers on used cars.

“Lower margins, increased competition, and dwindling loyalty are eroding business,” Risner said.

He continued, “A better customer experience starts with a better trade-in process. By focusing on this, dealers can expand their share of a customer's lifetime value, improve CSI, and create future opportunities for sales, service, and referrals."

The two companies write in the white paper that using precise data to value a consumer’s vehicle is crucial toward building and retaining consumer confidence.

“Utilizing a 17-digit VIN decode helps dealers quickly and precisely appraise and value a customer’s trade-in,” said Black Book executive vice president, revenue Jared Kalfus.

He added, “In today’s data-driven environment, it’s more important than ever to have that precise valuation in order to maximize profit.”

The white paper also addresses how to eliminate pain points associated with the trade-in process, how to build trust with pricing transparency and how to increase consumer confidence by using the right data.

The white paper states that getting as much profit as possible, at the expense of customer satisfaction, is “the root of what ails the automotive customer experience today.”

The paper highlights CarMax as a company known for providing an exceptional customer experience. In addition to appreciating CarMax’s hassle-free buying process and vast inventory, customers like that CarMax will guarantee their appraisal and buy their vehicle even if they don’t buy a vehicle from CarMax.

“CarMax proves that when you bring value to consumers, they bring increased value to you — with the potential for higher returns on immediate transactions and higher returns in the future through repeat business and referrals,” the paper states.

It continues, “The lifetime value an automotive customer brings to brands and dealers can go much further than a single purchase.”

To come up with the “lifetime value of an automotive customer,” the paper calculates total lifetime gross per unit profit, including F&I, by determining the average number of car purchases a consumer makes in his or her lifetime, and the average retail gross per unit profit of the vehicles he or she buys.

The calculation then adds potential revenue for service appointments and extracts advertising cost per vehicle sold to arrive at total net automotive customer lifetime value, or ACLV.

The paper concludes by stating that automotive customers are valuable commodities to brands and dealers.

And their referrals are even more valuable, the report states.

That’s why it’s so important to offer an exceptional trade-in experience.

“Dealers can do this with consistent valuation methodologies, pricing transparency, data backed by science, and personalized appraisals,” the report states.

The report concludes, “With lower margins and volume, increased competition, decreased brand loyalty, and changing buyer behaviors, customer satisfaction is — and will continue to be — the single most important success differentiator for businesses in our industry.”

  • Read more about Total customer lifetime value for dealers estimated at more than $50K

Study: Auto groups should market service to used off-make buyers who purchase from sister stores

Tuesday, Dec. 03, 2019, 02:06 PM
By Auto Remarketing Staff
CHICAGO - 

When dealers do not refer used off-make buyers to sister stores within their auto group for service, the group loses up to $230,000 annually in potential customer pay revenue, or CP$, per store.

That is one of the findings of Affinitiv’s Automotive Customer Loyalty study.

The study notes that auto groups continue to boost used-car sales in response to consumer demand and lower new-vehicle margins. But they are overlooking opportunities to service a high number of their used-car buyers, according to Affinitiv.

“If I buy a used Honda at a Toyota dealership, I might take it back to that dealership for an oil change, but it’s unlikely I’ll take it back for a brake job or transmission service,” Affinitiv chief executive officer Scot Eisenfelder said in a news release.

He continued, “Lost opportunities occur when the Toyota salesperson fails to transfer that customer’s information over to the Honda store within their group, so the Honda store can market to and win that buyer’s service business.”

Affinitiv’s vice president, strategy and analytics Doug Van Sach said, “In auto groups there needs to be a paradigm shift from individual stores holding onto a perception that they own all the customers in their database, to treating the group’s entire customer database as an asset that can be shared among all dealers.”

Van Sach added, “I realize on the new-car side this is a bit tricky, but on the used-car side everyone’s a winner. A store may give away some used off-make customers, but in return they will gain used same-make customers, which are worth significantly more.”

According to Affinitiv’s data analysis, in every dealership regardless of brand, the average repair order, or RO, amount is 68% higher for a used same-make vehicle than the average RO amount for a used off-make vehicle.

Analyzing data from deals at more than 1,000 auto dealerships, Affinitiv found that among all dealerships, used-vehicle sales from the first six months of 2017 to the first six months of 2018 are growing at a faster rate than new-vehicle sales. That results in a greater mix of used customers in a dealer’s database.

Domestic: Used vehicles as a percentage of total sales increased year over year from 43.6% to 44.4%.

Import: Used vehicles as a percentage of total sales increased year over year from 42.5% to 44%

Luxury: Used vehicles as a percentage of total sales increased year over year from 38.9% to 42.3%

That trend represents a threat to dealers’ current service business as the number of warranty customers decreases, Eisenfelder said.

“To attract more used customers and achieve greater service potential, auto groups would do well to organize themselves around their customers, instead of organizing around the individual stores,” Eisenfelder said.

The purchase to service, or P2S rate for dealerships represents the percentage of car buyers that return to the dealership of purchase for service. For its study, Affinitiv calculated P2S rates by taking all vehicle sales in the first six months of 2018, then looking out 12 months from the deal date to see if those VINs had an RO. Average P2S rates are as follows:

Domestic dealership P2S rate:

— Used same make: 48.4%

— Used off make: 26.1%

— Opportunity gap for auto groups: 22.3%

Import dealership P2S rate:

— Used same-make: 54.6%

— Used off-make: 28.5%

— Opportunity gap for auto groups: 26.1%

Luxury dealership P2S rate:

— Used same-make: 51.5%

— Used off-make: 19.8%

— Opportunity gap for auto groups: 31.7%

Affinitiv calculated the potential increase in CP$ that an auto group could make per store if it closed the opportunity gaps between used same-make and used off-make customers.

The company calculated the potential revenue increase by comparing the five-year lifetime value, or LTV, of used off-make vs. used same-make customers. LTV calculations factored in the average CP$ per RO, purchase to service rates, service retention rates and the average number of ROs per year, per VIN over a five-year period.

According to calculations, auto groups could increase their annual CP$ by $230,000 per store just by closing the service opportunity gap between used off-make and used same-make buyers.

 “This figure doesn’t take into account that if you convert a used off-make buyer into a loyal service customer at another store, that customer is more likely to remain loyal to your auto group brand on the next purchase,” Van Sach said.

Affinitiv recommended some best practices to retain used off-make customers within an auto group. Those include:

— When a salesperson sells a used off-make vehicle to a customer, that provides an opportunity to make the customer aware of the appropriate brand store within the same group. The salesperson could offer an incentive for a first visit, such as a complimentary new owner orientation session or a service coupon.

— Ensure that used off-make buyers’ customer data is transferred to the appropriate store’s marketing database. Send out a, “Welcome to our family,” message that shows clear reasons to choose the dealer for service.

— Mine current databases for used off-make vehicle buyers in the last two years, and implement a targeted marketing strategy to recover lost revenue.

— Foster loyalty to the dealer group brand by recognizing and rewarding customers for their cumulative purchase and service activity across the dealer group.

  • Read more about Study: Auto groups should market service to used off-make buyers who purchase from sister stores

myKaarma, Uber integration could ease customer transportation for dealers

Monday, Dec. 02, 2019, 04:16 PM
By Auto Remarketing Staff
LONG BEACH, Calif. - 

A new integration between Uber for Business and dealer service department communications and payments software provider myKaarma could help dealerships reduce shuttle costs and guest wait times, decrease the number of days needed for loaner cars and simplify travel management, according to the companies.

The companies say the integration can provide dealer service departments with an efficient transportation method that can help increase customer satisfaction and reduce costs.

With myKaarma’s integration with the Uber Central API, dealerships can book Uber rides directly through the myKaarma application with a fully integrated lookup and specify pick up and drop off locations on behalf of customers.

Then, based on their pickup and drop off location, the customer receives a text message with a secure link for a ride.

Dealerships can use this integration, which enables communication between the transportation manager, the driver and the customer, alongside myKaarma’s pickup and delivery module or as a standalone module.

Real-time ETAs also keep dealerships connected with their customers every step of the way, according to the companies.

All rides, along with any relevant details, are tracked within the application.

Running on mobile phones, desktop and tablet computers, myKaarma’s software offers two main features: end-to-end customer communication and payments.

myKaarma designed the communications tools to blend into a service adviser’s daily workflow. Users can use the tools through mediums of communication such as voice, text, and email.

The full platform, service@home, includes pickup and delivery. It also features video walkarounds and driver tracking, along with the communications and payment features.

myKaarma said those features are integrated and synced with the DMS.

With the software, service advisers can send photos and videos to customers. Those photos and videos more clearly explain their repair recommendations, myKaarma said.

Then, the service advisers can receive real-time authorization for additional work.

After completion of the service process, customers can pay their bills online or through other options, which myKaarma says eliminates any wait at the dealership when they pick up their vehicle.

myKaarma said service departments implementing its cloud-based software tools see an average increase in dollars per repair order of 37%, a 50% reduction in voicemails left with advisers, a near 100% reduction in authorization disputes, a 33% decrease in loaner car days and an increase in CSI scores.

Service departments gain access to a real-time record of communication with their customers and “a bird’s eye view of the service department that allows them to manage their operations more efficiently,” according to myKaarma.

“At myKaarma, it is our mission to optimize as much of the dealer's process as possible and give back time to service managers, service advisors, and other dealer personnel,” myKaarma chief executive officer Ujj Nath said in a news release.

Nath added, “Our integration with Uber for Business provides dealers with one place to book and track Uber trips for their guests without having to retype their pickup or drop off address. This will have an immediate impact on reducing loaner car days and delayed wait times for transportation and increasing long term customer loyalty."

Uber for Business global head of guest products Neal Watterson said coordination of shuttles and loaners for customers can be inefficient, time-consuming, and costly for auto dealers.

“The ability to make the entire process seamless is an important step forward for the industry at large — and can make a big difference in increasing customer satisfaction, Watterson said.

Watterson added, “We’re excited to partner with companies like myKaarma to make access to customer transportation simple and efficient for the automotive sector.”

  • Read more about myKaarma, Uber integration could ease customer transportation for dealers

Platform creates videos promoting manufacturers’ incentives

Monday, Dec. 02, 2019, 03:26 PM
By Auto Remarketing Staff
URBANDALE, Iowa - 

Tim James says videos that promote manufacturers’ monthly incentives are “one of the most-used and desired types of marketing content.”

James is chief operating officer for Flick Fusion, which offers a video hosting, marketing and distribution platform to automotive and other inventory-based industries.

The company on Monday introduced Dynamic Marketing Videos, or DMVs, for auto dealerships, which it says can reduce the time and expense involved with the creation of marketing videos that promote manufacturers’ incentives.

Flick Fusion said that with the DMV platform, auto dealerships’ ad agencies and video marketing resellers can quickly create scalable, customized video content for all of their dealership clients.

And they can do that at a very low cost, Flick Fusion said.

“These videos create a sense of urgency for car shoppers and can be used in Facebook campaigns, email campaigns, YouTube pre-rolls ads, regular Google ads, remarketing, retargeting, websites, you name it,” James said in a news release.

Flick Fusion notes that manufacturers often announce new incentives such as 0% interest, cash back or lease specials.

The company adds that with traditional methods of video production, creating a video that promotes the OEM special can take up to a week. Video production costs range from $500 to $5,000 per video, according to Flick Fusion.

The company said the OEM promotions typically last 30, 60, or 90 days, and that means “dealerships can spend a lot of money for a video they use only for a limited time.”

Flick Fusion says its DMV platform solves the problem. With the platform, ad agencies and video resellers can use their own video content or use Flick Fusion’s existing video content that highlights every make or model.

Flick Fusion says it can also create custom video content upon request.

To do that, the user creates a campaign template one time and then uploads video content to the DMV platform. Then the user enters in the incentive variables and clicks “Save.”

The platform automatically produces a short, dynamic video within five minutes.

If an ad agency has 100 dealership clients, the agency can instantly customize videos with each dealership’s logo and contact information.

With the assumption that the dealerships’ logos are already uploaded into Flick Fusion’s SMARTFLICKS platform, a user can choose an option to create multiple branded videos.

The agency will have 100 videos customized for each dealership brand within five minutes.

  • Read more about Platform creates videos promoting manufacturers’ incentives

Ford shows commitment to ease technician shortage

Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2019, 12:55 PM
By Auto Remarketing Staff
TYSONS, Va. - 

Frederiek Toney says Ford Motor Co. is “acutely aware” of the current automotive service technician shortage.

“The NADA Foundation’s Workforce Initiative is just one program Ford is supporting to raise awareness of and access to training and job opportunities in this growing field,” said Toney, who is president, global Ford customer service division.

The NADA Foundation highlighted Ford’s continuing support of the cause with a recent announcement that the automaker contributed $100,000 to the NADA Foundation’s Workforce Initiative. The foundation launched the initiative this year.

Part of the initiative is a new website, nadafoundation.org, which includes what the foundation describes as the first and only interactive U.S. map of training and scholarship opportunities available for aspiring technicians.

The site also features videos highlighting technicians and the challenging nature of their work.

Scott Walker, a service technician at ADESA Auto Auction outside of Washington, D.C., is one of the featured techs.

“Ford joins an esteemed group of car and commercial truck manufacturers that support the NADA Foundation’s efforts to spark an interest in service technician careers,” NADA Foundation chair and 2008 NADA chair Annette Sykora said in a news release.

Sykora added, “Together, we can work together to attract great talent to our dynamic industry.”

Sykora is dealer principal of Smith South Plains Ford Lincoln in Levelland, Texas, and she discussed how her dealership has helped young men and women find fulfilling local auto industry careers over the years.

“Automotive technicians keep our families mobile and company fleets running by providing the necessary maintenance and repairs to our customers’ cars and trucks,” Sykora said.

She continued, “These technicians have life balance and the means to provide financial stability for their families. Seeing them grow in knowledge and skill in a job they enjoy is heartwarming to an employer.”

Additional contributions to the NADA Foundation’s Workforce Initiative to date include:

—$100,000 from Toyota Motor North America
—$50,000 from PACCAR (Kenworth and Peterbilt)
—$50,000 from Hyundai Motor America
—$50,000 from the National Auto Auction Association
—$25,000 from Porsche Cars North America
—$25,000 from Isuzu Commercial Trucks of America

  • Read more about Ford shows commitment to ease technician shortage

Lithia buys 3 stores in Greater Tampa

Monday, Nov. 04, 2019, 01:40 PM
By Auto Remarketing Staff
MEDFORD, Ore. - 

Lithia Motors announced on Monday that it has acquired Williams Automotive Group’s Honda and Toyota stores in the greater Tampa, Fla. market, widening its already large "coast-to-coast network." 

Lithia Motors president and chief executive officer Bryan DeBoer said the new partnership increases the company’s national coverage, which he said now reaches nine out of every 10 consumers in the country.

He said the acquisition also furthers the company’s “modernization strategy.” With the acquisition, Lithia said it has expanded its reach from 82% to 92% of the United States.

Wesley Chapel Toyota, Wesley Chapel Honda and Tampa Honda make up the new platform, and Lithia says they are strong performers.

The company expects the stores to generate a combined annual revenue of $325 million.

Lithia said that for the year of 2019, it has purchased stores totaling $800 million in revenue.

“We are excited to expand our presence in Florida and position Lithia for further growth in this key geographic region,” DeBoer said in a news release.

He added, “We’re thrilled to partner with and welcome John Williams and his talented team to the Lithia family. We look forward to our new team continuing their success and assisting us in expanding our network throughout the Southeastern United States.”

  • Read more about Lithia buys 3 stores in Greater Tampa

With pilot project, Porsche launches online US car sales

Monday, Oct. 28, 2019, 02:13 PM
By Auto Remarketing Staff
ATLANTA - 

With a joint pilot project including 25 participating Porsche dealers, the luxury automaker has launched online car sales in the United States for its stores. 

Porsche said the pilot project will feature new and pre-owned in-stock vehicles. The project combines shopping from browsers or mobile devices with completing the paperwork on-screen. That, according to the company, shortens and eases the process from selection to contract.

“Physical and digital retail experiences have to work hand in hand, yet stay typically Porsche,” Detlev von Platen, member of the executive board for sales and marketing at Porsche AG, said in a news release.

von Platen continued, “Offering our customers an enhanced digital option for acquiring a Porsche makes this experience even more accessible and more convenient.”

Once they submit an online order, customers can visit the dealership just once for final signatures.

Then, they can “collect their dream Porsche,” according to the company.

Twenty five of the 191 independently owned and operated U.S. Porsche dealers are participating in the project as it launches. Depending on the pilot results, a wider national rollout is possible, Porsche said.

Featuring new and pre-owned vehicles that are in a participating dealership’s inventory, the service covers all aspects of buying, financing or leasing a selected vehicle, according to the company. That includes payment and trade-in calculators, credit approval, and financing and insurance options through Porsche Financial Services.

All of that, Porsche said, takes place from wherever a customer chooses to shop.

For ID verification, customers can upload photos of their personal documents. For trade-in valuation, they can upload car pictures.

Once the customer completes the information, the dealer can prepare the necessary paperwork, which the customer can sign once he or she arrives.

The new process is integrated into the websites of participating coast-to-coast dealers.

The company also said that as Porsche looks to expand its overall digital business, Porsche in Germany is launching a similar program.

Porsche Cars North America president and chief executive officer Klaus Zellmer said Porsche is always seeking out new methods of meeting customer expectations.

“For our dealerships, who are at the core of our strategic initiatives, we think this blend of digital and physical interaction with customers will only strengthen their business,” Zellmer said.

  • Read more about With pilot project, Porsche launches online US car sales

New marketing platform aims to cut ad costs for dealers

Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, 02:55 PM
By Auto Remarketing Staff
INDIANAPOLIS - 

Technology company Driven Data has launched its next-generation automotive industry marketing platform, stating that it uses “prescriptive marketing” to help dealers “unlock the power of their existing operational data to inform marketing decisions.”

The company says its platform powers advanced features such as its budget optimization engine. The engine optimizes daily spending based on a predictive algorithm, which determines how quickly cars will sell at various budget levels, Driven Data said. That allows dealers to optimize inventory turn at the lowest ad spend, according to the company.

Driven Data founder and chief executive officer Jon Berna mentioned a statistic from the 2019 NADA Midyear Report showing that the automotive industry spends an average of $628 to sell each new car, which he said is an all-time high.

“With costs rising across the board, dealers need a more robust solution to this problem,” Berna said in a news release. “Driven Data was purpose-built to provide just that.”

He continued, “Dealerships generally see that 17% of their sales in a given month come from prior customers.  This new capability can grow that number substantially while saving time and money.”

The company said the product automatically connects dealerships’ first-party data from their CRM and DMS into paid search and paid social. That helps dealerships increase loyalty by reaching their prior customers and suppressing recent for new customer acquisition, Driven Data said.

Alex Motevosian of Kirin Automotive said Driven Data’s diagnostic engine helps users see “operational efficiency and inefficiency at the speed of retail,” which he said helps dealers make decisions in real-time, and with fast results in days.

Motevosian also said the platform can automatically generate custom audiences in Facebook and Google Ads based on dealer data. He said the platform’s universal architecture and data standardization methods allow it to drop first-party, custom audiences into Facebook and Ads automatically.  

“If you had 200,000 total customers in your CRM and DMS, it would cost around $250,000 to reach each customer once with direct mail,” Berna said, noting that with Driven Data, the cost would be less than $1,750 in modern mediums such as Google Ads and Facebook.  

Driven Data said it uses dealership data and implements advanced machine learning to generate custom first-party audiences based on customers predicted to be in the market for a new car, shopping for a used car, or may need service soon.

Driven Data uses a proprietary ad platform and collects a dealership’s data and marketing collateral to allow the dealership to automatically develop and publish specific, customized ads on Facebook, Instagram, Google, and additional future platforms.  

Driven Data chief technology officer Ryan Moore said that results in more engaging ads that will reach customers where they already are.

“We integrate with all core dealership systems and leverage these insights directly into the marketing,” Moore said, adding that “has never been done to this extent.”

Moore continued, “This allows for true ad personalization in the customer’s journey to a purchase or service visit.”

“Driven Data allows dealers to take an in-depth dive into their data that their CRM and DMS do not have the ability to provide,” Kenon Johnson of the Stanley Automotive Group, which operates 12 dealerships in Texas and include the brands of Ford, Lincoln, Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Fiat, Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep..

Johnson continued, “They are knowledgeable and have tapped into data to provide insights that have not been readily available. The team at Driven Data are truly professionals that understand the importance of what dealers need to evaluate all aspects of their business."

The platform’s advanced features include:

 — Data and insights for access advanced reporting on important metrics for each department, which the company says results in a “truly connected” strategy.

— Prescriptive social and search marketing to optimize each campaign, which the company says can increase engagement and conversion at every stage by using operational and customer data from your CRM, DMS and inventory.

— Digital asset management to host images and videos and connect them to marketing.

— Universal benchmarks to see how your performance measures up against the best dealerships on each metric.

— Reconditioning information to show internal maintenance items such as tires, brakes, and alignments with their values directly inside ads.

— Maintenance-free landing pages, which the company says provide a strong customer experience with flexible rules for accurate payments and vehicle information.

— Forecasting, which predicts sales six months in the future using variables such as seasonality, weighted trends, and digital behaviors.

— Budget optimization engine to help optimize ad spend based on all dealership data in the system, and the company predicts how long each vehicle will take to sell.

— Diagnostics engine to resolve concerns and get your process back on track through monitoring areas such as web, CRM, inventory, DMS and paid search.

— Incentives and rebates to “leverage” lease and loan payments on every vehicle in ads automatically.

  • Read more about New marketing platform aims to cut ad costs for dealers
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