CarStory announced Tuesday that it has introduced CarStory MicroDB, its new a patent-pending search and compression technology designed to increase automotive searches on desktops and mobile devices.
CarStory MicroDB improves automotive searches by over 40 times, according to CarStory.
“This is a really exciting evolution of search technology, empowering browsers with the capabilities of the datacenter,” parent company Vast chief architect Benedict Smith said in a news release. “This redefines 'instant' in a way that has to be experienced to appreciate. It's the culmination of years of work, utilizing browser technologies only now reaching maturity, and is very much the future of web technology.”
No matter the device or connection method, CarStory said by compressing and pushing the data to the client with CarStory MicroDB, sites can experience the full interactivity and a substantial increase in speed.
CarStory MicroDB can be experienced in beta at beta.carstory.com, it is currently available for individual licensing to enterprise partners, such as marketplaces and dealer website providers.
“CarStory MicroDB changes the game in automotive search. Most sites are frustratingly slow and every delay results in lost sales, traffic and loyalty,” Vast chief executive officer John Price added. “Speed and a great experience are now inextricably linked. You can’t deliver one without the other. We’re excited to set a new bar for what speed means in the industry.”
DealerRater has introduced additional enhanced offerings as part of its new Connections product suite that is designed to create personal connections between dealerships’ top salespeople and ready-to-buy shoppers.
First launched in September, DealerRater Connections allows dealerships to create dealer and employee profiles linked to their reviews shared across DealerRater’s strategic syndication partner sites.
The new DealerRater Connections Plus leverages ReviewBuilder, which offers users an automated and customized way to earn more reviews. And the new Connections Premier offering provides dealerships with a dedicated Success Partner whose role is to jumpstart onboarding and keep employee profiles up-to-date.
“Over the past 15 years, we have witnessed a growing importance around a dealership’s online reputation to build more trust in the car buying process. In that time, consumers have written more than four million dealership reviews on DealerRater,” company general manager Jamie Oldershaw said in a news release. “In an effort to bring our dealer partners a new level of automation, convenience and personalization to their review-building program, we’re thrilled to introduce DealerRater Connections Plus and DealerRater Connections Premier.
“We know the majority of car buyers prefer to select a salesperson before arriving at the dealership, and 80 percent of DealerRater Certified Salespeople say their employee profile helps them sell more cars,” he said. “It goes without saying that we want to make it as easy as possible for dealers to reach shoppers by building their digital footprint and drive business growth.”
Additionally, using ReviewBuilder, dealers can solicit up to four times more reviews automatically via text or email through integrations with most DMS systems, according to DealerRater.
“DealerRater reviews help me stand out in a crowd of other salespeople and lets the customer know I’m a trustworthy sales consultant who will take good care of them,” said Rick Kruger, DealerRater certified salesperson and sales and leasing consultant at Don Ayres Honda in Fort Wayne, Ind.
“Building strong rapport with a customer is critical to making a sale, and through my employee profile I get to build that relationship before they even walk in the showroom. Not to mention, I have more customers seeking me out – some have traveled more than 150 miles just for me,” Kruger continued.
What was nurtured in the classroom is now ready for deployment to help your dealership service drive.
This week, EFG Companies announced the launch of Driver’s Advocate, a mobile app representing the culmination of both the 2015 and 2016 Northwood University Innovator of the Year Award winning products. Driver’s Advocate was designed to foster greater consumer loyalty through service drive retention, while also providing theft protection and inventory management.
Driver’s Advocate provides consumers with:
• A service scheduler
• Direct, mileage-based messaging with service and maintenance reminders
• A loyalty point tracker, where loyalty points can be used for discounts on services provided, and/or as a down payment towards their next vehicle purchase with the selling dealership
• A theft tracker that alerts consumers when their vehicle moves while they are not in it
• An easy-to-use fuel finder
The mobile app features click-to-call roadside assistance, centralized, easy access to consumer protection plans, recall notifications, a service center locator, full vehicle information repository and transparent dealer pricing.
“Dealers offering Driver’s Advocate benefit from a significant customer retention tool through the app’s service scheduler, couponing feature and maintenance notifications based on individual consumer mileage,” said Greg Grimes, vice president of operations with the Rohrich Auto Group. Grimes served as a mentor in the 2016 Northwood Innovator of the Year Contest, and Rohrich Auto Group is the first to pilot Driver’s Advocate.
“In addition, dealers have the ability to use the loyalty point tracker as a way to encourage customers to return for their next vehicle purchase if they choose to apply the loyalty points towards a cash value for a down payment,” Grimes added.
According to nationwide consumer research conducted by EFG Companies, more than 65 percent of consumers desire reminders about their vehicle maintenance, and the majority would also like to receive service reminders and specials from their dealership.
The research also indicated 63.5 percent of respondents said the availability of a dealership loyalty program would impact their decision to service at a dealership. And according to the National Automobile Dealers Association, 83 percent of customers that perform their routine maintenance with the selling dealer will return to them to purchase another vehicle.
“In today’s retail automotive market, the finance and insurance office of a dealership has the unique opportunity to take on a different role in addressing two significant dealer priorities,” EFG Companies president and chief executive officer John Pappanastos said.
“Through products like Driver’s Advocate, dealers can create those one-on-one consumer relationships to address individual needs rather than taking the mass approach,” Pappanastos continued. “In addition, these products have the potential to increase service drive volume and traffic, translating directly to repeat and referral business, which, as we all know, make up the lowest cost sales for the average dealer.”
Of the top mobile app attributes that EFG’s research showed consumers find most valuable, eight are available in the Driver’s Advocate app, including:
—Recall warnings
—Regular maintenance reminders
—Repair history
—Tire and wheel reminders
—Service interval reminders
—Contact information for warranties and roadside assistance
—Vehicle warranty or service contract details
—Service center locator.
In a world where, as reported by Cox Automotive, 70 percent of vehicle buyers never return to the dealership for maintenance, EFG Companies is convinced the mobile app will increase service drive retention by rewarding customers for their loyalty and keeping vehicle maintenance top-of-mind.
By providing consumers with instant access to their vehicle information and their protection plans through Driver’s Advocate, dealers also have the ability to enhance their customer service levels in the service drive.
“Using the app, a customer can pull relevant product and vehicle information for the service manager to put into their system, increasing the efficiency of initiating and processing claims,” said John Stephens, executive vice president at EFG Companies. “By streamlining claims processing in this way, dealers will be able to initiate work on the vehicle much faster, and get consumers back on the road, leading to a more satisfied consumer base.”
Lastly, the theft tracking feature is obviously useful for consumers, but also dealers before the sale.
“This opens several doors when it comes to inventory management,” Stephens said. “Dealers can track their inventory in real time, access test drive history and of course monitor for inventory theft.”
According to a 2016 study by the Insurance Information Institute and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, vehicle theft is on the rise. Officials said, 707,758 motor vehicles were reported stolen in the 2015, up 3.1 percent from 2014.
The Driver’s Advocate mobile app is based on the winning products for the 2015 and 2016 F&I Innovator of the Year competitions at Northwood University.
The winning concept from 2015 was originally designed by three Northwood undergraduate students to provide consumers with a convenient way to stay current on vehicle maintenance and prevent theft. The 2016 winning concept was designed to address Millennial and Generation Z concerns around financial security and deliver on dealership goals around customer retention.
According to a recent report by J.D. Power, millennials will nearly replace Baby Boomers in the car market by the year 2020. Driver’s Advocate addresses three concerns that are top of mind for this generation.
Saddled with $1.31 trillion in student loan debt, EFG Companies insisted this generation is hyper aware of taking on more debt. Using the point tracker, millennials have the ability to reduce or even eliminate their out-of-pocket expense in putting a down payment on their next vehicle.
By monitoring the status through a simple app, EFG went on to mention consumers can receive updates when their vehicle moves while they are not in it, as well as stay on top of vehicle maintenance to preserve resale value.
EFG and Northwood developed this program to spur a greater level of innovation in the F&I space to meet the rapidly evolving consumer demands. Every other year during Northwood’s fall semester, six teams of Northwood undergraduate automotive marketing and management students compete to conceptualize and build a new F&I product while earning course credit. The winning product is selected by a panel of judges based on its business merit and potential to be successfully developed for the retail automotive market.
“This marks the first competition product rolled out to the market,” Northwood University president Keith Pretty said.
“We expect great things from this product roll-out as it serves as a reflection of our philosophy of hands-on learning,” Pretty continued. “This will give our current students enrolled at Northwood the unique opportunity to see the impact their entrepreneurism and leadership can have on the industry.”
A percentage of the revenues generated from Driver’s Advocate will also be returned to Northwood University.
For more information, go to this website.
Here’s another way your dealership staff can highlight a vehicle from General Motors, including some that are certified pre-owned: Explain how they can order coffee from inside the car, truck or crossover that’s equipped with the automaker’s embedded 4G LTE connectivity.
Starting Wednesday, GM is rolling out a platform for on-demand reservations and purchases of goods and services. With Marketplace, drivers can now order and pay for their favorite coffee — and much more — on the way to work with a simple tap on the dash.
Marketplace can allow customers to order food, find the closest gas station to save on fuel and make dinner reservations on the go. The OEM insisted this development means Marketplace gives drivers of eligible Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles the opportunity to more safely interact with a growing number of their favorite brands in retail, fuel, hospitality, food, hotel and transportation through the in-vehicle touchscreen.
Leveraging 4G LTE connectivity, GM is adding Marketplace to millions of existing 2017 and 2018 model year cars, trucks and crossovers that have compatible infotainment systems, with continued rollout to compatible new vehicles. A separate data plan is not required to use Marketplace.
As the automaker mentioned in the video here and in the window at the top of the page, the first brands accessible through Marketplace include:
—GM lets customers buy 4G LTE Data packages, extend their OnStar subscription or receive offers for certified service, parts and accessories for their specific vehicle.
—Starbucks offers another convenient way for customers to order ahead and enjoy their favorite handcrafted beverage or food item. And as part of the Starbucks Rewards program, members enjoy more value by earning Rewards towards free food and drink.
—Dunkin’ Donuts will help customers start their day off right through an experience that allows DD Perks members to preorder and pay onscreen for their favorite coffee and donut, at their preferred pickup location.
—Wingstop will allow you to skip the wait by re-ordering your favorites and paying ahead, so you can get home in time for the big game
—TGI Fridays will let customers schedule a table reservation for them and their closest friends and family when they need a break from the week.
—Shell will enable the exceptional driver experience, providing ease of payment and savings with INSTANT GOLD STATUS in the Fuel Rewards program. Customers’ closest Shell station will be identified and station amenities showcased among the largest fuel station network in the U.S., with the ability to pay in-dash coming soon.
—ExxonMobil will quickly locate Exxon and Mobil fuel stations with details of what they offer, route you there and get you back on the road faster.
—Priceline.com gives drivers access to hundreds of thousands of hotels and exclusive hotel savings on the go.
—Parkopedia allows drivers to find, reserve and pay for parking, all at the click of a button.
—Applebee’s ensures customers are never too far from Eatin’ Good in the Neighborhood whether close to home or miles away with the ability to locate their nearest restaurant, order featured menu items and reorder recent favorites through the convenience of their vehicle’s touchscreen.
—IHOP makes it easy for guests to enjoy hot, fresh all-day breakfast favorites like fluffy buttermilk pancakes on the go, thanks to safe and secure on-dash ordering and location service capabilities that help search and find the nearest restaurant for pickup.
—delivery.com empowers the neighborhood economy by enabling customers to order online from their favorite local restaurants, wine and spirits shops, grocery stores and laundry and dry-cleaning providers.
“The average American spends 46 minutes per day on the road driving. Leveraging connectivity and our unique data capabilities, we have an opportunity to make every trip more productive and give our customers time back,” said Santiago Chamorro, vice president for global connected customer experience at GM. “Marketplace is the first of a suite of new personalization features that we will roll out over the next 12 to 18 months to nearly four million U.S. drivers.”
To allow merchants to integrate their content as part of the in-vehicle Marketplace ecosystem, GM is working with three main platform partners: Xevo, Conversable and Sionic Mobile.
In addition to improving the in-vehicle experience, Marketplace's seamless in-vehicle connectivity can allow merchant partners to extend their customer relationships into millions of vehicles, where drivers and passengers spend hundreds of hours each year. Marketplace also can leverage real-time interaction data such as location, time of day, etc., as well as Xevo’s strong merchant partnerships and years of automotive software expertise in vehicle applications, cloud and mobile software, machine learning, and data analysis to deliver a highly-personalized experience that makes time spent in the car more productive and enjoyable.
Xevo’s partnership with IBM augments Xevo’s solution by enabling in-vehicle experiences powered by IBM Watson for Marketplace and other automotive OEMs.
“Connected cars are the future of the automotive industry, and a personalized journey is the future of the automotive user experience. Marketplace enables smarter, safer, more productive journeys so that GM can deliver the tailored services their customers really want,” Xevo chief executive officer Dan Gittleman said.
“Marketplace simplifies people's daily lives by helping them make the most of their time. By combining Xevo’s artificial intelligence, car, cloud, and mobile expertise with General Motors, we have delivered a powerful solution that improves the driving experience, while also helping merchant brands strengthen customer loyalty and increase satisfaction,” Gittleman went on to say.
Fastlane recently announced it will enter the independent and used-car dealer market in January.
An e-commerce platform that gives automotive dealerships the ability to customize their online check-out processes, Fastlane facilitates an online car buying process that both showcases dealers’ available inventory and allows customers to acquire financing, service contracts and insurance.
With an initial focus on franchised dealership groups since its launch earlier this year, the company said it will enter the independent and pre-owned car dealership segment aggressively next year.
“We get numerous inquiries from independent and used-car dealers online and at trade shows, and now we have a product tailored and reasonably priced for these types of dealerships,” Fastlane vice president of sales David Luce said in a news release.
“There are nearly 30,000 independent dealerships in the U.S. market, representing 35-40 percent of the vehicles sold online. With online sales now being a key dynamic in the auto market, we believe our platform is uniquely positioned to help independent and used-car dealers stay competitive,” Luce continued.
Additionally, key tasks associated with the car buying process that Fastlane takes care of include: year, make, model, specifications and price information on each vehicle; warranty and service contract options; aftermarket product options; trade-in evaluations and accurate retail and lease payment information.
“We built Fastlane knowing that the online car-buying process typically differs from dealer to dealer and from region to region,” Fastlane chief executive officer Brandon Hall said.
“Our technical teams work closely with each dealer to determine how their online car buying experience should work. Then we configure it to their satisfaction. It’s a win-win that makes online purchasing easy for car dealers and their customers,” he said.
Fast-food restaurants and gas stations often are open 24 hours a day. Darwin Automotive is aiming to provide a way that dealerships’ F&I offices can enjoy the same kind of availability.
F&I software provider Darwin Automotive recently released what the company dubbed Darwin Online, a patented digital retailing application that’s designed to enable dealerships worldwide to process online transactions with a fully functional F&I department that’s open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Darwin Automotive chief executive officer Phillip Battista said this solution can deliver while protecting dealership profitability and providing accuracy and transparency to the online consumer.
“I am extremely excited about the release of Darwin Online. This is big news for the auto industry. Finance and insurance represents 30 to 40 percent of overall profitability and is critical to the lifeblood of the dealership. Now, dealers can sell it all 24/7 — service contracts, tire and wheel protection, paint protection — you name it, just by adding a simple widget to any or all their websites,” Battista said in a news release.
“With Darwin Online, dealers can rest assured that their profitability is protected. It provides accurate, transparent information to the online consumer utilizing a nationwide database of incentives with both lease and retail rates. It also has its own proprietary 50 state tax databases. We provide the missing link that enables a full online vehicle sales transaction,” Battista added.
The company highlighted Darwin Online can interface with more than 142 different product providers and can allow dealerships to control their profitability and disclosure. It interacts with all dealership websites without any need for DMS integration. The platform can provide accurate payments that match the dealership’s DMS to the penny.
With Darwin, the needs of a consumer are paramount in determining which products and services can best fit those needs. And with Darwin Online, this “needs discovery” can happen before they step into the dealership — right from their mobile device, 24/7.
Darwin Online was created by a team of F&I software pioneers that brought one of the first electronic menus to market, MenuVantage, and was constructed to do than just automate the interview. It uses a combination of algorithms to analyze in real time the customer’s answers to a set of needs-discovery questions, deal information, previous ownership history and any other details stored in the dealership’s DMS.
Then, through predictive analytics, the tool can produce a driver’s needs analysis, which scores F&I products based on the buyer’s need and the likelihood the customer will purchase those protections.
The analytics also contain the customer’s prior ownership history, information on the vehicle’s warranty, and other deal factors. Darwin Automotive emphasized this information about why the customer will need the product is critical to the education of the online consumer.
“Over 2,000 auto dealers nationwide have boosted F&I profitability with Darwin. They, along with the entire automotive industry, will now also benefit from a seamless buying experience from customers on the web,” Battista said.
“Consumers have been waiting for a transparent, accurate buying experience, while dealerships longed to have software designed by car people that will protect their profitability. Darwin Online is the first system to accomplish both goals,” he went on to say.
For more information or to schedule a product demonstration call (732) 781-9010 or visit www.darwinautomotive.com.
CarMax announced Tuesday it has expanded its commercial relationship with RepairPal and made a minority investment of $5 million as the lead in a new round of financing for the auto service and repair provider.
CarMax had already been partnering with RepairPal for several months, offering its Los Angeles customers increased repair service options, according to CarMax.
“CarMax led the way in providing trust and transparency in car buying, selling and ownership, and our relationship with RepairPal gives us the opportunity to further enhance the customer experience. CarMax president and chief executive officer Bill Nash said in a news release.
“The RepairPal Certified network, combined with CarMax’s own nationwide staff of highly qualified technicians, ensures that our customers have timely options for all their service and repair needs,” Nash continued.
In addition to the $5 million dollar investment, as part of its newly expanded partnership, CarMax said customers will have access to the RepairPal Certified shop network that is designed to provide drivers with quality and fair-priced service and repair locations.
RepairPal’s network of auto repair shops offer a minimum 12-month/12,000-mile warranty on repairs.
“CarMax’s commitment to creating a great customer experience makes them an ideal partner as we continue to build out our network of trustworthy mechanics who deliver fair pricing and service excellence,” added RepairPal chief executive officer Art Shaw.
RumbleOn announced Monday that it has named Peter Levy its new senior vice president of dealer services to oversee the development of the company’s dealer network and the rollout of its dealer-to-dealer Internet marketplace.
Over 25 years, Levy has taken on leading roles in sales, marketing and consulting at several technology-driven businesses, which include startups that capitalized on technology to gain market share, according to RumbleOn.
“We are excited to have Peter join our expanding team,” RumbleOn founder and chief executive officer Marshall Chesrown said in a news release.
“Given his impressive industry background, including his work at Integrated Auction Solutions, we believe he will make a significant and immediate contribution in our effort to, as a Company, create the most trusted brand and efficient online marketplace and distribution system in the recreational vehicle market," he said.
At Integrated Auction Solutions, an independent auto auction simulcast provider, Levy held a senior management position, according to RumbleOn.
“I am very excited to be a member of the RumbleOn management team in supporting the rapid expansion of the Company,” added Levy. “I have spent many years in the information services industry, and I view RumbleOn as an opportunity second to none.”
Alliance Inspection Management (AiM) recently launched AiMCertify.com for vehicle buyers and sellers.
AiMCertify.com offers tiered inspection solutions — starting as low as $129 — for used vehicle shoppers and sellers through four product offerings: AiM Preferred, AiM Plus, AiM Premier and AiM Commercial. Each package includes:
—A 150-point inspection
—Bumper-to-bumper interior and exterior evaluation
—A test drive by a professional inspector
—15 or more photos documenting condition
—Online reporting and much more
Vehicle history reports and fluid testing are included in several packages.
All inspection products include a condition report with an “A” to “F” letter grade so buyers can quickly make informed decisions and sellers can list their vehicles with confidence.
In light of recent weather catastrophes such as Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, now is the ample time for consumers be aware of a used car's condition before making a major purchase.
Additionally, Kelley Blue Book has begun a pilot program of AimCertify.com in markets across the U.S. including:
• Los Angeles
• Chicago
• Dallas
• San Francisco
• Boston
• Atlanta
• Tampa, Fla.
• Phoenix
• Seattle
“One of the biggest concerns when purchasing a pre-owned vehicle are underlying issues that might go unnoticed,” AiM senior vice president of sales and marketing Eric Widmer said. “Prospective vehicle buyers can use our services to ensure these items get identified before they pay for the car.
“It is also a good practice for people selling cars to be proactive and get a third-party inspection as this creates a trustworthy sales experience for both parties,” Widmer continued. “With used-car sales at an all-time high, we’ve launched AiMCertify.com to provide a solution for used car shoppers that want to have an independent verification of the condition of a car before making the purchase and sellers who want to address items before they list their vehicle for sale.”
AiMCertify.com inspections use the company’s proprietary software, hardware and training to ensure consistent high-quality and accurate condition reports. AiMCertify.com condition reports are designed to increase buyer confidence and reduce the time it takes to sell a vehicle. AiM’s more than 1,400 full-time vehicle inspectors operate throughout the U.S., enabling AiM to address the more than 10 million vehicles bought and sold in the peer-to-peer market.
For more information please visit AiMCertify.com.
Manheim announced Friday it will deliver an omni-channel experience through its new Marketplace that brings together all channels into one integrated destination for buyers and sellers.
The omni-channel experience will provide wholesale vehicle buyers and sellers increased opportunities to connect and transact business, according to Manheim.
“We’re well on our way to creating a first-of-its-kind, omni-channel experience that will offer many touchpoints and more effectively meet the needs and preferences of buyers and sellers,” Manheim Digital Marketplaces and RMS Automotive president Nick Peluso said in a news release.
“Next year, Manheim will do even more to bring integrated solutions and value-added experiences to Manheim’s audience of buyers and sellers – the largest in the industry.”
The development of Manheim’s new Marketplace began in 2014 with the company’s $400 million multi-year initiative to transform its auction operations.
In addition to being able to easily add on services to increase velocity, according to Manheim several of its Marketplace solutions that have already been integrated have allowed dealers to search inventory across OVE, Manheim.com and OEM-specific marketplaces.
“Manheim’s vision is to transform our operations into a seamless, 24/7 marketplace that enables our clients to buy and sell vehicles and solutions effortlessly,” added Grace Huang, president of Manheim Inventory Solutions. “The strength of Manheim and its connection to other Cox Automotive brands offer the kind of value to dealers and commercial clients that no other company can match.”
The Manheim Marketplace currently supports 58 million unique visits and 10 million unique vehicle listings annually, according to Manheim.
