U.S.-based digital finance solutions provider ChannelNet has inked a deal with Hyundai Capital Canada to create customer lifecycle management programs and dealer portals in Canada for its Hyundai Motor Finance and Kia Motors Finance properties.
“Digital customer experience is the price of entry for selling and retaining customers in today’s auto market,” Paula Tompkins, ChannelNet chief executive officer and founder, said in a news release. “Our digital solutions are designed to connect customers, dealers and brands by intelligently combining data, content and transactions in a way that pays off in ROI from increased revenue as well as customer and operational efficiencies.”
Canadian Hyundai and Kia dealers will have a self-service digital portal via ChannelNet, where they can access resources to retain more customers and trim costs for HCC.
Quorum Information Technologies Inc. announced this week it has successfully implemented its dealership and customer management system in its first Ford dealership in Canada.
The XSELLERATOR system is available to all Ford and Lincoln dealerships in Canada, and Sunset Country Ford agreed to pilot the newly developed Ford integration.
"As the first Ford dealer to use Quorum's XSELLERATOR DMS, we are truly impressed," said Ken Wickstrom, Sunset Country Ford's controller. "Their thorough training, implementation process and team of professionals has made our transition to a new dealership management system far easier than expected.
"Quorum has built integration to Ford in ways that enhance and simplify our business processes as compared to our previous system. The bottom line is that XSELLERATOR is an easy choice for any dealer who wants to bring the advances of modern technology to their dealership," Wickstrom added.
Mark Allen, Quorum's vice president of sales, marketing and services, said, "First, and most importantly, we would like to thank and applaud the team at Sunset Country Ford. Their diligence and assistance with helping make XSELLERATOR a solid DMS for Ford dealers was pivotal to the success we both enjoyed with this implementation.
“We are very excited about the opportunities that entering the Ford market will afford us. It has been a long time since a new Canadian DMS has been introduced to these dealerships, and we look forward to talking to those that are interested in our modern, innovative DMS,” he continued.
CARPROOF Corp. announced this week it has added two new badges to its reports in an effort to make used-car transactions even more transparent.
The VHR company — which was recently purchased by Carfax parent company IHS Automotive — has added Top Condition and Low Kilometers badges to their list of auto sales tools.
The badges, designed to help simplify the used-car buying and selling experience, can be found on the company’s VHR reports and are also available for integration with dealer websites.
- The Top Condition badge tells the consumer the vehicle is in great shape, and is registered as certified pre-owned with no unfixed safety recalls.
- The Low Kilometers badge tells shoppers that the vehicle has been driven less than 18,000 kilometers per year.
"Consumers have told us which attributes are critical to their used car search, and Top Condition and Low Kilometres were ranked very highly in the list," says Ed Woiteshek, president and chief executive officer at CARPROOF. "They don't want to dig around to find this information, and now they don't have to. CARPROOF badges puts these attributes on display, allowing consumers to see at a glance that the vehicle is the right one for them."
"Having a third party confirm this information provides assurance. Assurance builds confidence, and confidence drives sales,” he added.
Consumers often prioritize certain elements when shopping for their next used vehicles, and CARPROOF’s new badges highlights some of these features. .
"These badges are one more step we're taking to encourage transparency in the industry. Dealers that use these badges are showing their customers that they provide all the information available on the vehicle being considered," said Woiteshek. "We want to make it as easy as possible for consumers to find the right car, and for dealers to sell that car with complete transparency. These badges help us do just that."
In a continuing effort to increase transparency in the used-car buying market as well as create new strategic partnerships for the company, CarProof announced this week it has teamed up with British Columbia’s OpenRoad Auto Group.
CarProof and the fast-growing dealer group plan to jointly conduct extensive consumer research in an effort to “define the next-generation used-car buying experience.”
Ed Woiteshek, CarProof’s president and chief executive officer, said, “OpenRoad is the number one automobile retail group in B.C. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with them to develop ideas that may define the path ahead in the used car industry.”
Woiteshek discussed the move in more detail with Auto Remarketing Canada on Tuesday, noting the partnership solidifies OpenRoad’s commitment to CarProof’s products, but also acts as an opportunity to further efforts to research ways to make the used-car buying experience smoother and more efficient for all involved.
“As part of the partnership, we as you know, want our engagement with dealers to not just be about vehicle history reports, but rather about the whole car-buying experience,” he said. “And so it’s really tying all that together. It’s us engaging with them to do some ground-up work with consumers to understand how to make the used-car buying experience easier, more transparent and more fun for consumers.”
CarProof has also partnered with Birchwood Automotive Group and Group Park Avenue to conduct similar research in other provinces.
In fact, CarProof, jointly with Birchwood Automotive Group, plan on releasing the results of their consumer research by the end of the month. At Birchwood, CarProof had seven employees on their lots for a week interviewing customers, “and we got a lot of amazing insights out of that,” Woiteshek said — insight which he hopes leads to a lot of good conversations and recommendations on how to make the buying process easier for used-car buyers.
One of the results of that research is a new "generation" of integration of CarProof VHRs on both the Birchwood and Groupe Park Avenue websites, which pulls information out of the report and makes it more quickly available to consumers.
“That was a result of talking to consumers and seeing how important it is for them to see a vehicle history report online, what kind of feelings they get when they don’t see it, and what would make it easier for them to consume it,” Woiteshek explained.
Woiteshek aims to take a similar approach to initial research with OpenRoad.
“We are doing a similar type thing where we are going to go do voice of the customer work, and really understand the user experience in B.C., and specifically, OpenRoad dealerships. We are going to really focus on the used-car experience online and in-dealership,” he said.
OpenRoad, which launched back in 2000, is one of the most quickly growing dealer groups in Canada and touts over 750 employees representing 12 new-car brands and over 450 used vehicles throughout its 15 stores.
“At OpenRoad, our goal is to take the used-car buying experience to the next level by making the process easier and more transparent while continuing to provide the best service and value for our customers,” said Mark Lin, senior vice president and chief operating officer at OpenRoad. “We’re thrilled to partner with CarProof, Canada’s most trusted company for vehicle history reports to bring new tools and insight to all of our dealerships which will enhance our processes and demonstrate our commitment to providing a superior experience in our pre-owned departments.”
OpenRoad also provides CarProof VHRs on all their used vehicles and is currently piloting CarProof’s Vehicle Valuation Report, which is an appraisal tool aiming to simplify the trade-in process and make it less of a “pain-point” for consumers.
Woiteshek said there have been quite a few large dealer groups who have been in the pilot program for the valuation product for months now, and the reception has been “great.”
“There is a lot of value in the product bringing to dealers, and one of the biggest values is it is creating transparency in the trade-in value,” he said. “That’s a big pain-point for consumers right now that the Vehicle Valuation Report is helping solve.”
CarProof is tentatively planning for a Q1 2016 roll out for the valuation tool.
“Our focus is on building a product that 3,000 dealers in Canada are going to want to use. We are in no rush to get out the door. We are just going to keep iterating on it and making it better until we feel like it’s ready,” Woiteshek said.
What makes OpenRoad, Birchwood and Groupe Park Avenue a good fit for CarProof’s efforts to create strategic partnerships in the industry?
Woiteshek said it’s all about commitment.
“They have got to be willing to roll up their sleeves, engage with us and do the work to figure out how we go get real good feedback from consumers,” he said. “These three dealers are forward-thinking, and they are actually willing to do something about it.
“They want full visibility on what’s working and what’s not working in their business, and we are helping provide that to them so they can map the journey ahead for their customers,” he concluded.
As for whether we can expect more partnership announcements in the future from CarProof, Woiteshek said a few more will be rolling out over the next few months.
He explained this is part of a change in the overall CarProof strategy.
“Our relationship used to be with the used-car manager, which is a great advocate for us, and we need those relationships to be strong, but those are pretty tactical, where what I have been doing this past year is trying to build true strategic partnerships with dealer principles and dealer groups,” he said. “So, you are seeing the first real external announcement we have done on it, but there will be more to come.”
With two months of pilot experience under their belts, the Association of Alberta Registry Agents (AARA) has announced the full-scale launch of its partnership with CarProof to provide free vehicle history reports.
The free vehicle reports, which CarProof says are valued at approximately $40, are available to any Albertan that registers for the AARA’s e-reminder service while registering or renewing their vehicle at a participating AARA office.
“We’re very satisfied with the results of the pilot program and are excited to launch the full-scale partnership,” said Pam Wilson, AARA’s chief executive officer. “CarProof has really stepped up to help increase safety and transparency in our industry. It’s a win for the province, a win for AARA, a win for CarProof and a win for the public at large. The information they are providing, free of charge, lets customers know if their car has previously been in an accident, has an unfixed safety recall and more. Knowing about these issues is the first step to helping consumers drive safer cars and make informed decisions on vehicle purchases. We’re proud to work with CarProof to make Alberta’s roads safer.”
Ed Woiteshek, the president and chief executive officer at CarProof, says the program has already helped thousands of Albertans by raising awareness for outstanding safety recalls and reminding them to get them fixed.
“The pilot program has been a big success,” Woiteshek said. “These free reports are making consumers more aware of information they should be accessing when purchasing a vehicle and during vehicle ownership.”
Data mining and trade-cycle management platform AutoAlert announced two new developments early this week. The company is releasing a French version for dealerships in Quebec, and it is integrating CarProof vehicle history reports for Canadian dealers.
On Monday, AutoAlert reported it is now offering a French version of its sales opportunity platform for Canadian dealers in French-speaking Quebec, which will serve to potentially expand its customer base.
Dealers can use the platform to identify sales and service customers who are in a position to upgrade their vehicle for a similar monthly payment.
"This new French-language version for Quebec dealers enables personnel to use AutoAlert in their native language which will ultimately allow our dealer customers to deliver a more natural customer experience that drives retention," said Tony Rhoades, vice president, product, for AutoAlert.
Come Tuesday morning, AutoAlert issued another announcement highlighting a new partnership with vehicle history company CarProof, made in an effort to better evaluate customer trade-ins.
Now, Canadian dealers using AutoAlert can access CarProof’s vehicle history reports from within the AutoAlert Deal Sheet.
Company management explained this can give appraisers quicker access to details that could work to provide more “compelling” customer presentations, such as open recalls, accidents, repair information and more.
Dealers using the AutoAlert platform will now find the CarProof icon on the AutoAlert Deal Sheet.
The CarProof report can be pulled up live, and also allows dealers in British Columbia to auto upgrade to the BC Claims report.
"Built-in access to CarProof is a must-have for our subscribing Canadian dealers, since many of them use CarProof reports at acquisition and in other aspects of their used-car operations," Rhoades said.
Two huge names in the vehicle leasing business in Canada have joined forces.
Groupe Park Avenue announced this week a joint venture partnership with Vancouver-based fleet management company Jim Pattison Lease.
Through the new partnership Jim Pattison will become a lead partner in Montreal-Based Location Group Park Avenue, which is one of the largest in-house leasing businesses in Quebec.
The companies explained the joint venture will be led by Jim Pattison Lease, along with the support of management at Location Group Park Avenue — which will now be officially known as Location Park Avenue — Jim Pattison Inc.
The partnership will form the second largest in-house leasing business in Quebec, with approximately 4,100 leased and managed vehicles.
Financial terms of the new partnership were not disclosed.
Norman E. Hebert, president and chief executive officer of Groupe Park Avenue, said, "Jim Pattison is an ideal Canadian partner for Groupe Park Avenue, sharing the same strong entrepreneurial values and commitment to customer service. Thanks to this partnership, we can now focus on continuing to grow our retail automotive business organically and through strategic acquisitions, while ensuring that our corporate leasing business flourishes and stays 100 percent. Canadian-owned.”
The company explained customers of Location Park Avenue will now benefit from Jim Pattison Lease’s national presence and enhanced fleet support and service programs.
"This is an exciting opportunity for our company and thanks to Location Park Avenue's established presence, strong team of employees and market know-how, Jim Pattison Lease can leverage its national scale and fleet programs to successfully grow our presence in the Quebec market," said Steve Akazawa, president of Jim Pattison Lease.
"We look forward to supporting current and prospective customers, maintaining the same levels of excellent customer service as well as providing Quebec businesses with access to an enhanced product offering," he added.
Group Park Avenue was founded over 55 years ago and employs about 750 people in Quebec, while Jim Pattison Lease is Canada's largest privately-owned fleet management and leasing company with over 29,000 leased and managed vehicles across the country.
CarProof Corp. and The Association of Alberta Registry Agents (AARA) have announced a new partnership that aims to provide Albertan drivers with all the information they many need regarding their vehicles.
Now, in an effort to promote transparency and safety awareness, AARA will be offering free CarProof reports at the time of vehicle registration and renewal.
The factor behind the partnership? It was born out of a shared opinion that road safety in the province was “in need of improvement,” especially in light of the recent influx of vehicle safety recalls.
According to CarProof, there are currenty about 3 million vehicles being driven on Alberta roads, and close to a half-million of those have an open safety recall.
Furthermore, the company found that of the 450,000 vehicles purchased each year by Albertans, over 200,000 are bought without proper disclosures on the history of the vehicle.
“To put it simply,” says Ed Woiteshek, president and chief executive officer at CarProof, “Over one in seven cars on the road in Alberta have been deemed unsafe to drive by their own manufacturer, and nearly half of Alberta’s used car transactions are occurring without the proper sharing of critical information. This needs to change.”
Beginning this fall, Albertans that visit participating Alberta Registry Agents will be eligible to receive a free CarProof report, in in addition to receiving AARA registration e-reminders.
The program is currently running with a select group of pilot AARA locations with plans for a province-wide roll-out in the coming weeks, according to CarProof.
The partnership and new program is designed to keep Alberta drivers up to speed on the latest safety recalls and other critical data about their vehicles.
CarProof management shares it also aims to increase awareness of the role that VHRs play in the used-car buying and selling process, and the capability they have to increase transparency between buyer and seller.
“We’re very excited to launch this initiative,” said Pam Wilson, CEO at AARA. “Automotive dealers across the country have been relying on CarProof for their vehicle history needs for over a decade. It’s time we get these reports into the hands of Albertans and give them the opportunity to purchase and drive safe, reliable cars.
“Every Albertan driver visits an AARA location to renew or register their license plate, so by offering free CarProof reports at this point of transaction we are hoping to drastically improve driver awareness and overall road safety in the province.”
Transparency has been top-of-mind for CarProof and the industry as a whole as many work to increase trust between buyers and sellers in the used-car market.
Since CarProof announced the “The Transparency Advantage,” or TTA, an industry think tank committed to innovation and forward movement in the automotive market this past spring, the company has been involved in numerous projects to promote trust in the used-car business.
For example, in August, CarProof announced that as part of an effort to increase transparency in the used-car space and to help vehicle owners regain confidence in their car’s safety, it began offering all Manitoban car owners a free vehicle history report, due to the high amount of vehicles on the road with open recalls in that province.
And earlier this month, the company announced the addition of easy to read badges to its reports as an attempt to improve readability and simplify transparency.
The new badges aim to make it easy for car buyers to identify key attributes they may be looking for in a used vehicle, examples being accident free or one-owner vehicles.
Marketing and advertising solutions provider Jumpstart Automotive Group announced the official launch of its group in Canada on Wednesday.
Labeled as the Jumpstart Automotive Group Canada, the announcement coincided with the group’s further announcement of its exclusive advertising partnership with Canadian Black Book.
"We are thrilled to launch Jumpstart Automotive Group Canada,” said Choon Choi, senior vice president, strategy and business development at Jumpstart. “We see a tremendous opportunity to help automotive marketers connect with in-market car shoppers and to bring our portfolio of trusted brands to the second-largest audience in North America. We are proud to represent CanadianBlackBook.com, one of the most recognized and respected auto research sites in Canada."
Brad Rome, Canadian Black Book’s president, commented on the partnership.
"Jumpstart is an expert at developing innovative, high-performance marketing programs for automotive advertisers,” Rome said. “When this expertise and innovation is combined with our unique vehicle valuation offering, both consumers and advertisers will benefit. This will strengthen our mission to deliver the tools and information to help consumers make a smart and informed vehicle purchase decision."
Adding Canadian Black Book, Jumpstart's combined audience eclipses four million unique visitors. The Canadian group will be headquartered in Toronto with its new head of sales, Justin Oborne, who joins Jumpstart from TC Media, where he served as the director of business development.
"Based on my experience in both the U.S. and Canadian market, I'm excited – and honored – to take what is already a successful U.S. company and help Canadian marketers sell more cars," Oborne said.
A division of Hearst Magazines, Jumpstart’s scope includes names such as Car and Driver, Canadian Black Book, U.S. News Best Cars, NADAguides, J.D. Power Autos, Autobytel, Daily News Autos, CarGurus, LeftLane, CarSoup and CarBuzz.
For more information, visit the JAGC website here.
The subprime market in Canada is growing at a rapid rate, and companies in the space are beginning to respond to this ever-expanding piece of the auto industry.
In fact, subprime lender Newstart Financial Inc., operating as O/A NewstartCanada.com, announced it is looking for an equity partner in an effort to meet the increased demand for growth.
The company, a mid-tier subprime car leasing and consumer finance company, reported late last week it is working with Mark Borkowski of Mercantile Mergers and Acquisitions, to seek out an appropriate equity partner.
"We are excited to find the right partner to help us grow Newstart Canada. Unbankable Canadians from coast-to-coast deserve the chance to borrow at affordable rates," said Dave Baker, founder and president of Newstart Canada.
Newstart, which specializes in microloans, aims to provide peer-to-peer lending to Canada’s “unbankable.”
Since 2007, the company has provided over 3,800 microloans with an average loan amount of $5,500 financed over 28 months.
Now, the company’s loaned amount has exceeded over $21 million with a 76 percent success rate, according to the company.
“The 8-year track record has supported investor returns of 8 to 12 percent, while balancing a bad debt rate of 15 percent,” company management explained.
In light of this success, the company is now ready to scale its operating across Canada.
The company has also built a customer care software system, through which online Web applications are processed, approved and documented through an automated process.
The company explained though customer care is handled by its customers care coaches, administrative functions are streamlined through a centralized in-house server, in an effort to simplify the application process for customers.
For more information on the growing subprime company, see www.newstartcanada.com.
