There is a big difference between researching online and buying online. Let us explain.
While most of your website visitors are there to do their pre-purchase research, only 5% of them are actually ready to finalize that purchase online. Studies have been clear. Car buyers want to research from home, and buy from the dealership.
These tools work with a business’ current technology and processes, helping provide potential customers with information that makes them more informed and confident in the purchase they’re about to make, so when they arrive at your dealership, they know you, they trust you, and they’re ready to buy.
These tools introduce new technology and processes to a business, helping customers arriving on a website ready to buy to complete their purchase without leaving their home.
Many e-commerce solutions claim to be a digital retailing tool, but once the consumer clicks to get an answer to their research question, they are taken into an e-commerce flow which is not what they were looking for, or expecting. The customer has still not received their trade-in value, they haven’t uncovered their credit score, but they have found themselves in a poor customer experience and have possibly developed a distaste for the dealership that took them there.
They want insight into their financial situation and how it will impact their vehicle purchase down the road. They are not ready to buy.
Your website is your opportunity to make a positive first impression on these online shoppers and develop a relationship based on trust. Make sure that the tools on your website are fulfilling their promises.
If they promise a trade-in value, make sure they deliver a trade-in value. Seems simple, right?
Helps consumers research online. Digital retailing tools support your sales staff and work within your current dealership processes and technology.
Functions performed in 30-60 seconds.
Digital retailing tools provide information ranges (trade-in value range, credit range etc), not set numbers. This leaves the dealer in control of the final numbers used in the deal.
95% of the car buyers visiting your website want to research their purchase online, then finalize the sale in the dealership.
Digital retailing tools are available to support every stage of the buying journey, and are accessible on every page of a dealer’s website.
AutoVerify tools are mobile-optimized, meaning they have been designed to scale to any mobile device on the market. This provides a better customer experience.
AutoVerify guarantees 3X ROI*, every single month!* You will never be asked to sign a contract, and our integrations are fast and simple.
Focused on facilitating and closing the sale, allowing the customer to finalize their vehicle purchase online.
This goes outside of the dealership’s current process, working around the sales staff. Before going this route, ensure your team is trained to handle a process that does not include them.
Takes anywhere from 20-45 minutes to complete, which is more time than many of your website visitors plan to spend on your site.
E-commerce tools offer specific interest rates and trade-in values – they have to in order to close a deal. This leaves the technology in control of the final numbers used in the deal.
Only 5% of car buyers are ready to close a deal online. Most are visiting your website to research a purchase that will happen at a dealership.
E-commerce tools are only accessible via the VDPs on your website. You may see them advertised as a banner elsewhere on the site, but that’s not the same as having dedicated real estate on the homepage.
Most e-commerce tools are mobile-friendly rather than mobile-optimized.
E-commerce tools do not guarantee ROI, plus they require annual contracts and lengthy integration periods
By allowing customers to pull their credit rating before applying for financing, dealers can focus on showing customers vehicles they can afford, providing a better customer experience at the dealership.
With all this knowledge, here are some questions to ask yourself as you choose a digital retailing vendor:
Reviewing this information and getting familiar with the differences between researching online and buying online will help you make the decisions that are right for your dealership, your staff and your customers. If you still have questions, please reach out to the AutoVerify team.
We’re happy to help.
*The ROI guarantee applies to your monthly software fee and not any pass-through integration fees, credit lead charges, setup fees or other miscellaneous charges. The guarantee is based on a 90-day data sharing agreement.
See AutoVerify in action here.
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