Win more sales time
August 8th, 2010 by Richard Aucock
CAR dealers are freeing up more time to spend chasing sales opportunities thanks to online sourcing services.
Being able to secure fresh car stock without leaving the office is proving a big advantage during tough trading conditions, says ecommerce specialist epyx.
The firm’s business development head Ken Trinder says even those who insist on seeing the cars before buying can use online tools to minimize wasted journeys.
‘Really, online buying is changing the role of the dealer used car trader.
‘The person who spent all their time on the road touring auctions and traders is now likely to spend a large part of their time in front of a computer screen.’
As sources of new cars can be searched for, it means car dealers can choose where their cars come from – for example, deciding only to purchase from major leasing companies.
This can help maintain vehicle stock quality.
Being able to set up email alerts is also a tool more and more dealers are starting to use, added Trinder.
Thumbs up from car dealers
Two car dealers who are successfully operating this new mode of car dealering are Lewis James Huddersfield’s Nigel Ham and Adam Caulfield. They set up in 2009 with a tiny team of 3 running the business.
‘We just don’t have the manpower to charge around the country trying to get hold of the stock that we need,’ said Ham. That’s why he increasingly relies on the new car dealer tool of email alerts.
Here, customers who insist on a specific car, in a specific colour, can be secured by being emailed or texted whenever that exact car goes on sale – saving a lot of time and effort in the process.
‘We can set up alerts for the kind of specialist cars that we want to retail – from 911 Turbos to 206 CCs – and bid on them as they appear. It is very simple and very effective.’
How have tools such as the iLink online system from epyx changed how your car dealer does business?