In this article, we are going to discuss some strategies and services that your dealership can implement to help you evolve and adapt to our changing sales landscape.
Be sure to check out the COVID-19 Services page on our website. We will continue to update this page with helpful programs and services for your dealership.
Virtual Showrooms
The trend for virtual showrooms has been growing since well before this pandemic hit. In a recent email from Dealer eProcess, they cited the following statistics: THE FACTS ON DIGITAL RETAILING - Source: Dealer eProcess
85% would rather start or complete the purchase online
83% of customers want to do more steps of the purchase online
71% of customers get information about the deal online
17% of customers like the existing retail process
How Well Is Your Virtual Showroom Working?
Let’s be honest, some customers will continue to physically come to your dealership as things get back to normal - especially since many people will be ready to get out of the house by then. As a result, you need a solution that will help you to effectively run your virtual showroom while still enabling the effective use of your physical sales team. How can you accomplish that?
“Many people are coming to the end of their leases.”
Check out our E-Quote product (click here). It enables you to send a quote in less than a minute while increasing lead responses and engagement. This tool provides real-time notifications and customer engagement and seamless CRM integration. With many people coming up on the end of their leases, this is a great way to follow up. There is currently a one-month free trial for this program.
Dealer eProcess is offering current customers Chat Unlimited as well as their digital retailing tool, SARA for FREE during this time. To sign up or learn more click here.
Don’t Forget Fixed Ops
We know that when the economy takes a hit, people hang onto their vehicles longer. That means more trips to their favorite local service department. So how can you make sure that YOUR service department gets their business? Learn how by clicking here.
Why should you give serious consideration to how you are marketing your fixed operations? First, your digital marketing ROI is much higher for service inventory items than it is for car sales inventory. Additionally, 85% of customers are more likely to buy where they get their vehicle serviced. This gives you the additional opportunity to sell more cars through the side of your building.
New Inventory Photos and Videos
Many dealerships are now taking advantage of various options to replicate or clone new car images for their inventory. This is a great way to make your advertising dollars go farther. Right now, we are offering our LESA customers to use our Automotive Image Multiplier program for their new car videos and photos for FREE during this pandemic. To take advantage of this offer click here.
Programs That Add Value to Your Pre-Owned Inventory
SiriusXM has a pre-owned program that is FREE to use. This program enables all of your satellite-equipped pre-owned vehicles to be activated with an All Access trial subscription. The trial subscription remains in effect for 3-months after SiriusXM receives the vehicle sold record from the dealership. SiriusXM sponsors this program at no cost to your dealership or your customers. Learn more.*
Get the Actual Build Data for all or specific pre-owned vehicles in your inventory. This information can be used for purchasing vehicles from auction, verifying trade-in details, and for defending the gross on your sales. For more information, click here.
Working Together
We are already seeing temporary closures of many dealerships as the regulations for what is an “essential business” tighten in various locations. In other areas, the lack of customers is causing a need for temporary closures. If you find yourself in that position, we want to assure you that we are in this together. Fast Company and many other vendors are working hard to be as flexible as possible to ensure that these closures don’t hurt your dealership any more than it has to.
If you are one of our customers and need to discuss options so that you don’t accumulate additional fees while you are closed, please email us at Support@fastcompanyus.com or contact us by phone at (775) 783-3400.
By doing what we can to help each other now, we will get through this together. We would love to hear your comments on what services would help you now, and what services will be helpful to you as things get moving again?
Here are a few service ides to think about:
Assistance with washing cars.
Training for your photographer/videographer.
A free digital audit.
Let’s get the conversation started and see how we can help each other to not only get through this but to come back stronger!
*If you are already enrolled in the SiriusXM Dealer Program and need a service provider, contact us to see if we have someone locally to assist you with activation at your lot (there is NO charge to your dealership for this service).