Research shows car buyers are visiting dealerships and showrooms less than ever – with average visits before buying a car down from 4.4 to 1.2 in just ten years.
In order to bring the customer back to the dealerships, CitNOW have launched a video service that lets dealers record personal videos about specific cars and customer enquiries and send them via e-mail.
Auto Express decided to see just how easy the new tech is to use, and made our own video for an imaginary customer. Watch the video and see if you can spot our ‘sales executive’ amidst the pros - and then click below to vote using the numbers displayed on the clips!
Alternatively, leave a comment below with the number you want to vote for and why.
New app lets dealers give you a virtual tour
While online configurators and classifieds are part of the reason why less people are visiting dealers, another issue dealerships face is suspicious consumers.
The RAC found one in three car buyers doesn’t trust a particular dealer and 40 per cent of owners quote having problems with their dealership. CitNOW, makers of a new app, believes the biggest issue with the decline in trust and showroom visits is a lack of transparency between the buyer and seller.
The dealerships can record videos of any car a customer asks about, showing it from all possible angles as well as answering any inquiries via the camera.
The new technology is slowly bringing buyers back to the dealerships, and customer satisfaction is rising, too, according CitNOW. CitNOW quote manufacturers stating the video tech has boosted customer satisfaction by more than two per cent. Renewal contracts on finance deals have surged from 25 to 45 per cent after another manufacturer adopted the video tech, too.
With over 2,000 dealers and 24 manufacturers using the system, CitNOW believes all carmakers will start to use videos as part of every day business. More than 12,000 videos are made each week, and the tech is easy enough for anyone wishing to become a 21st century sales executive to pick up.