As dealers ease out of lockdown, we’re seeing a jump in demand for recently introduced iVendi technology that allows car, van and motorcycle retailers to offer an online reserve-and-collect model.
The reservation feature in our CONVERT product allows consumers to gain first refusal over a vehicle by making a small payment online. This removes it from sale for a time period specified by the dealer, who also receives an alert.
This highly-qualified lead is then presented in the dealership’s iVendi platform, giving the user a number of options including potentially generating digital deals for the customer to complete the purchase.
James Tew, CEO at iVendi, said: “We launched this feature in February with the intention that it would allow dealers to provide a new way of giving consumer a new means to progress a sale online, especially out-of-hours. Of course, as we emerge from lockdown, it has taken on a whole new significance as dealers look to adopt reserve-and-collect trading models. As a result, we are receiving many calls from dealers and sales are picking up.
“This is happening in England, as showroom doors are opening, and it seems safe to assume that similar patterns will be followed in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, using a model of online sales accompanied by reserve-and-collect.”
He added that, over the last few weeks, there had been high levels of interest in not just CONVERT but many different kinds of online motor retail technology - and high levels of confusion as a result.
“There is a lot of noise in the market at the moment, with many companies understandably promoting many different kinds of online solutions. It’s not an ideal environment for dealers who need to make fast decisions that may have a very real impact on the future of their business.
“What we are trying to do, instead of selling the dealer the first thing in which they express an interest, is to talk about how they are reshaping their trading model in response to the current crisis, and then see what kind of technology they need. There is a definite need for support, guidance and expertise.”