Using Mobile Apps as a Retention Tool

John Roth, Internet Director of Roseville Toyota, discussed the use of a dealer app to keep customers coming back to the dealership. “Things are changing,” stated Roth. “Through AutoMotionTV we designed a very good app, a sticky app designed to bring the customer back.”

Dealerships who have implemented the AutoMotionTV Dealer App are able to retain cross-shoppers. Customers tend to use a search engine rather than revisit a dealership's mobile website after their first visit. A mobile app is a constant reminder of vehicle service needs by default as it is located on the customer's home screen on their smartphone. Dealership inventory, specials, contact information, etc. are at the customer's fingertips.

Selling a car isn't the app's only purpose. "You don't want to put an app out there just to buy a car," John Roth explained. "You want to sell a car, but you want people to come back to you when they need oil changes, and you have to be able to do that so they remember you."

Roseville Toyota also uses their dealership app on the sales floor. "It's really neat to see the customer's reaction when a sales person it talking about vehicle stability control and being able to show them in a video on the iPad. When we flip it around they can see how it actually works rather than trying to describe it. People relate to the iPad because they sit at home and play with them."

AutoMotionTV Dealer App Introduces “Dealer App Extensions” at NADA

AutoMotionTV, a leader in mobile apps for dealerships, is set to showcase the flexibility of their dealer app product at the NADA Convention and Expo February 3-6 in Las Vegas. Visit AutoMotionTV at booth #3555.

AutoMotionTV Dealer App Extensions allow dealers to integrate key features into their mobile app. Dealers are using the platform to add roadside assistance, service scheduling, mobile coupons, credit apps, live chat, and many other features to their dealer apps.

Dealer App Extensions can be integrated into any AutoMotionTV Dealer App product at no additional charge.

“We’re excited about the variety of ways our dealers are using Dealer App Extensions to cater to their mobile customer,” stated AutoMotionTV President Ben Anderson. “No one in the industry has built a platform for dealers with this level of flexibility,” Anderson continued. “The sky’s the limit regarding what dealers can provide their customers in a mobile app experience.”

Dealers are using mobile apps to create long term relationships channels with their customers. Roseville Toyota’s Internet Director, John Roth, expressed “If you can make the customer loyal to the brand AND you as a dealership, you’re setting yourself up for future sales.”

This year’s NADA Convention and Expo will be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center and focuses on pushing dealerships to new heights in order to keep up during a challenging and uncertain time.

Scheduling Service with Dealer App

An effective and efficient way to keep in contact with customers regarding service maintenance is through a dealership mobile app. The service department can leverage a dealer app to increase service appointments using push notifications.

Dealers can compose a service push notification message right within the AutoMotionTV backend. When the customer receives this notification they can schedule a service appointment while on the go.

“It is about selling cars, but I believe we’re experiencing a paradigm shift in our business," explained Roseville Toyota Internet Director, John Roth. He continued, “The front end of our business is service. If you can create a great app that causes people to come back (i.e. features such as roadside assistance, service scheduling, coupons) then you are building the relationship with the customer right up front.”

The schedule service feature of the Dealer App is also important to the customer. When a customer is reminded that they need an oil change or other vehicle service they can use the dealership’s app on their phone and click to call service or schedule service right on the app. Using the Service feature, the customer is able to quickly connect with the dealership at their convenience.