Product discovery and comparison service, PriceCheck, has unveiled a dealer-facing app to supplement its recently added offering, PriceCheck Cars.
Claimed to be the largest product discovery and comparison service on the continent, PriceCheck says the enhancement aims to improve communication between car dealers and potential buyers.
Kevin Tucker, founder of PriceCheck, explains: "The launch of the car dealer app is a game-changer for prospective buyers as well as salespeople and dealerships. The first of its kind in SA, the app links buyers directly to the seller of the vehicle they are interested in."
He adds that for dealers, the customer-centric app minimises the probability of losing leads due to complex 'broken-telephone-type' communication processes and it also allows the sales person to track, manage and improve customer relations and experiences.
Recent research conducted by local social media ad tech company Popimedia, "Digital Influence in South Africa", found that high mobile phone penetration in SA - with 99% owning a mobile phone - is resulting in more consumers.
The report showed shoppers now want to shop in a world that delivers a seamless customer experience between the online and physical retail environments. "While purchases are still predominantly made in brick-and-mortar shops in SA, consumers (76%) are increasingly relying on information from online sources, predominantly via their mobile devices, to make a purchase decision, even while in store," it read.
While 85% of consumers compare prices online and 78% read online product reviews before going to a store to make a purchase, according to the research, 93% of respondents use mobile to research and make purchases mostly in store, while 47% of customers check the price of products online while in store before purchasing.
Tucker agrees, adding: "The use of smartphones and mobile applications has enabled us to bring cutting-edge tech to a mature market. The app has been developed in such a manner where buyers will be able to search through a list of vehicles which fit their requirements and contact the seller by in-app message or the in-app calling feature."
It also features an inventory management tool to manage listings on PriceCheck cars, meaning if a car is sold, it can be removed in the app and it will automatically be removed from the PriceCheck Cars platform - resulting in fewer wasted leads.
There is also an in-app photography wizard to guide the dealer through car photography as well as a leads inbox to showcase all incoming leads from PriceCheck Cars, including messages and phone calls. "Each lead has detailed information about the particular vehicle the buyer is interested in. A mini customer relations manager for taking notes on customer interactions," notes Tucker.
South Africa's new vehicle market seems to be in recovery mode following a dip earlier in the year. In a statement issued earlier this week, the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa said new vehicle sales in 2017 are finally in credit, with total sales of 49 222 new vehicles and a year-on-year growth of 6.7% for the past month.
This growth was mainly driven by improving consumer buying patterns.
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