Participating dealers can now use iMR Match Funds for the ELEAD1ONE Xchange Tradeup Program

ATLANTA, GA – May 26, 2017– ELEAD1ONE today announced that General Motors has approved ELEAD1ONE Xchange for the GM Dealer Technology Assistance Program (DTAP.)

Xchange uses intelligent data and equity mining technology triggered by service drive activity and DMS sales to bridge the gap between sales, service, and marketing. It provides a comprehensive customer acquisition and retention platform that connects dealers with consumers in a smarter way to build loyal relationships, increase market share and overall profitability. All GM dealers who are part of this program can now use iMR funds for Xchange.

In 2016, General Motors also approved ELEAD1ONE as an online service schedule vendor for its dealer’s digital marketing sites, which is eligible for reimbursement through GM’s Parts iMR Program. The SERVICE1ONE Online Scheduler solution allows consumers to shop for repair services and schedule appointments anytime, anywhere.

“We are excited to expand our relationship with GM dealers with the approval of our equity mining tool Xchange. GM dealers can now intelligently target and connect with the right customers, at the right time, using equity mining tool with direct marketing products to increase retention and profitability,” stated Bill Wittenmyer, Partner with ELEAD1ONE, a division of Data Software Services, L.L.C.

With Xchange, dealers can target customers who are a) in-equity or in a likely position to get into a newer vehicle with a lower or comparable payment; b) at risk of exceeding their contracted lease mileage; c) near the end of their manufacturer warranty; d) near the end of their loan or lease term; or e) service customers driving vehicles not purchased from that dealership.

For more information call 855.995.8571, email GMSales@eleadcrm.com, or visit: www.elead-crm.com/gm-dealer-demo/

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ABOUT ELEAD1ONE

ELEAD1ONE, the benchmark in automotive software, helps dealers bridge the gap between sales, service, and marketing operations. The company’s automotive-only contact center, CRM, and service drive technologies are the foundations of their unique suite of products that drive its clients forward through strategic business advantage.  Headquartered in Georgia, ELEAD1ONE has over 1,500 employees nationwide and serves more than 8,000 dealerships across the United States and Canada, including six of the top ten dealer groups.

ELEAD1ONE continues to lead the industry standard by providing insight to the community, identifying trends, and through the continuous development of personalized retail solutions that help dealers operate more profitably. For more information, visit our Website, like us on Facebook, YouTube, or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

Media Relations:
Melissa Maxey, Director of Marketing
Melissa.Maxey@eleadcrm.com

(866) 444-7923

ELEAD1ONE partner Bill Wittenmyer shares insight into how to set service advisors up for success with a few small terminology changes.

A short vlog from ELEAD1ONE's own Bill Wittenmyer on Dealerships Service Departments vs Independents.

In the past several months, I have examined and highlighted the important phases of the journey that customers travel; their shopping patterns, their buying experience, and now their ownership period.  Arguably, the ownership experience may be the most important phase of the journey.  It will determine the likelihood of your customers doing business with you in the service drive, returning to buy additional vehicles from you, and referring their family and friends to you for both.   Considering that referrals close at 55% and return customers close at 60%, this ownership period demands attention.

Imagine how a high-quality and positive customer relationship with a car buyer who owns a vehicle for an average of six years will translate into a heightened lifetime value. The relationship’s good standing will not only increase their loyalty, but also overcome any negative experiences encountered in their shopping and buying journeys.  So what are some processes you can implement to improve the ownership experience and increase customer loyalty?

Mobile App

If you offer a dealer-branded mobile app to your customers, it should do more than target automotive shoppers.  Today’s consumers want an easy and fast way to manage the servicing of their vehicles as well.  If they can make a service appointment, be contacted by method of their choice when their vehicle is ready for pick up, view their service history, perhaps even browse your inventory while they are waiting – all from their smartphone, they will see that you are providing value past the point of just selling them a vehicle.  Create special offers for your mobile app users, or design a loyalty reward program that offers points to offset service pay.

How do you successfully adapt customers to the mobile app business model?  My recommendation to clients is to insert the mobile app download into the vehicle delivery process. Introduce the app in F&I, help the customer download and activate it in their mobile device.  Educating the customer on its dealership-driven value will reduce the chance of a service defection with loyalty points generated at purchase. You are setting the stage for a loyal customer!

What happens if your loyal service customer is thinking about purchasing a vehicle? Consider the convenience of that same loyalty mobile app providing a fast and easy barter-free shopping experience.  A hassle-free way to shop the dealership’s current inventory, value their trade and negotiate a purchase offer.  I believe the entire negotiation process of a car deal is moving toward a remote application, and forward-thinking companies who embrace this technology will see a large increase in service-to-sale retention and brand loyalty.

The Service Lane Contributes Over 40 Percent of Annual Gross Profits

With only one in three drivers committed to an auto service provider, it’s more important than ever to leverage smart, customer-centric service-marketing campaigns that use data inside your CRM and DMS.  Targeted and relevant messaging should connect with consumers in the way that makes most sense for them, from live calls or text messaging to emails and direct mail. For example, your service CRM should integrate with the service advisor’s daily plan to send prediction-based service reminders established by time or mileage, and scheduled in accordance with OEM intervals, as well as DMS events.  Sending automated coupons or incentives to the right person, at the right moment, using the right medium will yield the best return on your investment.  It’s a win/win for everyone.  You will immediately see increased results in service transactions, revenue and market share; and your customers will experience a better method of communication with messages relevant to their needs, keeping them loyal and happy.

Follow-up/Recovery/Retention

Whether you have an in-house BDC, or an outsourced/virtual BDC, make sure that your service customers are being followed up with about their experience.  These calls will offer you invaluable information about areas that may need improvement, as well as offer you additional opportunities to win more business.  Email address confirmation, discussion of driving habits in order to set up better triggers for your campaigns, CSI calls – these bits of information, to name a few, will help your service drive become more customer-centric.

Utilize recovery campaigns to gain back lost customers.  Entice them with special offers to encourage their return to your service department and use the knowledge you gain to prevent further defectors.

Getting your new customers into your service drive for their first appointment after delivery is key.  Examine your process for accomplishing this goal.  Is that first appointment scheduled at delivery?  How are the appointments confirmed?  If the customer does not show, are they followed up with to reschedule?  All of these processes need to be clearly defined and the staff responsible held accountable.

Remember, customers for life!  Are you following up with and supporting the customers who decided not to buy from you?  What did they buy, and is there a chance you could win their service business? Of course, you can!  Just because they buy elsewhere does not mean you should not stay in touch with them regularly and support them.  At the very least, they will remember your name and the level of communication you provided (even though they did not buy from you) when considering their next purchase. Statistics show that 87 percent of customers do not remember their salesperson shortly after leaving the showroom  - even if they bought a car.  Let the salesperson at the competitor from whom they bought be “that guy.”  I practice this even now on the vendor side.  I’ve lost deals to the competition and then closed them years later just by consistently following up.  Remember that it’s not always a sprint.  Sometimes it’s a marathon.

Loyalty from your customers is not to be expected even in the slightest.  You must strive to earn it every single day.  With the tools, technology and talent available to us today, there is no excuse for anything less. 

“Make sure your business is creating an experience so good that it demands loyalty.”  - Steve Maraboli

Good Selling!

In the past several months, I have examined and highlighted the important phases of the journey that customers travel; their shopping patterns, their buying experience, and now their ownership period.  Arguably, the ownership experience may be the most important phase of the journey.  It will determine the likelihood of your customers doing business with you in the service drive, returning to buy additional vehicles from you, and referring their family and friends to you for both.   Considering that referrals close at 55% and return customers close at 60%, this ownership period demands attention.

Imagine how a high-quality and positive customer relationship with a car buyer who owns a vehicle for an average of six years will translate into a heightened lifetime value. The relationship’s good standing will not only increase their loyalty, but also overcome any negative experiences encountered in their shopping and buying journeys.  So what are some processes you can implement to improve the ownership experience and increase customer loyalty?

Mobile App

If you offer a dealer-branded mobile app to your customers, it should do more than target automotive shoppers.  Today’s consumers want an easy and fast way to manage the servicing of their vehicles as well.  If they can make a service appointment, be contacted by method of their choice when their vehicle is ready for pick up, view their service history, perhaps even browse your inventory while they are waiting – all from their smartphone, they will see that you are providing value past the point of just selling them a vehicle.  Create special offers for your mobile app users, or design a loyalty reward program that offers points to offset service pay.

How do you successfully adapt customers to the mobile app business model?  My recommendation to clients is to insert the mobile app download into the vehicle delivery process. Introduce the app in F&I, help the customer download and activate it in their mobile device.  Educating the customer on its dealership-driven value will reduce the chance of a service defection with loyalty points generated at purchase. You are setting the stage for a loyal customer!

What happens if your loyal service customer is thinking about purchasing a vehicle? Consider the convenience of that same loyalty mobile app providing a fast and easy barter-free shopping experience.  A hassle-free way to shop the dealership’s current inventory, value their trade and negotiate a purchase offer.  I believe the entire negotiation process of a car deal is moving toward a remote application, and forward-thinking companies who embrace this technology will see a large increase in service-to-sale retention and brand loyalty.

The Service Lane Contributes Over 40 Percent of Annual Gross Profits

With only one in three drivers committed to an auto service provider, it’s more important than ever to leverage smart, customer-centric service-marketing campaigns that use data inside your CRM and DMS.  Targeted and relevant messaging should connect with consumers in the way that makes most sense for them, from live calls or text messaging to emails and direct mail. For example, your service CRM should integrate with the service advisor’s daily plan to send prediction-based service reminders established by time or mileage, and scheduled in accordance with OEM intervals, as well as DMS events.  Sending automated coupons or incentives to the right person, at the right moment, using the right medium will yield the best return on your investment.  It’s a win/win for everyone.  You will immediately see increased results in service transactions, revenue and market share; and your customers will experience a better method of communication with messages relevant to their needs, keeping them loyal and happy.

Follow-up/Recovery/Retention

Whether you have an in-house BDC, or an outsourced/virtual BDC, make sure that your service customers are being followed up with about their experience.  These calls will offer you invaluable information about areas that may need improvement, as well as offer you additional opportunities to win more business.  Email address confirmation, discussion of driving habits in order to set up better triggers for your campaigns, CSI calls – these bits of information, to name a few, will help your service drive become more customer-centric.

Utilize recovery campaigns to gain back lost customers.  Entice them with special offers to encourage their return to your service department and use the knowledge you gain to prevent further defectors.

Getting your new customers into your service drive for their first appointment after delivery is key.  Examine your process for accomplishing this goal.  Is that first appointment scheduled at delivery?  How are the appointments confirmed?  If the customer does not show, are they followed up with to reschedule?  All of these processes need to be clearly defined and the staff responsible held accountable.

Remember, customers for life!  Are you following up with and supporting the customers who decided not to buy from you?  What did they buy, and is there a chance you could win their service business? Of course, you can!  Just because they buy elsewhere does not mean you should not stay in touch with them regularly and support them.  At the very least, they will remember your name and the level of communication you provided (even though they did not buy from you) when considering their next purchase. Statistics show that 87 percent of customers do not remember their salesperson shortly after leaving the showroom  - even if they bought a car.  Let the salesperson at the competitor from whom they bought be “that guy.”  I practice this even now on the vendor side.  I’ve lost deals to the competition and then closed them years later just by consistently following up.  Remember that it’s not always a sprint.  Sometimes it’s a marathon.

Loyalty from your customers is not to be expected even in the slightest.  You must strive to earn it every single day.  With the tools, technology and talent available to us today, there is no excuse for anything less. 

“Make sure your business is creating an experience so good that it demands loyalty.”  - Steve Maraboli

Good Selling!