•  
• Every spring I look forward to the first weekend in May to watch The Kentucky Derby. In this year’s race, Bob Baffert set a record by winning his 7th trophy with the horse Medina Spirit who beat Mandaloun by a ¼ length. It was the closest finish at the Derby since 2005.

The official outcome of the race is still under review, as Baffert was accused of trying to gain an edge with the use of a banned substance. Every advantage counts in horse racing where the prize is so big and the margin of victory so small.

This summer, the new car business is beginning to look a lot like a high stakes horse race, but it’s no longer a race to the customer, it’s a race for inventory.

The supply and demand curve in the new car business has been completely flipped upside down. Demand for new cars is now significantly stronger than supply. We’ve never seen anything like this before in an industry that’s generally swimming in inventory. The microchip shortage has compounded the inventory challenges which began last year when nearly 3M units of production were lost during the Covid factory shutdowns. 

To read more, please visit our site: https://www.coxautoinc.com/learning-center/the-new-car-inventory-derby-of-2021/

ALBANY, N.Y., and NORTH HILLS, N.Y., January 11, 2021 — Auto/Mate, a business unit of DealerSocket, and F&I solutions provider Dealertrack today announce a new integration that connects Auto/Mate’s award-winning Dealership Management System (DMS) to Dealertrack’s Digital Contracting. The real-time data exchange is designed to streamline and automate a dealer's digital contracting process, resulting in seamless contract submission, reduced errors from manual data entry, and faster deal funding.

Auto/Mate users simply log into Dealertrack Digital Contracting and enter the deal number to import the contract information from the DMS and populate the required data fields. All that is left is contract validation, having the customer sign electronically, and submission to the finance source for funding.

"Since the acquisition of Auto/Mate, we have directed significant investments toward streamlining workflows, reducing keystrokes, and addressing what matters most to dealers when it comes to their F&I operations: faster funding and reduced contracts in transit," said DealerSocket Chief Product and Technology Officer Alok Tyagi. "Today's announced integration with Dealertrack Digital Contracting accomplishes all three while giving our customers access to one of the industry's leading providers of digital contracting."

Recent Dealertrack user studies1 reveal that 60% of dealership F&I staff who have not yet adopted an eContracting solution feel DMS integration is the most important capability they lack.

"We view the DMS as the core of a dealer's business and an enabler of everything they do. That's why this integration with Dealertrack is so important, as digital contracting and eContracting represent a critical step toward delivering a digital car-buying experience," said Tony Graham, executive vice president and general manager of Auto/Mate. "Enabling a seamless flow of data while preserving data integrity is equally critical for dealership employees operating in a fast-paced, results-oriented environment, and the elimination of unnecessary paper-pushing and user errors often results in steadier cash flow for the dealer."

Cheryl Miller, vice president of operations for Dealertrack F&I Solutions, added: “With the addition of the Auto/Mate DMS integration, we advance our goal to have as many dealerships as possible benefitting from the ease of use of the completely digital contracting workflow that Dealertrack Digital Contracting can provide.”

Auto/Mate DMS customers must be on Dealertrack uniFI and signed up for the platform's digital contracting enhancement to take advantage of the new integration.

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1 Source: 2019 eContracting/Digital Contracting Research Study; (size=84)

About DealerSocket

DealerSocket is a leading software provider to franchised and independent dealerships in the United States, Canada, and Australia. Our award-winning, innovative software solutions simplify dealership operations and increase efficiency to help dealers grow their business and maximize profitability. Our tools are seamless, easy to use, and designed to meet the needs of dealerships of all sizes — from small operations to the industry’s largest dealer groups. We currently serve 9,000 dealerships and more than 400,000 users with an integrated suite of solutions, including Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Dealership Management System (Auto/Mate DMS and IDMS specifically for independent dealerships), Inventory Management (Inventory+), Websites (DealerFire), Digital Retailing (PrecisePrice), and Data and Equity Mining (RevenueRadar). Our team is dedicated to the success of our dealership customers and strive to offer best-in-class customer service every day. DealerSocket team members are former dealership employees and software industry experts who live by our taglines of “By Car People for Car People” and “We Are Automotive.” For more information, visit DealerSocket.com, or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. 

About Dealertrack

Dealertrack provides industry-leading software solutions that give dealerships and lenders the confidence to thrive in an ever-changing automotive market. The company's integrated suite of powerful but easy-to-use products helps dealerships, lenders, providers, and their partners grow by increasing efficiency and improving decision-making. The Dealertrack Ohio Registration & Titling solution, delivers a unique combination of industry-leading technology, best-in-class service and support, and an unwavering commitment to compliance that can help mitigate margin compression, maximize profitability, and help you deliver the start-to-finish experience your customers expect. Dealertrack is part of the Cox Automotive family, a company that is transforming the way, the world buys, sells, owns and uses cars. Dealertrack — along with its unmatched network of dealership and lending partners — is improving the car buying experience by embracing the technologies that will shape the future of automotive retail. For more information about Dealertrack, visit www.dealertrack.com.

Media contacts:

Greg Arroyo

garroyo@dealersocket.com

m. 323.253.1998

Lisa Aloisio

lisa.aloisio@coxautoinc.com

m. 404.725.0651

Upgraded Search Capabilities Put Customers On A Faster Path To The Right Vehicle

Burlington, Vt., August 31, 2020 – The increase in online car shopping activity demands an upgraded user experience. That’s why Dealer.com is introducing an all-new search results page experience with strategic new upgrades that improve inventory search, browsing and digital tool usage for Dealer.com clients and their customers. Dealer.com’s new search results page (SRP) enhancements help different types of shoppers find the right vehicle faster by guiding them to the critical inventory information they need, and ultimately making it easier for consumers to reach their destination—the vehicle deal page (VDP)—from any device, anywhere.

“Today, nearly every shopper spends time researching cars online with hopes of landing on the perfect VDP, but every customer’s journey is different—from their approach to what device they are using,” said Katie Wilkins, senior director Product Management at Dealer.com. “With this in mind, we built the new SRP experience to drive a faster more convenient path to the right vehicle across all device and shopper experiences.”

Now, shoppers can make more vehicle comparisons and informed selections sooner in the shopping process—no matter the device they are using. The majority of shoppers—82%—engage with search results on a dealership’s website.[1] The features of the new SRP experience benefit customers and dealers alike:

• - A free-form inventory search bar provides multiple ways for consumers to shop and select their vehicle of choice.

- Auto-complete suggestions within the search bar guide shoppers to the right vehicles and attributes.

- Mobile-friendly faceted search means fewer clicks for consumers to reach the vehicle information they want.

- Larger inventory photos and a convenient photo carousel allow shoppers to view multiple photos before visiting the VDP, eliminating back and forth and helping them more quickly identify their vehicle preferences.

- Tabbed Content areas, including standard vehicle specifications, OEM and dealership incentives, and stacked pricing make key inventory details organized and accessible.

- Responsive, redesigned listings deliver a more intuitive user experience. ​

- Flexible list view or grid view design allows consumers to customize their experience.

"What really stood out to us about the new SRPs is that they were created with a mobile first design. They perfectly capture the details the customer is looking for in a clean layout," said Jeffrey Ramsey, eCommerce Director at Jones Junction. "Being able to easily scroll through the images from the SRP has created a more valuable VDP visit. This has led to more leads and a higher percentage of our traffic converting. After spending the time and money it takes to get a customer to our site, you don’t want to lose them when they’re looking for a vehicle. With the easy to use sort and filter functionality, it allows shoppers to navigate our inventory seamlessly. Overall, the new SRPs have improved our customers shopping experience and helped create more sales opportunities for the Jones Junction organization.”

The launch of the new SRP experience will begin in September and is a no-cost upgrade to all Dealer.com customers. For more information on the all-new SRP experience, visit Dealer.com/SRP.

About Dealer.com
Backed by unmatched expertise and unrivaled consumer behavior data, Dealer.com is the premier digital marketing solution for the automotive industry. Providing an integrated platform of Websites, Advertising, Digital Retailing and Managed Services, Dealer.com allows OEMs, dealer groups, retailers and agencies to leverage advanced digital technology, data and insights to deliver the shortest, fastest and most personalized path to customer engagement, delivering over 43M unique visitors monthly across 15,000 plus Dealer.com websites. The company practices a deep commitment to its culture of progress, with a focus on community, health, and wellness. Based in Burlington, Vermont, Dealer.com is a Cox Automotive brand. For more information, visit www.dealer.com.

About Cox Automotive
Cox Automotive Inc. makes buying, selling, owning and using cars easier for everyone. The global company’s 34,000-plus team members and family of brands, including Autotrader®, Clutch Technologies, Dealer.com®, Dealertrack®, Kelley Blue Book®, Manheim®, NextGear Capital®, VinSolutions®, vAuto® and Xtime®, are passionate about helping millions of car shoppers, 40,000 auto dealer clients across five continents and many others throughout the automotive industry thrive for generations to come. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., a privately-owned, Atlanta-based company with annual revenues of $21 billion. www.coxautoinc.com

MISSION, Kan., July 7, 2020 – Many service customers struggle to pay for auto repairs out of pocket, making it difficult for dealerships to sell service recommendations in a way that maximizes fixed ops revenue. In fact, 71% of additional service recommendations and 29% of primary service lines go unsold.[1] To help increase dealer revenue per repair order and provide customers with more flexible service financing, Xtime is integrating with DigniFi to launch FlexPay, an easy-to-use payment option offered directly through the Xtime platform. With FlexPay, dealers can help boost service department revenue while making comprehensive auto repairs more affordable to customers.

“Our research shows 63% of customers are unable to pay for a $500 auto repair out of pocket, so advisors are having difficulty selling not just additional service recommendations, but also regularly scheduled maintenance,” said Tracy Fred, vice president of operations at Xtime.[2] “These unsold services present a missed opportunity that dealers can reclaim by offering a simplified and streamlined service financing process.”

To fill this gap in the market, many forward-thinking dealers have already adopted service financing options to help make vehicle service more accessible to customers and lessen the impact of unexpected repairs on consumers’ budgets. However, until FlexPay, service financing solutions required their own separate systems, complicating the sales process for service advisors and depreciating the customer experience. FlexPay offers a more streamlined service financing option from within a dealer’s existing appointment scheduling and inspection process. The payment option is displayed to consumers at every digital touchpoint throughout the service process.

“Today, making a service experience easy and contactless are the keys to success, so excluding financing solutions as part of the process is no longer optional,” said Richard Counihan, CEO at DigniFi. “By integrating with Xtime to create FlexPay, our dealer clients can provide a better customer experience while enjoying easy processing and potentially higher profitability.”

Dealers will discover the following competitive advantages by offering Xtime’s FlexPay:

• -Increased revenue per repair order: Customers are 76% more likely to make purchases if a simple and seamless payment plan is available, making it easier for advisors to sell primary and additional service recommendations.[3]
• -Simplified service financing sales process: By integrating seamlessly into dealerships preexisting scheduling and inspection systems, FlexPay provides more efficiency through the sales process and a better customer experience.
• -Higher repair order close rates: Xtime’s FlexPay has a consistent presentation of offerings across multiple customer touchpoints that drives wider knowledge of the service financing option and in turn, increases business opportunities for the dealer as well as more comprehensive service for the customer.  

“The option for flexible service financing through Xtime’s FlexPay is a real game changer for a lot of our customers who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford their repair order upfront,” said Jay Helbert, Operations Director at Town East Ford. “It’s also a big advantage for our service advisors who no longer have to toggle between systems to process financing and technicians can perform the full level of service recommendations that they make for a vehicle, which at the end of the day, means better service and a better experience for the customer too.”

Xtime’s FlexPay is currently available at no additional cost to all U.S. Xtime dealers with a DigniFi account through Xtime’s Schedule, Inspect and Engage products. For more information, visit www.xtime.com/flexpay.

About Xtime

Xtime increases customer retention for automotive dealer service departments by using technology to transform the ownership experience. Improving customer satisfaction and retention drives dealer revenue and profitability. Xtime is committed to delivering the experience consumers demand – an experience which emphasizes value, convenience and trust. In 2019, Xtime booked 55 million service appointments and processed more than 100 million repair orders annually. Forty-four global OEMs have chosen Xtime to drive that same type of success for their businesses, converting more than $23 billion in service revenue last year for more than 7,300 dealerships.

About Cox Automotive

Cox Automotive Inc. makes buying, selling, owning and using cars easier for everyone. The global company’s 34,000-plus team members and family of brands, including Autotrader®, Clutch Technologies, Dealer.com®, Dealertrack®, Kelley Blue Book®, Manheim®, NextGear Capital®, VinSolutions®, vAuto® and Xtime®, are passionate about helping millions of car shoppers, 40,000 auto dealer clients across five continents and many others throughout the automotive industry thrive for generations to come. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., a privately-owned, Atlanta-based company with revenues exceeding $20 billion.www.coxautoinc.com

About DigniFi

DigniFi is a platform company that connects consumers with lenders for car repairs, tires, accessories, and other auto-related needs. The automated, contactless process serves up financial products through the point of sale at car dealerships and independent repair shops. DigniFi provides consumers with fixed payment plans from 12 to 36 months. The loans are originated through WebBank, an FDIC-regulated bank. To date, DigniFi has provided access to over $120 million in loans in partnership with more than 5,000 auto service centers. For more information, please visit www.dignifi.com.

Media Contact:

Brenna Buehler
Brenna.Buehler@coxautoinc.com
949-473-6595

Leading Fixed Ops Solution to Provide Dealers Multiple Key Features at No Additional Charge

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., April 2, 2020 - Times are changing rapidly as social distancing measures pose a challenge to day-to-day service department operations and revenue. A dealership’s fixed operations are essential during this time, and there is no greater moment to show resiliency and earn a customer’s business. To help its dealership partners seize the moment, Xtime is offering enhanced resources and multiple key features at no additional charge, helping dealers provide consumers with world-class service experiences in the changing landscape while preparing them for a more digital and profitable future beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The latest numbers from our recent Cox Automotive COVID-19 Dealer Impact Study confirm that dealers anticipate service appointments to be the second most impacted area of business, despite fixed ops being deemed essential work in many states,” said David Foutz, vice president of sales at Xtime. “At Xtime, we’re in a position to help dealers not only weather the storm but come out the other side even stronger than before and that’s exactly what we intend to do by offering free services for 90 days of features that promote social distancing like Service Pickup and Delivery, and Online Payment to our clients.”

During this uncertain time, the safety of dealership staff and customers is paramount. Today, best practices involve minimal person-to-person contact. Dealerships can give staff and customers peace of mind and keep business moving by adopting the following best practices:

- Offer Vehicle Pick-Up and Delivery: With much of the population under strict orders to stay in their homes, there is no time like the present for dealers to offer a vehicle pick-up and delivery to service customers. Service Pickup and Delivery powered by Clutch provides a first-class concierge pick-up and delivery experience where permitted by state or local COVID-19 ordinances – with the option of a loaner to be dropped off when pick-up happens. This ultra-convenient option may also be also safer in the current climate as customers will only interact with one person versus other customers and the entire staff. Clutch Service Pickup and Delivery is available at no cost through the end of July 2020 with a full remote implementation in three business days.  

- Enable Online Payments: To remove additional in-person touchpoints, enabling online payment capabilities gives dealership staff and customers the confidence to do business safely while boosting payment efficiencies. Xtime’s Online Payment encourages digital payment methods that customers can request via text or email and complete transactions entirely from their own phone, computer or tablet. This feature is also now available to all Xtime clients at no cost through the end of June 2020.

- Adopt a Digital Check-In Process: Give customers the ability to check-in with their phone. Similarly, provide options to sign off on service recommendations to further promote social distancing while engaging them throughout the process. Self Check-In from Xtime makes a seamless and personalized check-in process possible while minimizing unnecessary face-to-face contact thereby protecting employees and customers.  Self Check-In is a new feature that is available now for no additional charge for all Xtime Engage clients.

• - Exercise Social Distancing Among Staff: Protect your staff by minimizing high traffic areas and employee in-person interactions by promoting the use of digital communication channels within the dealership and between departments themselves. Intra-Dealer Chat blends the best of Inspect and Xtime mobile to facilitate intradepartmental communication without contact and offers a “low touch” experience to customers who can chat with staff using their own personal devices as well. Intra-Dealer Chat is included for no additional charge with Xtime Inspect.

For additional information on activating any of the above features, visit Xtime’s website or connect with your Xtime Performance Manager. Visit Xtime’s blog to learn more about how to ensure business continuity and best practices in-shop and online.

About Xtime

Xtime increases customer retention for automotive dealer service departments by using technology to transform the ownership experience. Improving customer satisfaction and retention drives dealer revenue and profitability. Xtime is committed to delivering the experience consumers demand – an experience which emphasizes value, convenience and trust. In 2019, Xtime booked 55 million service appointments and processed more than 100 million repair orders annually. Forty-four global OEMs have chosen Xtime to drive that same type of success for their businesses, converting more than $23 billion in service revenue last year for more than 7,300 dealerships.

About Cox Automotive

Cox Automotive Inc. makes buying, selling, owning and using cars easier for everyone. The global company’s 34,000-plus team members and family of brands, including Autotrader®, Clutch Technologies, Dealer.com®, Dealertrack®, Kelley Blue Book®, Manheim®, NextGear Capital®, VinSolutions®, vAuto® and Xtime®, are passionate about helping millions of car shoppers, 40,000 auto dealer clients across five continents and many others throughout the automotive industry thrive for generations to come. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., a privately-owned, Atlanta-based company with revenues of $21 billion. www.coxautoinc.com

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New data demonstrates heightened awareness and increase of new customers in dealership fixed ops

IRVINE, Calif. – February 13, 2020 – By providing price transparency to consumers about dealership service departments, Kelley Blue Book continues to deliver positive results from its Featured Auto Repair Center pilot to-date, proving the power of connecting consumers to trustworthy recommendations related to servicing and maintaining automobiles throughout vehicle ownership. Kelley Blue Book’s Featured Auto Repair Center, which is part of Auto Repair Guide on KBB.com, advises vehicle owners on repair pricing and other service-related information in three main categories – recalls, maintenance and repairs – and has driven new and existing customers to schedule dealership service appointments directly online.

Since the pilot launched in September 2019, Featured Auto Repair Center has seen significant interest from its audience, showcasing the strongest success in the recall segment. In fact, the tool has received an impressive 1.7 million unique visitors per month on average and is generating continuous month-over-month growth. This includes more than 46,000 consumers clicking on the service request button and more than 50% of customers that booked appointments were new to the dealership. Additionally, the tool has seen consumers research more than 85,000 vehicles for recalls with nearly 25% completing the recall after confirming the open recall. 

These figures further demonstrate consumers’ reliance and the value placed on trusted third-party resources for advice when it comes to the servicing of vehicles. By increasing the flow of information and minimizing dealership skepticism through increased price transparency, Featured Auto Repair Center provides consumers with increased confidence that prices paid for vehicle service work are fair.

“As fixed operations accounts for a larger share of dealership revenue, it is more important than ever to engage with consumers in a transparent, easy-to-understand way to drive more customers to the service department,” said Jim Roche, vice president at Cox Automotive. “Without a trusted source, consumers lack necessary information like needed services and pricing, which they use to decide where they will service their vehicle. Through Featured Auto Repair Center, dealerships have the unique opportunity to show unconvinced customers the benefits of obtaining high quality and reasonably priced service from dealerships.”

Since its initial launch, Featured Auto Repair Center has introduced new features including trim selection to increase reliability of repair prices across repair and maintenance inquiries, regional repair pricing, capability to research recalls with a license plate number, and more.

“Dealers are in the repeat and referral business, and Kelley Blue Book’s Featured Auto Repair Center is going to ensure that dealerships are viewed as more trustworthy by promoting price transparency,” said Tully Williams, fixed operations director at The Niello Company. “Response to the program so far has been massive – we’re very impressed.”

The need for a transparent third-party tool that eases the information gap between consumers and dealers inspired Cox Automotive’s Jim Roche to add a chapter to his recent book, “Fast Break: Creating a Customer-Centric Operating Philosophy for Automotive Service.” This book guides dealers on how to increase their service market share and achieve profitable growth by focusing on a customer-centric philosophy. In today’s digital age, this is synonymous with creating a trustworthy relationship by showcasing transparency in prices and online information.

Kelley Blue Book’s Featured Auto Repair Center, within Auto Repair Guide on KBB.com, will offer both basic and premium features. Premium features include top placements in “Pick a Dealer” listings, dealership ratings, graphic representation of dealership amenities, dealership photos, service offers and more.

This product will be on sold for the first time at NADA 2020, being held February 14-17, 2020 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. To learn more about Featured Auto Repair Center and a copy of “Fast Break: Creating a Customer-Centric Operating Philosophy for Automotive Service,” visit Kelley Blue Book at the 2020 NADA Convention and Expo, booth #2528C.

To learn more about Kelley Blue Book Auto Repair Guide, visit https://www.kbb.com/service-repair-guide/.

For more information and news from Kelley Blue Book's KBB.com, visit www.kbb.com/media/, follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/kelley-blue-book/, Twitter at www.twitter.com/kelleybluebook (or @kelleybluebook), like our page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kbb  and follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kbb_com/ (or @kbb_com).

About Kelley Blue Book (www.kbb.com)
Founded in 1926, Kelley Blue Book, The Trusted Resource®, is the vehicle valuation and information source trusted and relied upon by both consumers and the automotive industry. Each week the company provides market-reflective values on its top-rated website KBB.com, including its famous Blue Book® Trade-In Values and Kelley Blue Book® Price Advisor tool, which provides a range for what consumers can reasonably expect to pay for a vehicle in their area. Car owners looking to sell immediately can also get a redeemable, transaction-ready offer with Kelley Blue BookSM Instant Cash Offer. The company also provides vehicle pricing and values through various products and services available to car dealers, auto manufacturers, finance and insurance companies, and governmental agencies. Kelley Blue Book is a Cox Automotive brand.

About Cox Automotive

Cox Automotive Inc. makes buying, selling, owning and using cars easier for everyone. The global company’s 34,000-plus team members and family of brands, including Autotrader®, Clutch Technologies, Dealer.com®, Dealertrack®, Kelley Blue Book®, Manheim®, NextGear Capital®, VinSolutions®, vAuto® and Xtime®, are passionate about helping millions of car shoppers, 40,000 auto dealer clients across five continents and many others throughout the automotive industry thrive for generations to come. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., a privately-owned, Atlanta-based company with revenues exceeding $20 billion. www.coxautoinc.com

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- Cox Automotive deployment of on-demand owner experiences designed to help dealers drive more customer loyalty and service revenue.

- Xtime Schedule will allow dealers to create loaner reservations and service pickup appointments that will automatically be scheduled for fulfillment by valets using the Clutch platform.

- Clutch Technologies Fleet Sync and Service Pickup & Delivery software delivers maximum efficiency of loaner fleet usage.

- Partnership lays foundation for an EV future, which may include more out-of-store service.

ATLANTA and REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Feb. 12, 2020 – Clutch Technologies and Xtime are delivering even more ease and convenience to the customer service experience with a powerful integration that further supports Cox Automotive’s vision for fixed ops and dealer mobility services. In partnership with Xtime, the most fully integrated, end-to-end service experience platform, Clutch’s Fleet Sync and Service Pickup & Delivery software serve as the engine for this next-level service offering.

According to Cox Automotive’s recent Reimagining the Automotive Consumer Experience Study, consumers universally agreed – 89% – that an ideal ownership experience would include a service where a dealer picks up the vehicle in need of maintenance or repair and returns the vehicle when the work is complete.

“With the digital economy raising expectations of convenience, it’s critical for dealers to further modernize their fixed operations functionality to meet consumer demand,” said Adam Carley, vice president of product for Clutch Technologies. “This solution truly eliminates hassle for the consumer, boosting customer loyalty and driving higher retention on service.” 

Xtime Schedule and Clutch Fleet Sync

For dealers on Xtime, customers can book their service appointment at the dealership with Xtime Schedule and reserve a loaner through Clutch Fleet Sync. Leveraging Clutch’s partnership with TSD, the leading provider of loaner management software, Fleet Sync provides current and projected loaner availability within Xtime, so that a loaner reservation can confidently be made as part of booking a service appointment. When the service appointment is finalized, the loaner reservation will be created with the consumer’s information. The consumer will then receive a secure link to provide their payment card, driver’s license and insurance information, which are added to the loaner reservation.

Finally, as the appointment approaches, the system automatically assigns the right vehicle to the right customer. The dealer benefits from increased efficiency at the loaner desk and higher utilization of the loaner fleet. Consumers benefit from greater availability of loaners and a streamlined experience.  

Xtime Schedule and Clutch Service Pickup & Delivery

Scheduling a concierge pickup of their vehicle for service – with the option of a loaner to be dropped off when pickup happens – is just as simple. Dealers and consumers can add pickup to service appointments booked within Xtime’s multichannel scheduling tools. Xtime Schedule will display availability of both loaners and valets so that appointments can be made with confidence. From that point, Clutch handles the full workflow for the dealer, including scheduling concierge labor and messaging with the consumer. Through its integration with TSD Cirro, Clutch also has the ability to deliver digital loaner contracts for signature in seconds within Clutch’s Sideflip concierge app.  

In addition to driving customer loyalty, this collaboration is intended to generate extra service revenue for the dealership, with 67% of today’s consumers willing to pay a premium for a more convenient service experience. Additional revenue will be realized over time with a more efficient usage of loaner vehicles and repeat business from customers.

“Convenience is key when evaluating how to implement or enhance a dealership’s customer-centric service experience,” said Tracy Fred, vice president and general manager for Xtime. “Marrying the very best of what Xtime and Clutch have to offer provides dealers with an opportunity to standout in the market and not only attract new business but turn them into repeat customers.”

Functionality of the new Cox Automotive fixed ops solution offered by Clutch Technologies and Xtime will be available progressively over the second quarter of 2020.

About Clutch Technologies

Clutch Technologies is the leader in subscription and mobility services software to the automotive industry. Utilizing Clutch’s end-to-end platform, automotive dealers, OEM’s, car rental companies and fleet operators can increase asset utilization, offer new revenue streams and deliver innovative consumer experiences. Clutch, a Cox Automotive company, is recognized as a pioneer in the subscription category and has been chosen, trusted and recommended by more than 200 dealer rooftops and nearly 20 OEM brands across the U.S., Canada and Germany. Learn more about Clutch at www.driveclutch.com.

About Xtime

Xtime increases customer retention for automotive dealer service departments by using technology to transform the ownership experience. Improving customer satisfaction and retention drives dealer revenue and profitability. Xtime is committed to delivering the experience consumers demand – an experience which emphasizes value, convenience and trust. In 2019, Xtime booked 55 million service appointments and processed more than 100 million repair orders annually. Forty-four global OEMs have chosen Xtime to drive that same type of success for their businesses, converting more than $23 billion in service revenue last year for more than 7,300 dealerships.

About Cox Automotive

Cox Automotive Inc. makes buying, selling, owning and using cars easier for everyone. The global company’s 34,000-plus team members and family of brands, including Autotrader®, Clutch Technologies, Dealer.com®, Dealertrack®, Kelley Blue Book®, Manheim®, NextGear Capital®, VinSolutions®, vAuto® and Xtime®, are passionate about helping millions of car shoppers, 40,000 auto dealer clients across five continents and many others throughout the automotive industry thrive for generations to come. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., a privately-owned, Atlanta-based company with revenues exceeding $20 billion. www.coxautoinc.com

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., February 6, 2020 – As fixed operations continue to play a dominant role in dealership profitability, service departments must come up with innovative ways to drive owner loyalty and meet customers’ rising expectations. To help with this challenge, Xtime is showcasing a series of new products and enhancements at NADA 2020 to improve customer engagement while helping to boost service department operations and efficiency.

“The ability to offer a superior, technology-forward service lane experience allows dealerships to stand out in a crowded market and find increased revenue opportunities,” said Tracy Fred, vice president and general manager for Xtime. “Attracting customers and delivering results for your business all comes down to providing consumers with trust and transparency throughout the entire process, and Xtime offers the most fully integrated, end-to-end service experience platform to do that, period.”

These new products and enhancements demonstrate Xtime’s continued commitment to improving every touchpoint in the service experience to support dealership success, including:

- Self Check-In is a faster, more efficient way to alleviate bottlenecks in the service drive from customers waiting to check-in, boosting advisor efficiency and more potential dollars per repair order.

- Upon scheduling an appointment or check-in, Rideshare Powered by Lyft provides a premium customer experience through cost-effective, more personalized and familiar transportation options integrated into the existing appointment booking and service process to help get customers back home or to the office.

- New Xtime Mobile Application reimagines the process of performing a multi-point vehicle inspection by making the experience faster, easier and more capable on an increased number of devices.

- Service Tracker through Inspect offers customers access to real-time vehicle service status updates on repairs from the palm of their hand, resulting in decreased phone calls and improved consumer transparency.

- From any location, customers can review video via an online quote to approve recommended repairs through new Enhanced Multi-Media features, allowing technicians to attach video and photo files to several service lines on the repair order.

- FlexPay gives dealers the ability to offer customers flexible service financing options through a fully integrated system, making vehicle maintenance more affordable by spreading the cost out over time and helping drive increased dollars per repair order.

- Text Marketing with Invite helps dealers communicate targeted messaging to customers (i.e., if a customer chose not to have a repair completed) through a channel proven to drive higher engagement and more service appointments while remaining TCPA compliant.

- Robust Intra-Dealer Chat makes internal dealership communications between departments easier than ever by centralizing messaging to one platform.

To learn more about these new products and enhancements, visit Xtime at the 2020 NADA Convention and Expo, booth #2821C.

Also, please join David Foutz, vice president of sales for Xtime, for a session on “Fixed Ops Customer Experience for Growth, Retention and Profit” with Tully Williams, parts and service director for The Niello Company, during the 2020 NADA Convention and Expo on Friday, February 14, from 2:30-3:30 PM (room N228) or on Saturday, February 15, from  10:30-11:30 AM. Foutz and Williams will discuss how service departments can put customer experience at the center of every interaction.

About Xtime

Xtime increases customer retention for automotive dealer service departments by using technology to transform the ownership experience. Improving customer satisfaction and retention drives dealer revenue and profitability. Xtime is committed to delivering the experience consumers demand – an experience which emphasizes value, convenience and trust. In 2019, Xtime booked 55 million service appointments and processed more than 100 million repair orders annually. Forty-four global OEMs have chosen Xtime to drive that same type of success for their businesses, converting more than $23 billion in service revenue last year for more than 7,300 dealerships.

About Cox Automotive

Cox Automotive Inc. makes buying, selling, owning and using cars easier for everyone. The global company’s 34,000-plus team members and family of brands, including Autotrader®, Clutch Technologies, Dealer.com®, Dealertrack®, Kelley Blue Book®, Manheim®, NextGear Capital®, VinSolutions®, vAuto® and Xtime®, are passionate about helping millions of car shoppers, 40,000 auto dealer clients across five continents and many others throughout the automotive industry thrive for generations to come. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., a privately-owned, Atlanta-based company with revenues exceeding $20 billion.www.coxautoinc.com

Consumers save time by making online and in-lane payments directly through Xtime

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Oct. 17, 2019 -- Dealers using Xtime can now leverage the payment processing capabilities of CenPOS, which is now part of Elavon, to customers creating an enhanced vehicle ownership experience through quicker online and in-lane payment options.

The CenPOS payment solution integrates into Xtime's Spectrum Platform, which makes it easier to capture and report customer payments efficiently either in the service lane from a tablet device or any service department workstation. All U.S. and Canada-based franchise dealership customers can immediately use the CenPOS payment functionality, creating more convenient, reliable payment options without requiring a significant investment or process change.

"Giving our service advisors the ability to own the experience from start to finish on one platform is pivotal in the way we intend to do business in the future," said Chance Wiseman, fixed operations trainer at Del Grande Dealer Group in San Jose, Calif. "This one key change in technology will drastically streamline the active redelivery process. Another opportunity Xtime is providing us to exceed our customers' expectations."

CenPOS provides dealership customers with more control over their experience. With the choice to make payments remotely thorough their computer and smartphone, or onsite at the dealership with the new and improved Xtime Engage Tablet Reception application, customers can pay as they choose.

"Dealers should look at the service experience they are offering their customers in order to drive greater customer loyalty and retention," said Tracy Fred, vice president and general manager of Xtime. "The powerful combination of CenPOS and Xtime's single platform gives both service management and advisors a more streamlined and easy-to-use solution that meets consumers' demands and saves them time and energy throughout the entire service experience, from write-up to payment."

An efficient check-out process is also critical to keeping consumers happy and coming back. Consumers who are most satisfied spend 2.5 hours or less at the dealership for service.1 As a result of this new integration, dealers interested in using Xtime's Engage payment solution will soon have their choice of multiple merchant processing providers.

"With extensive expertise in providing payments for the auto industry, together with Xtime, we can offer rich, secure solutions that are specific to the needs of this industry," said Joey Orozco, director of business development, CenPOS. "By streamlining service check-out, dealerships can increase customer satisfaction and save their customers valuable time."

For more information, click here.

1 2019 Cox Automotive Service Industry Study

About CenPOS:
CenPOS is a merchant-centric, end-to-end payments engine that drives enterprise-class solutions for businesses, saving them time and money, while improving their customer engagement. CenPOS' secure, cloud-based solution optimizes acceptance for all payment types across multiple channels without disrupting the merchant's banking relationships. 

About Xtime
Xtime increases customer retention for automotive dealer service departments by using technology to transform the ownership experience. Improving customer satisfaction and retention drives dealer revenue and profitability. Xtime is committed to delivering the experience consumers demand – an experience which emphasizes value, convenience and trust.

Xtime books 52 million service appointments and processes 120 million repair orders annually. Twenty-nine global OEMs have chosen Xtime to drive that same type of success for their businesses, converting more than $13 billion in service revenue annually for more than 7,500 dealerships.

About Cox Automotive
Cox Automotive Inc. makes buying, selling, owning and using cars easier for everyone. The global company's 34,000-plus team members and family of brands, including Autotrader®, Clutch Technologies, Dealer.com®, Dealertrack®, Kelley Blue Book®, Manheim®, NextGear Capital®, VinSolutions®, vAuto® and Xtime®, are passionate about helping millions of car shoppers, 40,000 auto dealer clients across five continents and many others throughout the automotive industry thrive for generations to come. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., a privately-owned, Atlanta-based company with revenues exceeding $20 billion. www.coxautoinc.com

New functionality provides values for repairs and makes service appointment scheduling easier

IRVINE, Calif., September 30, 2019 – Kelley Blue Book announces its new Auto Repair Guide experience, addressing both consumer and automotive industry needs for a principal source of trustworthy recommendations related to servicing and maintaining a vehicle. The all-new experience on KBB.com guides consumers through three primary service categories: Recalls, Maintenance and Repairs.  KBB.com is also including the ability to allow consumers to schedule service online through the Featured Auto Repair Center, a pilot with its sister company, Xtime.

To point consumers in the right direction, the Auto Repair Guide on KBB.com helps car owners answer their top service and repair questions: What do I need to get done? When should I get it done? Where should I get it done? How much should it cost? With this new experience, Kelley Blue Book serves as a trusted advisor that connects consumers and service departments.

Kelley Blue Book’s all-new Auto Repair Guide includes:

• - Information on recalls, maintenance and repair work

• - A Fair Repair Range estimator—similar to the Kelley Blue Book Price Advisor tool—to guide consumers on service and repair price ranges, based on average dealer service pricing

• - The ability to schedule service appointments with local dealerships directly on KBB.com through the Featured Auto Repair Center

Kelley Blue Book, backed by more than 90 years of experience and the most trusted third-party automotive brand,[1]  enables both consumers and dealers to remain on the same page for pricing and now, in the service lanes with its integration with Xtime, the leading integrated software platform for retail automotive service departments.

“Car shoppers have long trusted Kelley Blue Book to provide them with vehicle values, new-car information and more,” said Jim Roche, vice president at Cox Automotive. “With this new auto repair feature on KBB.com, now they can rely on Kelley Blue Book throughout the ownership experience for guidance on service and repair costs, all while experiencing the same trust and transparency they’ve come to expect from the brand.”

Consumers have negative perceptions about getting their vehicle serviced at dealerships, citing unreasonable total cost, overcharging, and labor or parts charges among top reasons for not using their dealership service department[2].  In reality, common maintenance and services provided by dealerships are on par from a pricing standpoint with independent offerings[3]. Kelley Blue Book’s new Auto Repair Guide also makes service appointment scheduling easier for both consumers and dealers. Car owners can see the Fair Repair Range, select a service provider, and book service without leaving the site. Meanwhile, the Featured Auto Repair Center can connect dealers with engaged car owners, increasing consumer trust and confidence by validating their service pricing within the Kelley Blue Book Fair Repair Range.

“The complexities of how to maintain and repair a vehicle, as well as understanding the associated costs, are a major pain point for most consumers,” said Tully Williams, fixed operations director of The Niello Company in Sacramento, California. “Not only has our dealership increased service cost transparency and communication with our customers, but they also have an increased sense of trust from knowing they are being fairly charged for every service visit.”

To learn more about Kelley Blue Book Auto Repair Guide visit https://www.kbb.com/auto-repair, https://www.kbb.com/car-maintenance-service and https://www.kbb.com/ownership/recalls.

For more information and news from Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com, visit www.kbb.com/media/, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/kelleybluebook (or @kelleybluebook), like our page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kbb, and follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kbb_com/ (or @kbb_com).

About Kelley Blue Book (www.kbb.com)

Founded in 1926, Kelley Blue Book, The Trusted Resource®, is the vehicle valuation and information source trusted and relied upon by both consumers and the automotive industry. Each week the company provides market-reflective values on its top-rated website KBB.com, including its famous Blue Book® Trade-In Values and Kelley Blue Book® Price Advisor tool, which provides a range for what consumers can reasonably expect to pay for a vehicle in their area. Car owners looking to sell immediately can also get a redeemable, transaction-ready offer with Kelley Blue BookSM Instant Cash Offer. The company also provides vehicle pricing and values through various products and services available to car dealers, auto manufacturers, finance and insurance companies, and governmental agencies. Kelley Blue Book is a Cox Automotive brand.

About Cox Automotive

Cox Automotive Inc. makes buying, selling, owning and using cars easier for everyone. The global company’s 34,000-plus team members and family of brands, including Autotrader®, Clutch Technologies, Dealer.com®, Dealertrack®, Kelley Blue Book®, Manheim®, NextGear Capital®, VinSolutions®, vAuto® and Xtime®, are passionate about helping millions of car shoppers, 40,000 auto dealer clients across five continents and many others throughout the automotive industry thrive for generations to come. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., a privately-owned, Atlanta-based company with revenues exceeding $20 billion. coxautoinc.com