New Integration with CarNow Underscores the Value of Chat-Friendly VDPs

CHICAGO, Dec. 20, 2017 -- LotLinx, the industry’s #1 Automotive AI, today announced a new integration to strengthen its powerful CX-AMP Vehicle Display Page offering, a vital tool for dealers to convert highly engaged mobile shoppers into sales leads. To emphasize the importance of mobile-friendly sites for its dealers, LotLinx is backing the Google-led AMP Project, an initiative built around the idea of speed being the key factor in a mobile-first world. Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) should be a cornerstone of every successful dealer’s marketing strategy, as mobile is proving to be the number one source of clicks-to-contact on a dealer’s website.

“Dealers who aren’t leveraging chat-friendly, mobile-optimized VDPs are losing money, plain and simple,” says Len Short, Founder of LotLinx. “Data shows that most people will abandon a VDP after just 3 seconds of load time, which is why LotLinx’ CX-AMPs always load in less than 1.5s. CarNow will benefit from this smart and strategic integration, as our AMP project combines the power of AI with an optimized UX to create higher quality sales leads.”  

Dealers using LotLinx CX-AMP have noticed up to 5x more VDP conversions when tested against a control group. In an effort to further strengthen its high-conversion AMPs, LotLinx is teaming up with some of the industry’s major leading Chat providers to improve the user experience for mobile shoppers. As a result, LotLinx is now fully integrated with CarNow, a next-gen digital communication platform for the automotive industry. CarNow, the first of many chat providers to come on board, works with leading US dealers to improve the way they communicate and transact with customers, allowing customers to seamlessly connect with dealerships via chat.

“Strong communication is the foundation of a successful dealership, and CarNow’s platform was built to streamline the customer/dealer relationship,” says Aaron Baldwin, Vice President of Business Development at CarNow. “This alliance with LotLinx is an important step in our company’s evolution, and we’re excited to work with them to drive higher conversions that translate into sales.”

Leading up to NADA in March, LotLinx and CarNow will both be participants at the 2018 Automotive Engagement Conference (AEC), a national tour providing dealers with a “digital marketing playbook” to prepare for NADA and set them up for a lucrative year ahead. AEC’s mission is to give dealers valuable consumer measurement and engagement tools that optimize website conversions and help them rethink their overall marketing strategies. The tour’s first stop takes place January 24 at the Westin Hotel in Fort Lauderdale. To learn more about the event or purchase tickets visit www.pcgcompanies.com/aec
 

About LotLinx:

LotLinx is an award-winning Automotive AI company dedicated to empowering automotive dealers and the agencies that work with them, up to the OEM level. The LotLinx TURN platform can transform dealer results, dramatically increasing online engagement and net-new shoppers while eliminating digital advertising waste. Founded in 2012 and based in Chicago, LotLinx works with thousands of dealers including rooftops under the nation’s Top 100 auto groups, as well as recently expanding into the Canadian market. For more visit www.lotlinx.com

About CarNow:
CarNow is a leading provider of live customer engagement solutions for the Automotive industry. CarNow's live-assistance software platform revolutionizes the way dealers communicate and transact with online customers by integrating dealer data, industry data, and best-in-class technical integrations with elegant live-assisted workflows for digital retailing. Launching with its first customer in December 2014, CarNow has become one of the fastest growing technology providers in Automotive. Additional information on CarNow’s products, features, and manufacturer certifications can be found at www.carnow.com.

Dealers Report Monthly U.S. Sales Figures

Alexandria, VA (December 4) – The American International Automobile Dealers Association (AIADA) today released November sales figures for the international nameplate auto industry. Brands sold by America's 9,600 international nameplate franchises accounted for 56.2 percent of all new vehicles sold in the United States last month, up from 55.3 percent a month earlier.

AutoData Corp. reports that the seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) for November was 17.48 million units versus 17.71 million units a year ago. Total industry unit deliveries, including domestic brands and unadjusted for business days, increased nearly one percent compared to last November. International brands as a group slightly outperformed the whole, rising 1.76 percent. Sales for all brands were down 1.5 percent year to date, increasing the likelihood that 2017 will mark the first year since the Great Recession that auto sales did not grow. These numbers include an estimate of sales for the Nissan and Infiniti brands, which were prevented from reporting November figures by a systems glitch.

"International nameplate brands continue to perform well in today's market," said AIADA President Cody Lusk. "Demand is steady, and dealers are in a position to end the year on solid footing and begin 2018 with a competitive edge."

International brands were led last month by Honda (up 8.2 percent from last November, a brand record for the month), Mercedes-Benz (up 3.6 percent), and Mitsubishi (up 24.8 percent). Most sales improvements were driven by light truck purchases, which rose 6.6 percent as a segment from last November, while cars continued to lag, down 8.2 percent from a year ago.

International auto sales in the U.S. totaled 782,288 in November, up from 748,614 in October but down from 848,906 in September. Asian brands occupied 45.9 percent of the November auto market, up from 45.6 in October. Overall, Asian nameplate dealers sold 639,223 vehicles in November, a 1.3 percent improvement from November 2016.

European brands sold 143,065 units in November, up from 130,171 vehicles in October and 140,857 in September. They held 10.3 percent of the November U.S. auto market, up from 9.6 percent in October. Overall sales for European brands were up 3.8 percent from last November and 2.2 percent for the year.

To read AIADA's complete coverage of November's international nameplate auto sales, click here. 

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About AIADA: Established in 1970, AIADA is and continues to be the only association whose sole purpose is to represent America's international nameplate automobile franchises that sell and service the following brands: Acura, Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Ferrari, Genesis, Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Jaguar, Kia, Land Rover, Lexus, Maserati, Mazda, Mercedes, MINI, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Porsche, Rolls Royce, Scion, Smart, Subaru, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Volvo. These retailers have a positive economic impact both nationally and in the local communities they serve, providing more than 500,000 American jobs. Visit AIADA online at www.aiada.org.

SAN DIEGO, Ca. (November 30, 2017) – CSB Technologies has expanded its relationship with Carfax to enhance its Shop Boss Pro automotive business management software. Now, service and repair shops can easily register customers with myCarfax.com from within Shop Boss Pro to help increase customer retention. Service technicians use a dedicated button built into the software to create a free myCarfax.com account for their customers so they can track their vehicle’s service history and get reminders when it’s time to return for their next service visit.

“We now offer one of the most robust automotive management solutions available to service shops today,” said Chris Boshaw, president of CSB Technologies. “The completed integration with myCarfax puts tools and resources into the hands of our customers that give them a competitive advantage in customer service, retention and loyalty. Well-informed car owners feel more confident in their service tech’s recommendations and come back for service more often.”

Recent Carfax research suggests that car owners using myCarfax.com make 20% more service visits than an average customer. Shops that register customers with myCarfax.com through Shop Boss Pro automatically have their business saved as the customer’s favorite service location. The myCarfax.com desktop service and mobile app sends alerts when regular maintenance items like oil changes and tire rotations are due to help customers maintain the safety, performance and value of their vehicles.

For more information, visit shopboss.net.

About CSB Technologies

CSB Technologies is a force in the automotive repair shop software market.  Our flagship application, Shop Boss is designed to give the shop owner or manager the electronic toolbox to handle any situation. We offer one of the most innovative, flexible and shop-focused software applications on the market today.

About Carfax

Carfax, a unit of IHS Markit (Nasdaq: INFO), helps millions of people every day confidently shop, buy, own and sell used cars with innovative solutions powered by Carfax vehicle history information. The expert in vehicle history since 1984, Carfax provides exclusive services like Carfax Used Car Listings, myCarfax, Carfax History-Based Value and the flagship Carfax® Vehicle History Report™ to consumers and the automotive industry. Carfax owns the world’s largest vehicle history database and is a nationally recognized top workplace by The Washington Post and Glassdoor.com. Become a myCarfax Service Shop at www.mycarfaxserviceshop.com or call 888-655-5362. Based in London, IHS Markit is a world leader in critical information, analytics and solutions.

Americans Don’t Want to Talk to Robots but Welcome Chatbots That Make the Customer Support Experience More Efficient

SAN FRANCISCO—November 16, 2017—New data released today from Helpshift, the company revolutionizing the customer support industry through AI-powered customer experiences, reveals how Americans are feeling about the state of customer service in the U.S. and how they’d like chatbots to help make things better.

The survey revealed that, while they don’t like having to deal with robots over the phone when calling customer support centers or being forced to have extended interactions with chatbots, Americans are enthusiastic about interacting with chatbots if they help resolve their support issue more efficiently.

Americans dread contacting customer support

Most Americans (52 percent) gave customer service in the U.S. a “C” grade or lower, and almost all (94 percent) said that they dread contacting customer support.

When asked to pick the single thing they most dread, they said:

1. Difficulties communicating with agents in offshore call centers – 17 percent
2. Long wait and hold times – 16 percent
3. Being transferred around and having to repeat the problem over and over – 15 percent
4. Never-ending automated self-service menus – 12 percent
5. Being forced to interact with robots on the phone  – 8 percent

When asked what industry has the worst customer service, almost a full third (32 percent) of Americans agreed that it is telecoms (phone, internet and cable companies). This was followed by the retail (13 percent), insurance (9 percent) and airline (7 percent) industries.

Chatbots to the rescue?

Most Americans have regular interactions with chatbots—top reasons include using customer service (49 percent),  apps like Facebook messenger and WeChat (33 percent), and productivity tools like digital assistants (19 percent)—and have generally positive feelings about them. This is particularly true of Millennials, about a quarter of whom (24 percent) feel chatbots are definitely making things better.

Looking at the population as a whole, about one in five Americans (19 percent) say chatbots are definitely making things better, while another 40 percent say chatbots are helpful but aren’t living up to their full potential.

When we love chatbots

More than half (55 percent) of all Americans—and 65 percent of Millennials—want chatbots involved in the customer service process, particularly if chatbots: 

●       Make the entire customer service process more efficient – 75 percent

●       Reduce the time it takes to get an agent on the phone – 73 percent

●       Reduce the time it takes to resolve the issue – 71 percent

●       Help the problem be resolved over instant chat without having to make a call or email customer support – 70 percent

●       Reduce the time it takes to explain the problem to an agent – 67 percent

Americans also appreciate that chatbots are available 24/7 (49 percent), and many even prefer to deal with chatbots instead of people in certain cases—for example, if they need something quickly (18 percent) or the answer to a simple problem (18 percent).

"Seeing as the vast majority of Americans dread contacting customer support, there's a huge opportunity here for chatbots to fill the void and improve the customer support experience for consumers—and agents,” said Linda Crawford, CEO of Helpshift. “The message is clear: Americans value efficiency above all else when seeking customer support. If chatbots can make the support experience more efficient, they are glad to have them involved in the process. Brands that want to excel in customer experience should start leveraging platforms that facilitate the intersection of humans and bots.”

Survey Methodology

The survey was conducted online within the United States by Propeller Insights on behalf of Helpshift October 24-29, 2017, among 2,013 adults 18+. The results were weighted to the U.S. census for age, gender, region and income.

About Helpshift 

Helpshift bridges the disconnect between conventional customer service channels like email and phone support and a growing consumer base that does more on mobile phones and has a strong preference for messaging as the primary mode of communication. Through Helpshift’s streamlined support system, companies can resolve issues more efficiently, boosting customer satisfaction in the process. Companies such as Viacom, Virgin Media, Microsoft, Western Union and Flipboard and hundreds of other leading brands use the Helpshift platform to provide messaging-first customer support. Helpshift is installed on two billion devices worldwide and serves more than 600 million active consumers monthly. To learn more about Helpshift, visit https://www.helpshift.com/ and follow @helpshift on Twitter.

What are Consumers Buying Online? New Survey Says: EVERYTHING!
—‘State of Ecommerce in America’ Study Reveals the Latest Consumer Trends—

DENVER — Adtaxi, one of the nation’s fastest growing digital marketing agencies, released the results of its inaugural State of Ecommerce in America survey, an in-depth look at ecommerce trends and consumer preferences nationwide. From small inexpensive household items to mega, high-priced purchases such as automobiles, the scope and willingness of consumers to make purchases online has proven to be powerfully pervasive.

The survey reveals just how often consumers are making purchases online, what they are purchasing and the method in which they are purchasing them.

Key Highlights
·A majority of consumers (55%) would be happy to purchase everything online

·Convenience was the number one reason (50%) people shop online

·Seventy-two percent of consumers purchase something online at least once a month

·A third of consumers (32%) would purchase a car online

·Three out of five (59%) consumers purchase clothing online in a typical month

·When shopping for a product online, the most common (46%) first step of the process is visiting an online retailer like Amazon or eBay, whereas only 16% visit the actual brand’s site

·Running out of necessities most commonly (33%) prompts consumers’ online purchases

·Older consumers (60+) are much more concerned with sharing info (27%) than shipping time (4%), whereas the opposite (9% and 22% respectively) is true for younger consumers (18-29)

·Shipping costs are consumers’ least favorite (40%) aspect of shopping online
 

“These findings show a clear and growing interest from consumers to move away from traditional brick-and-mortar retail models and more toward ecommerce,” said Evan Tennant, National Director of Ecommerce at Adtaxi. “With the digital evolution of retail, consumers are becoming increasingly accustomed to the convenience of shopping from their couch, on the go, or virtually anytime they need things most—and all at the most competitive price—something that was never possible before.”

Webrooming vs. Showrooming

The survey also found that a large majority of consumers factor online shopping into their purchasing decisions—regardless of whether actually making the purchase in store or online.

·Nine out of ten (89%) consumers have gone to a retail store first and then looked for better prices online

·Conversely, nine out of ten (91%) consumers have also done shopping research online before going to a retail store

·A majority (54%) of consumers who do research online first ask the retailer to match the online price

“For marketers and retailers, these findings are extremely noteworthy, demonstrating the dominant role ecommerce plays in the consumer purchase journey – regardless of where they end up completing the purchase,” said Chris Loretto, Executive Vice President of Adtaxi. “This is definitely important for the retailer to consider when they are targeting consumers.”

Methodology

The study was conducted online using Survey Monkey. One thousand participants were polled, spanning across the United States. The demographic of those polled represented a broad range in household income, geographic location, age and gender.

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About Adtaxi 
Founded in 2010 within Digital First Media, Adtaxi made its mark in programmatic advertising before expanding into search, social, email and native. Over time, Adtaxi has refined and perfected its conversions-based approach, which became the foundation of the Magellan optimization technology launched in 2015. Adtaxi functions as a true partner with its clients, acting as a single point of contact and support through multi-platform campaign cycles. Find Adtaxi on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

IRVINE, Calif., November 16, 2017 – After kicking the tires and running the numbers on 2018 model-year cars, trucks, minivans and SUVs, Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com expert editors today announce the 2018 Best Buy Award winners. Kelley Blue Book’s Best Buy Awards honor the top vehicles in 12 major vehicle categories, as well as an Overall Best Buy of 2018, which is awarded to the newly redesigned 2018 Honda Accord.

The awards are the culmination of a year-long regimen of expert vehicle evaluation and testing of nearly every new vehicle available in America, along with analysis of a broad swath of vehicle-related data, including vehicle pricing/transaction prices, 5-Year Cost to Own data (which includes depreciation, insurance, maintenance, financing, fuel, fees and taxes for new cars), consumer reviews and ratings, and vehicle sales/retail sales information. Of more than 300 new-car models available for 2018, Kelley Blue Book’s expert editors initially narrowed the field to a few dozen Best Buy Award contenders in 12 major vehicle categories and then spent several weeks testing and evaluating all the finalists head-to-head to ultimately determine the winners. Kelley Blue Book recently launched a new digital campaign outlining the testing regimen.

“Kelley Blue Book takes great pride in providing a significant consumer service by identifying the new vehicles our experts believe to be the absolute best-value choices for new-car shoppers,” said Karl Brauer, executive publisher for Kelley Blue Book. “This year’s Best Buy Award winners can help shoppers narrow the consideration list of new models across every major vehicle category, providing car buyers with confidence in their next new-car purchase.”

In fact, according to a recent study, 64 percent of consumers say they were influenced on their vehicle opinion when that model earned a Kelley Blue Book award, nearly 20 percentage points higher than an award offered by the next closest third-party automotive resource.1

2018 Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Award Winners

Overall Winner: 2018 Honda Accord

The mid-size sedan segment has long been a sweet spot of needs, wants and value, and the totally redesigned 2018 Honda Accord is the most appealing car in the category. The Accord’s storied refinement and resale value advantages remain, but the new model now outclasses the competition in almost every meaningful measure. It also sells for far less than the average new car while providing more features, better fuel economy and a more proven reputation for quality and reliability. Value without compromise is as rare as it is desirable, and it’s why the all-new Honda Accord is our Overall Best Buy for 2018.

Small Car: 2018 Honda Civic

Honda’s venerable compact car has now claimed our Small Car Best Buy Award three years in a row. And while it doesn’t also three-peat as our Overall Best Buy this year, the refined, reliable and downright desirable Civic remains one of the country’s most recommendable cars, a trait confirmed by its strong sales number.

Mid-Size Car: 2018 Honda Accord

Totally redesigned for 2018, the 10th-generation Honda Accord sets a new standard for the popular mid-size sedan segment. Groundbreaking style and excellent tech are backed by standout roominess, comfort and efficiency, not to mention one of the best reputations on the road.

Full-Size Car: 2018 Chevrolet Impala

This is the fourth year in a row the Impala has won over our editors’ heads and hearts to capture a Kelley Blue Book Best Buy recommendation and award. Chevrolet’s full-size sedan continues to earn its stripes and reward its owners for making a smart car-buying decision.

Luxury Car: 2018 Audi A5 Sportback

We thought the Audi A4 might be a slam dunk to repeat as our Luxury Car Best Buy this year, but then we got our hands on its new stablemate, the 2018 Audi A5 Sportback. With sleeker styling, hatchback utility and a slightly roomier feel, the all-new A5 Sportback offers even more to love.

Performance Car: 2018 Porsche 718 Boxster

That a two-seat Porsche sports car would collect awards is not surprising. That it might be the year’s best sports-car value, however, is a notion that may take some getting used to. In fact, this is the second year in a row Porsche’s mid-engine magician has earned our Best Buy Award in the Sports Car category.

Electric/Hybrid Car: 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid

Honda’s newest offering combines five-passenger capacity, 47 miles of all-electric range and an available $7,500 federal tax credit to bring electrified transportation closer to the mainstream and claim this year’s Electric/Hybrid Car Best Buy Award.

Small SUV/Crossover: 2018 Honda CR-V

Another Honda with multiple Best Buy Award trophies on display, the Honda CR-V is still fresh off a 2017 redesign that further separated it from the competition. Whether you want a flexible and fuel-efficient errand-runner or a leather-laden commuter with enough premium amenities to pass for a luxury SUV, the Honda CR-V has you covered.

Mid-Size SUV/Crossover: 2018 Honda Pilot

Combining style and substance with an established reputation for reliability, the 2018 Honda Pilot this year fended off some strong new challengers to retain its title as our Mid-Size SUV Best Buy. Excellent resale value remains an ace up the Pilot’s sleeve among smart shoppers.

Full-Size SUV/Crossover: 2018 Ford Expedition

A decade is a long time to wait for a major model makeover, but Ford’s efforts have earned the Expedition its first Best Buy Award right out of the gate. From powertrain and driving dynamics to technology and practicality, the 2018 Ford Expedition is the new class leader.

Luxury SUV/Crossover: 2018 Audi Q5

Audi’s compact luxury SUV has been the company’s best-selling vehicle for several years, but the new-for-2018 model has upped the Q5’s game. Larger, more luxurious and more powerful, the Q5 expands and improves on what Audi is known for, namely, a refined driving experience, tech-friendly cabin and stylish, elegant design.

Truck: 2018 Ford F-150

For four years straight, the Ford F-150 has taken the pickup truck honors in our Best Buy competition. And, for four years straight, nobody else has come close to toppling it. This year, Ford updated the styling, added a new base engine, expanded the availability of its excellent 10-speed automatic, and promises to add a turbodiesel to its lineup of engines later this year.

Minivan: 2018 Honda Odyssey

In our first review of the totally redesigned 2018 Honda Odyssey we called it the best family car in the world. After a thorough back-to-back evaluation alongside the other class leaders, we’re only more convinced. Money matters weigh heavily in our annual Best Buy Awards, and that’s where our resale value and 5-Year Cost to Own data once again played heavily in Honda’s favor.

1Source: Cox Automotive Consumer Brand Tracker Study, September 2017. Third-party automotive resource defined as: J.D. Power & Associates, Car and Driver, Edmunds, Cars.com, Motor Trend, North American Car/Truck of the Year, World Car of the Year and Automotive Lease Guide.

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 the most market-reflective values in the industry on its top-rated website KBB.com, including its famous Blue Book® Trade-In Values and Fair Purchase Price, which reports what others are paying for new and used cars this week. 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 Co., Inc. is a Cox Automotive™ brand.

About Cox Automotive

Cox Automotive Inc. is transforming the way the world buys, sells and owns cars with industry-leading digital marketing, software, financial, wholesale and e-commerce solutions for consumers, dealers, manufacturers and the overall automotive ecosystem worldwide. Committed to open choice and dedicated to strong partnerships, the Cox Automotive family includes Autotrader®, Dealer.com®, Dealertrack®, Kelley Blue Book®, Manheim®, NextGear Capital®, vAuto®, Xtime® and a host of other brands. The global company has 32,000-plus team members in more than 200 locations and is partner to more than 40,000 auto dealers, as well as most major automobile manufacturers, while engaging U.S. consumer car buyers with the most recognized media brands in the industry. Cox Automotive is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises Inc., an Atlanta-based company with revenues exceeding $20 billion and approximately 60,000 employees. Cox Enterprises’ other major operating subsidiaries include Cox Communications and Cox Media Group. For more information about Cox Automotive, visit www.coxautoinc.com.

Do Consumers Trust Driverless Cars? Absolutely Not!

Self-driving cars are the future of motoring, or so the public are told on an almost daily basis. However the key question of ‘are the public ready for driverless cars?’ is rarely asked or considered. A brand new study by intelligentcarleasing.com has asked exactly that, with 1750 adults aged 18-65+ being surveyed on the matter.

The public’s response was a resounding 61% in support of human controlled vehicles, showing that autonomous car manufacturers have a long way to go to get the public on board.

Implications
This is a very important issue for both government policy makers and car manufacturers. The credibility of driverless vehicles is by no means cemented, considering a self-driving bus encountered a collision just 2 hours into its first day of operation in Las Vegas recently.

Combine this with federal regulators preparing a framework for these vehicles to be road-legal; the public’s attitude to autonomous vehicles has become a much more pressing concern.

Autonomous vehicles might be mechanically sound and ready to launch to buyers in the near future. However the public need to be on board or else the technology could be a massive flop.

Data Insights

Within the responses Intelligent Car Leasing received, there were noticeable differences in attitudes between certain age groups and genders.

Female respondents had 10% more confidence in human driven vehicles compared to their tech-loving male counterparts.

There was an even bigger disparity when looking at the difference in responses by age. The over 65s had a hugely noticeable 17% higher confidence in human drivers, compared to the younger 18-25s category.

See full results and potential reasons for responses here:  http://www.intelligentcarleasing.com/autonomous-vehicles, including the option to download the entire response data set.

Company Expands Offices and Builds Momentum Toward Upcoming Canadian and Enterprise Rollout

CHICAGO, November 14, 2017 -- LotLinx, the industry’s #1 Automotive AI, today announced the addition of two new members to its executive staff. Bob Sherman, formerly of R.L. Polk & Co, a company that provides automotive information and marketing solutions, has been named Vice President of Enterprise Business Development. And Kim De Palma, who previously led Business Development for call management company CallRevu, is added as Vice President, Enterprise Partner Development. Both join at a critical juncture as LotLinx begins to roll out its AI-driven TURN platform to dealers across Canada, offering VIN-specific targeting and a level of transparency never before seen in the marketplace.

Sherman has been in the automotive sector for nearly 25 years, with a focus on data for marketing and attribution purposes. He was a major driver of success at Polk (which was acquired by IHS Markit) and responsible for approaching third-party companies to sell data back into the marketplace. Sherman has track record for successfully placing different automotive vendors together to form lasting partnerships.

And Ms. DePalma is an expert in automotive dealer communications, and has been instrumental in brokering strategic partnerships with dealers across the US and Canada. Prior to CallRevu, she was Director of Conference Operations for Digital Dealer, developing a robust contact network while supporting events and creating solutions that increased the company’s market share, customer retention and profitability.

To support this growth, LotLinx has recently expanded to larger offices in the historic Downtown Chicago Loop. The move accommodates the company’s fast-growing team as they continue enhance the industry’s leading digital platform for increasing inventory turn by targeting prospective car shoppers and delivering them to conversion-optimized VDPs.

“We're very pleased to add Bob and Kim to our team. Ms. DePalma is a highly respected communications and business development leader in the automotive sector with a strong track record of optimizing sales and marketing results. Mr. Sherman has a true understanding of how data drives performance in today's digital ecosystem," says Eric Brown, President of LotLinx. "We are very fortunate to have these two exceptional and highly respected leaders join our team.”

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. (November 8, 2017) –Dealers can enhance the ownership experience by offering consumers quick online and in-lane payment options that implement the highest security standards for service thanks to integrated payment processing capabilities from Xtime and Vantiv Integrated Payments, a Vantiv, Inc. company (NYSE:VNTV).

The Vantiv payment solution integrates into Xtime Engage, which delivers tablet-friendly access to menus, pricing and service history to enhance the service lane check-in and checkout experience. Online payment allows the dealer to send an email or text to the customer to prompt them to pay online and arrange for convenient vehicle pick-up. For in-lane payments, service advisors run credit card transactions via tablet and Bluetooth-connected card swipe in the service lane.

“It’s one less step the customer has to go through when they come here to pick up their car,” said Jerry Antoine, service manager at John Hine Mazda. “In our case, the customers are in a hurry. The quicker the process of picking up their vehicle, the happier they are.”

The powerful duo of Xtime Engage and Vantiv Integrated Payments enables dealers to accept a wide range of payment types at point of sale and online – including chip cards, credit and debit cards, gift and stored value cards, all the “Pays” – Android Pay, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, dealer financing options and PayPal or mobile wallets, are available.

Engage is part of Xtime Spectrum, an integrated, cloud-based system that helps dealers provide a quality experience from the first touchpoint to checkout and beyond to support consumers throughout their ownership experience. Dealers using Xtime Engage saw an 8.2 percent increase in service retention on average and $13,000 in additional monthly revenue1.

“By meeting customers on their terms and valuing their time, dealers can instill satisfaction and loyalty and drive their revenue,” said Jim Roche, division vice president, Marketing & Managed Services, Xtime. “The checkout experience should leave a positive impression and not diminish, or ruin, an otherwise excellent service experience.”

Vantiv’s Integrated Payments solution is PCI-compliant and utilizes encryption and tokenization to maintain the high security standards while processing card transactions. Further, retailers using Xtime Engage software can still take advantage of Vantiv’s integrated solution even if they currently use another company to process payments.

“We are very pleased to partner with Xtime to offer a flexible payment option that employs the highest standards in security and safety to the U.S. automotive industry,” said Matt Downs, head of channel and business development at Vantiv. “This solution provides automotive dealerships with a new level of security by offering point-to-point encryption, as well as improving the consumer’s experience by offering a full suite of payment methods.”

To learn more about how Spectrum can optimize customers’ ownership experience and drive profitable growth, visit www.xtime.com. To learn more about Vantiv’s products and services, please visit https://www.vantiv.com/get-quote.

1Data based on average increase for Xtime dealers using Engage between 2015Q2 and 2016Q3

About Xtime
Xtime delivers retention solutions for the automotive retail industry. Xtime, headquartered in Silicon Valley, is the exclusive or preferred provider for 29 major global automotive manufacturers in the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia, as well as leading dealership groups, and services 8,000+ dealerships. Xtime is a Cox Automotive brand. For more information, visit Xtime.com

About Vantiv
Vantiv, Inc. (NYSE: VNTV) is a leading payment processor differentiated by an integrated technology platform. Vantiv offers a comprehensive suite of traditional and innovative payment processing and technology solutions to merchants and financial institutions of all sizes, enabling them to address their payment processing needs through a single provider. We build strong relationships with our customers, helping them become more efficient, more secure and more successful. Vantiv is now the largest merchant acquirer and PIN debit acquirer based on number of transactions in the U.S. The company’s growth strategy includes expanding further into high-growth channels and verticals, including integrated payments, B2B payments, eCommerce, and merchant bank. Visit us at www.vantiv.com, or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+ and YouTube.

Outsell also announces support for PCG Companies’ Google Analytics specifications.

Minneapolis, Minn. – November 6, 2017 – Outsell, which drives more revenue for auto dealers by transforming how they engage customers and prospects throughout their lifecycle, announced today that its CEO Mike Wethington has been invited to present at the inaugural Automotive Analytics & Attribution Summit (AAAS), taking place Nov 8-9, 2017 in Boca Raton, Fla. Wethington will speak about best practices for attribution in digital marketing.

The AAAS is the first event dedicated to online marketing analytics and attribution for the automotive industry. Auto dealers and manufacturers invest heavily in marketing, yet few standards exist for tracking consumer influence, engagement and conversion. PCG Companies (the organizer of the event) believes that the auto industry and its agency partners and vendors must work closer together to determine the influences that result in a sale.

“In the past year, we’ve seen an enormous increase in dealers’ desire to better understand the analytics of their marketing spend to improve its effectiveness and efficiency,” said Wethington. “But there is a learning curve. My AAAS panel session will focus on best practices for harnessing and using the data dealers collect to improve digital marketing effectiveness and to measure what’s working and what’s not, so dealers can funnel their budgets into programs that drive the best results.”

One key topic for AAAS is UTM code standards. UTM codes are used within digital marketing campaigns to help marketers track results. Today, Outsell also announced its full support of Google Analytics (GA) events and tagging specifications published by PCG Companies. Outsell program performance can now be easily viewed and inspected in GA, which is a big win for auto dealers. By supporting the GA specifications published by PCG Companies, Outsell’s clients will have fully transparent reporting, and be able to verify Outsell’s monthly marketing reports. “Outsell has always believed that an open ecosystem and full transparency should be key requirements to really advance the state of automotive customer engagement and its effectiveness for dealers. Our dealer customers look to us as a trusted advisor regarding customer engagement methods and their marketing spend,” said Wethington.

“Outsell has transformed digital marketing for the automotive industry and is now leading the charge in helping to create standards and offering dealers easy-to-use tools that enable them to leverage analytics techniques to understand and improve dealer performance metrics,” said Brian Pasch, Founder of PCG Companies. “I commend Outsell for joining in this movement toward greater transparency in automotive marketing reporting and analytics. This solves a critical problem for dealers – clear data to help improve their marketing mix.”

To learn more about the AAAS event, visit http://automotiveattributionsummit.com/.

About Outsell

Outsell drives more revenue for auto dealers by transforming how they engage consumers throughout their individual lifecycles. Outsell makes dealers’ lives easier by keeping them in front of customers and prospects using AI-driven, automated marketing communications across channels – helping them retain more customers and attract new ones. Dealers using Outsell’s proprietary technology are tipped off when consumers are most ready to engage, buy or service. Every day, the Outsell customer engagement platform listens to and manages the engagement of over twenty million consumers for dealers representing all major automotive brands.

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