Advancements in technology and increased use of smartphones have influenced the shopping patterns with most people relying on online searches before getting to an in-store shop. The trends are also evident in the car buying and selling industry where most people now rely on various applications to complete various functions such scanning the vehicle identification number and monitoring the rise and drop of car prices. Car buyers also want access to the inventory and have the freedom to compare prices and reviews from different dealerships. Therefore, the use of mobile applications is bound to take an upward even in future.

In 2014, vehicle buyers using branded apps were 73% more likely to buy a car from a dealership. Consequently, the app users were 7% likely to spend more on purchasing a car with the vehicle prices ranging from $20,000 to $40,000. The number of the millennials who have a clear understanding of the applications is on the rise while their car buying patterns are also increasing every day. Therefore, dealerships looking to maintain their competitive edge should consider getting some of the popular apps below.

1) The AutoMotionTV Dealer App

The application has features such as directions, push notifications, reminders, hours, service scheduling, click to call, and live chats. The inventory feature on the app contains various options that one can choose from such as images and videos with a 360 degrees view option. The app allows the integration of any link that a dealer has, which is presented in the form of a button. The dealers can also add pieces of their e-commerce site to the apps without affecting the tracking and the lead generation feature.

2) The Advantage txt App

The application allows improved communication between the car dealership and their customers. The average response time from the client is 3 to 4 minutes, meaning that the car dealers do not have to wait up to 12-24 hours for a phone call or a reply to an email. The application allows users to store all information in one place. It also has user-adjusted microsite landing pages and an intuitive interface.

3) My Mobile Dealer App

This is one of the must-have applications in any dealership across the country that integrates the company's DMS and the CRM systems. The car dealers rely on the app in scheduling follow-ups, identification and understanding the prospects, creation of opportunities, and updating of their list of vehicles. The app has a stream processing feature that allows the car dealers to send a message to their customers and at the same time analyze how the message recipients receive the data.

4) Auto Dealer App

This application by Pulse allows the car dealership workers or owners to reach their customers at any time of the day. The applications help the dealership owners to deepen analytics and analyze the customers' behavior. The car dealers only have to pay a minimal monthly fee and enjoy the superior and customized service.

5) The NADA Marketvalues App

The car dealerships contain old and new cars. The car dealers use the application specifically for the old car sales and their valuation. The car dealers do this by scanning the VIN of the car to find the market value of the car and identify the history of an old vehicle.

Conclusion

Therefore, dealerships should embrace various applications that we have in the market to increase their sales and improve their bottom line. Car sale is a competitive industry in the United States and dealerships should readily adopt the current trends if they intend to succeed in the industry. Remember that some of the applications are free to get while others may require you to pay a small fee to enjoy the services.

We are living in an era of promotion, negotiation and sales. In the ultra-competitive car selling world of the 21st century, it is not preposterous to say that sales is everything; in 2017, even the President of the United States has a strong background in selling.

As a business process and as a constant economic cycle, the act of selling is comprised of various stages. Most car dealerships split their sales process into too many process; in some cases, one person may sometimes be assigned to handle all steps of the process while in other cases members of sales teams may focus on a single stage.

The sales process always begins with product knowledge followed by lead prospecting and marketing. This involves email drip campaigns that are geared toward your target audience. The next steps involve qualifying buyers, making a proposal, overcoming objections, and closing. The final stage is the most crucial in the process; for this reason, some companies choose their car sellers to take on a dedicated closing role.

Closing Stage: What Does That Mean?

Many people believe that closing is a religion while many others consider it to be a mere formality that caps off the preceding stages of selling. Closing on a vehicle is always better when strategic planning has been conducted prior to kicking off the sales process.

Overconfident car dealers who believe that attitude is everything in relation selling tend to focus on the closing stage; however, this may not always be the best approach. Closing a sale does not have to be a battle or an exercise in psychological persuasion, it should be the smooth conclusion of an even smoother process.

Getting to closing stage will require the following:

Where are the Good Buyers?

Good car dealers are easy to find; good buyers and consumers, on the other hand, tend to hide in plain view. Identifying and reaching out to the ideal car buyers is the first challenge that car dealerships face. The role of a decision maker is not clearly defined in every household; when this is the case, car dealers must adjust their pitch so that it appeals to a prospect who is really interested.

Understanding the Needs and Interest of Your Buyers

A car dealer can easily come across as being too pushy and selfish if he or she fails to cater to the interests of their prospects. A SeneGence distributor, for example, will always try to keep prospects engaged by highlighting products that fit their lifestyles. A young and fashionable woman who enjoys the nightlife may be interested in lipstick that can look great even after a passionate kiss. An active woman who spends a considerable amount of time outdoors may be more interested in anti-aging makeup.

Not too Late, Not too Early, Just in Time

Many people say that sales is everything while many salesmen explain that timing is everything in sales. When prospects are not ready to buy, sales professionals should not rush them to closing. Be a resource of help and knowledge for them. If they need to reduce their debt before purchasing a car, don’t be afraid to recommend debt relief services to them. Most purchases are made out of necessity. To this effect, closing a sale is highly contingent upon identifying a need and presenting a solution. The timing of a sale can be advanced by means of creating a sense of urgency; this is fairly common in car sales when market conditions are rapidly changing.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for the Sale

Even the best car dealers selling the best cars at the most affordable prices cannot expect a high closing ratio if they do not ask for the sale. Not all prospects will show a willingness to buy; first of all, the salesman needs to know when to ask for the sale for the sale. The next step requires confidence and making the prospect feel that they are making the right choice.

In the end, closing may be a vital stage of the sales process, but it should not be treated as the only one. It is important to plan ahead and reach the closing strategically.