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.