Ten pain points for dealers by the Autofinity Team

As we delve deeper into our series on dealer pain points and ways to overcome them, our first/second in the series takes a closer look at dealership delays/vehicle sourcing.

Ten pain points for dealers

Dealers face a host of pain points in the daily operation of their business. Below we’ve identified the ten most common issues which are regularly cited by our clients.

Technology and AI can overcome many of these problems whilst automating much of the ‘heavy lifting’ undertaken manually by dealership staff frees up their time to focus on more complex (and interesting) tasks which in turn drives efficiency and ultimately boosts profit margins.

We’re focusing on each of these points in our blog series.

1) Delays

Delays between a vehicle coming into dealer group stock and its appearance on physical and virtual forecourts are costly and avoidable. The inability to have full oversight of a group’s stock is often the crux of the problem. ViHUB provides full visibility and flags issues for immediate attention. This promotes increased efficiency so a vehicle is marketed on the physical and virtual forecourt faster leading to fewer days in stock which itself can then be used as a key live metric.

Read more Delays In The System - Autofinity

2) Sourcing stock

Dealer vehicle stock is now sourced from multiple sources making the used car buyer’s role increasingly complex. Different valuation methods are consulted alongside price-to-market information making like-for-like comparisons difficult. ViSOURCE aggregates wholesale vendor stock and information to provide an overarching view of the market from one dashboard.

Read more The Source Of All Knowledge - Autofinity

3) Pricing

With so many variables affecting the price of a vehicle and therefore a dealer’s profit margin, pricing correctly in the first place and then keeping track of market fluctuations has become a major obstacle for dealers. Price correctly with regular adjustments in line with the market and a vehicle’s stock turn is boosted along with a group’s profits. ViHUB’s Auto Trader Connect integration makes the classified site’s pricing flags and recommendations visible in one overall dashboard.

4) OEM Feeds

OEM franchised dealer standards include the utilisation of its own systems to publish stock on national locators, factor in the dealership’s own website and marketing requirements and already double, even triple, keying is widespread. For multi-franchise groups the problem multiplies. By using ViHUB, OEM updates are automated.

5) Online marketing channels

It’s not just the OEM and dealer group website which demands a vehicle feed but every other online marketing channel as well as a multitude of internal systems which are deployed in the everyday running of a dealership. ViHUB connects and feeds data to and from these systems automatically, monitors portal responses and ‘flags’ any issues for immediate rectification.

6) Time pressures and multiple solutions

Multiple disconnected applications, systems which don’t quite do the right job and require staff intervention to plug the gaps and inefficient processes continue because there isn’t enough time to address the problem. Even when a problem is acknowledged, it can feel insurmountable, so inefficient practices and applications continue. Autofinity’s consultancy arm Transform will undertake an audit to identify obsolete and duplicate systems and licences for time and cost savings.

7) Trusted advisors

To see the wood for the trees, dealers need a trusted advisor who isn’t after a quick sale. Like the sales executive who takes the time to understand a customer’s requirements and then finds the right car to match rather than offloading the nearest available vehicle for a quick return, we work with our dealer clients to meet business demands and identify the best solutions.

8) Process adoption and adherence

Staff turnover and complicated processes as a result of disconnected systems means wildly differing processes are followed across one group. Our Transform Consulting specialists can help re-align and train staff to ensure agreed processes are understood and followed whilst best practice in other businesses are identified and replicated.

9) Manual labour and key staff

Multiple applications meet specific daily task requirements because no one system delivers the gold standard individual specialist suppliers have achieved. A lack of integration and automation results in double keying and information disparity. These gaps are plastered over by key staff who act as a human bridge which creates issues when they are off or leave. Transform highlights the cracks and can implement an automated process.

10) Helpdesk hell

With so many applications at work, when something goes wrong, it can create a blockage in the day’s entire output. Dealership staff spend time on the phone to the requisite helpdesk and in the cases where an application forms part of one of the sector’s large supplier’s portfolio, initiating communication with the helpdesk itself can prove a major obstacle whilst the advisor is unlikely to have specialist knowledge. We pride ourselves on putting a face to everyone and having an accessible team. If in doubt, our team is happy to speak to anyone who calls.