Q4 is typically the quietest time of year for car dealers so it is important to have a strategy in place based on industry trends and your own business performance patterns.
Throughout 2018, the used car market has generally been very healthy, with large auction companies revealing record prices, and we can expect this trend to last until the end of the year.
This year has not been quite so lucrative for new car sales, which have been down in comparison to 2017. This can be largely attributed to a shift in demand for new diesels and confusion about the WLTP regulations soon to be implemented. This has also seen dealers and manufacturers especially eager to shift new stock before the laws change in September.
If interest in new car sales does rise, we may see a clearer divide emerging between nearly new and traditional used car sectors.
Choose the Right Age
With new car retailers wanting to get rid of vehicles quickly, we can expect plenty to announce special offers. This is going to put pressure on the nearly new market and pre-registrations, so it may be best to avoid these as much as possible, or at least offer a mix of ages to balance things out.
Maintain Competitive Screen Prices
The traditional used car market should remain strong, although PCP agreements with low-rates have contributed to its prosperity and any increases in interest could affect this. It is highly unlikely that this will have a significant negative impact on used car sales, but it is worth being mindful, particularly with screen prices.
Keep a Close Eye on Stock Turn
We can’t have everything, and with such high demand for used cars, comes high acquisition prices. This has been one of the biggest issues for used car dealers this year and will continue to make it difficult to keep margins healthy. Close attention to stock turn will be vital. Click Dealer’s Aged Stock Management Products can help you stay on top of things.
For more information about how Click Dealer can help you manage your stock during Q4, get in touch by calling 01782 904 715, emailing [email protected] or sending us a message via our contact page.
Today, data has become crucially important to businesses, yet the management of it in the automotive industry is generally not as good as it could be.
There are a couple of limitations with mainstream data management among the car dealer community that stand out.
Lack of Data Analysis
Firstly, administrative staff who operate stock management systems, CRM systems and accounting systems typically get their job done without thinking about how the data being inputted and organised could affect parts of the business.
When meaning is attached to data, we can understand the impact that this could have on reports and departments, which could help to foresee issues and opportunities.
Duplicating Data
Secondly, many dealers are having to input the same data on several platforms. When you get a new vehicle in stock, details of the product will need to appear on your website and advertising portals. If you are manually inputting this data for each platform, it will not only be time consuming, but it also creates opportunity for human error.
If you have your car purchases funded by a finance company, you will need to ensure it is removed from a stocking plan when it is sold so that you avoid unnecessary expenses.
When the limitations of duplicating data and lack of analysis are seen as an issue, the response is often to hire additional employees specifically for managing data, but technology offers simpler and more cost-effective methods.
Reports
With Click DMS, car dealers have the option of generating instant reports based on data that is inputted into the system. From sales reports, which reveal overall team performance and individual performance to make and model reports, which show you how well specific vehicles are selling, our system will clearly display the information you want, based on your time parameters, making it easy for you to analyse and identify where improvements can be made.
Integration
Another advantage of Click DMS is that our platform integrates with third-party systems like the APAK feed, advertising feeds and finance systems. This means that you will not have to invest time or resources to ensure that your vehicle and financial data is universally accurate.
To find out more about how Click DMS can improve your dealership’s data management, get in touch by calling 01782 904 715, emailing [email protected] or sending us a message via our contact page.
Cars have changed the world. This transportation solution is used by billions and has granted enormous personal freedom.
In return for the conveniences they bring, they’re also one of the biggest financial burdens behind a house. The people working on autonomous vehicles generally see their main benefits as mitigating these costs, notably road accidents, pollution and congestion.
Less Involved
I’ve seen more than a handful of people on Twitter say that by driving a manual car instead of an automatic alternative they’re actually safer as they’re more involved in the process; if that’s the case how focused are we when we’re travelling on the motorway with radar guided cruise control and lane keep assist doing virtually all the work?
Uncharted Waters
Self-driving cars have been at the forefront of automotive conversation for a few years now; Tesla has led the way with this technology and as such is at the forefront of debate when these systems go wrong and there’s a fatality.
In 2016, Joshua Brown made history as the first person to die in a self-driving car. A HGV pulled out in front of his car and due to the bright sky, the cameras and radars failed to spot the huge wall of metal. Brown died, and Tesla were cleared of any wrongdoing as their system was designed to prevent Tesla cars from rear-ending other vehicles, not handle situations where vehicles cross from intersecting roads.
Who’s to Blame?
So, who’s really responsible when self-driving cars fail? Many people pointed their fingers at Tesla, however as is the case with every other car with self-driving capabilities, the system is there to aid, not replace, human drivers. This is sure to be one of the most significant debates of the 21st century; who or what will be liable when fully autonomous cars crash?
There can only be one
Imagine you’re at a T-junction, opposite, there’s another T-junction. In theory there’s a prescribed order in which cars are supposed to go. In reality, drivers use eye contact and hand gestures to decide who moves first. This is present in more situations than we realise whilst driving, zebra crossings, car parks, merging. All of these situations are dealt with like second nature by us but are a nightmare for the AI in a car. How do you program a computer to understand the unwritten rules of the road?
Fully self-driving cars and cars driven by humans can not share the road. Humans are too unpredictable to work alongside. When you look at the causes of crashes and fatalities involving self-driving cars, the vast majority involve humans. Whether that be a lorry pulling out, crossing the road in a poorly lit area or simply not paying attention. Self-driving cars can only do so much. It always comes back to the same issue; you can’t program a machine to anticipate an unpredictable act, be that human or from nature.
Technology is advancing at a remarkably rapid rate and it has and continues to shape retail experiences. It is likely that in ten years’ time, car dealerships will look quite different than they do now.
We have recently seen a clear shift in the way that some manufacturers and car dealers sell cars, providing customers with the option to choose a vehicle, a finance deal, and add-on products online as well as being able to book a test drive, pay a reservation fee and actually purchase a car online. We are even starting to see virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI) being used by dealers.
Virtual Reality
While the transition to digital car sales is gradual, few industry experts see it as a trend that is going to decline. One big thing is missing from the experience of buying online, and that is being able to see, and test drive a car.
While you can take photos and videos from every angle to reflect the experience of seeing a vehicle in person, with VR technology, customers will be able to walk around a car and look at it from the comfort of their home.
The next step would be VR driving simulators to recreate the test drive experience, which are currently in production. Although individuals will not be able to physically feel the response of the car, they will be able to get a pretty accurate idea of the driving dynamics, handling and how the car functions.
Autonomous Cars
A number of aspects involved in vehicle retailing can already be automated, including part-exchange valuations, sourcing and marketing and as AI technology continues to develop, new ways for car dealers to embrace it are emerging.
A lot of resources have been invested into perfecting self-driving cars, and it looks like fully autonomous cars will be a part of our future. The thought of this may make some people uncomfortable, but there could be certain advantages for dealers.
Imagine cars driving themselves to auctions, your workshop or even to a customer. This would eliminate the need for large transportation trucks and it also means that you could offer delivery without needing to lose a member of staff for several hours.
Stores and Experiences
The infrastructure of dealerships is also likely to change. Ford has already begun to introduce its own retail stores, which feature tablets and full-scale interactive displays for consumers to customise their own vehicle.
Many have also speculated that dealerships could become bigger, placing a much greater emphasis on providing an experience, with the introduction of VR simulators and drive-in servicing, where customers can have a coffee and relax while they wait for work to be completed on their vehicle or for their electric car to be charged.
No one can say for sure what the future holds, but most experts seem to be convinced that big changes are coming.
To start embracing the future of automotive retail, find out more about how ClickEngage™ can help your dealership sell vehicles online by calling 01782 904 715, emailing [email protected] or sending us a message via our contact page.
A recent study by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders revealed that the British used car market remained a strong, thriving success in the second quarter of 2018. Statistics show that sales of used cars were down by only 0.4% and had reached a total of more than two million during the period, indicating a prosperous year for many used car retailers.
The results found that, throughout the second quarter of this year alone, a grand total of 2,093,429 vehicles had changed hands. These figures show that, compared to the second quarter of 2017, the decline in used car sales in 2018 was minimal, with only 8,725 fewer in the second quarter.
Of the many segments of the used car market, it appears that superminis remained the most popular amongst buyers. They accounted for a third of used car sales during the period, followed by small and mid-sized family vehicles.
On average, the demand for sport utility vehicles has risen by 10.7% and executive vehicles by 3.9%.
Hybrids, Diesel and Petrol
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders found that sales of certain types of vehicles had fluctuated in the second quarter of 2018, revealing both an increase and decrease in popularity of the different engine types.
Out of the fuel options in the used car market, diesel vehicles became rose in popularity in the second quarter of the year, with a sales increase of 3.2% and around 868,573 used buyers drove one home during that time. However, the number of transactions that involved petrol-powered vehicles had fallen by 3.3%.
Although the demand for diesel cars had grown and petrol had fallen, hybrid and electric vehicles became much more popular on the used car market than they had been previously, with a total of 26,832 used examples sold.
Colour Trends in the Used Car Market
Throughout the second quarter of the year, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders’ research revealed that the most common colour of choice for cars in the used car market was black and scraping second and third place was silver and blue, which have also proven to be amongst the most popular choice of colour for used buyers at the time.
Demand for white cars had also grown, resulting in an increase of 9.8%, as has demand for orange at 9.1%.
On the other hand, green car sales had fallen by 14.6% and maroon had fallen by 9.6%, making them two of the least popular colour options during the second quarter of 2018.
‘’It’s great to see the used car sector remain in robust health as motorists take advantage of the exciting high-tech models filtering down from the new sector – including some of the latest low-emission diesel and alternatively-fueled vehicles,’’ explained Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
‘’However, with used sales so closely reflecting the new car market, some cooling is expected over the coming months. Given fleet renewal is the fastest way to improve air quality and to reduce CO2, we need greater business and consumer confidence to keep both markets moving.’’
To find out how Click Dealer can help your dealerships’ sales performance, get in touch by calling 01782 454354, emailing [email protected], or sending a message via our contact page.
No matter how much you spend on advertising to bring traffic to your website, if you haven’t got processes in place to capture and convert leads, you may be wasting your money!
Here are three ways for you to encourage finance conversions by implementing features on your website.
Car Finance Guides
While you may know all there is to know about the different types of car finance, many of your customers will find it baffling, which can deter them from signing up for an agreement altogether.
Our Web team at Click Dealer are able to integrate finance guides in the form of text and videos on your site, so that you can help your customers understand their options. If they have a better understanding of PCP and HP agreements and their benefits, they may be more willing to make an application, and if they have learned about it on your website, they are likely to apply with you!
Finance Calculators
A popular module that Click Dealer offer is finance calculators. These enable your website visitors to get an instant quote tailored to them. They can adjust their deposit amount, the amount of time they would like to borrow for, and if relevant, how many miles they expect to cover.
Giving your customers the opportunity to choose their own parameters to suit their personal circumstances should help your conversion rate.
Finance Application Forms
Once they are happy with their quick quote, customers may decide that they want to apply for finance. An online enquiry form is a quick and easy way for you to capture their information, and with Click Dealer, you can choose exactly what data you want the form to request.
A short enquiry form may produce more leads, whereas a longer form may gain more details and increase the quality of the leads, so it is up to you to decide on the structure that will best suit your business model.
To find out more about how Click Web can help you capture and convert website leads, get in touch by calling 01782 454354, emailing [email protected], or sending a message via our contact page.
Hundreds packed into Pershall Park on Sunday afternoon to witness Click Dealer take on Codeweavers for the Jude’s Rimet Trophy and they weren’t disappointed with the spectacle provided by the two automotive software giants!
The match was the main focal point of Click’s charity ‘Family Footy Fest’ held at Eccleshall FC, in aid of Leighton Hospital’s Ward 17 and the latest in their long list of fundraising challenges to help raise £20,000 for the trust.
Lee Rawlinson and Son Jude, the inspiration behind the trophy, lead the teams out for the big match!
First Third
In what was an end-to-end game, both sides made bright starts and had opportunities to open the scoring but it was Click Dealer’s midfield maestro, Jack Ganley who went the closest to breaking the deadlock, his free kick was destined for the top-left hand corner before a fingertip save from Codeweavers keeper Joe Williams diverted the ball onto the crossbar and out for a corner.
After a quarter of an hour, it was the Codeweavers supporters who were celebrating when a long-ball over the top was fumbled by Click Dealer keeper, Jake Mallin, the Stafford based outfit’s Operations Director, Craig Judson, pounced to bundle the ball home, much to the delight of their travelling faithful, who were vociferous throughout the affair!
Codeweavers’ Craig Judson capitalised on Jake Mallin’s fumble.
The introduction of skilful attacker, Hassan Ali for The Clickers after 20 minutes began to tip the game in their favour, as the Crewe born forward caused numerous problems for the Codeweavers backline.
With just five minutes of the first third remaining Joe Podmore’s exquisitely floated corner was met by the head of burly centre-forward, Jamie Baker, and powered into the top left-hand corner of the net, despite the best efforts of Codeweavers keeper, Williams to keep it out, and The Clickers were level.
Jamie Baker rose to power home Click Dealer’s equaliser.
In what was a double sucker punch for Codeweavers, The Clickers kept on applying the pressure, buoyed by their equaliser and as another Podmore corner evaded everybody in the box, it was Baker once again who ghosted in at the back post to volley home left-footed from what looked like an unworkable angle to give Click Dealer the lead for the first time in the match!
Second Third
The second third began the same way the first ended, with Click Dealer in the ascendancy. Jack Ganley’s slide rule pass split open the Codeweavers defence for Jamie Baker to race through on goal and smash home his hat-trick, giving Click Dealer a two-goal cushion.
Bustling target-man, Jamie Baker blasts home his hat-trick goal.
The Clicker’s joy was short-lived as combative midfielder, Joe Podmore was given his marching orders for a late challenge on a Codeweavers midfielder and his 10-minute sin-bin, left his side weakened and vulnerable and Codeweavers were quick to capitalise.
Click Dealer midfielder, Joe Podmore put in an all action display, capped with four assists!
A close-range goal from Codeweavers forward, Jack Davenport and a long-range drive from Adam Canay soon had the Dunston based business back on level terms and The Clickers in despair having blown their two goal lead in the space of a few minutes! Canay was lucky not to be booked for taking his shirt off in celebration of his goal (think Ryan Giggs in the FA Cup vs Arsenal… The celebration, not the goal!)
Adam Canay blasted home Codeweaver’s equaliser from 20 yards.
And with that, the two sides went in level after the second third, with just thirty minutes left to play to try and avoid the dreaded penalty shoot-out.
Final Third
With Podmore back on the pitch, The Clickers came out all guns blazing once again in the final third and within minutes of the restart, Lee Rawlinson’s cross was dropped by Joe Williams, for the only blip of an otherwise stunning performance from the Codeweavers keeper and Hassan Ali was on hand to turn the ball into the back of the net and put Click Dealer 4-3 up!
Hassan Ali bundled home Click Dealer’s fourth goal in an all action performance.
But the topsy turvy game showed no signs of slowing down there and it wasn’t long before Codeweavers were back level. After getting in behind the Click Dealer defence, skilful winger, Elliot Evans lobbed the oncoming Jake Mallin and despite Click Dealer Director, Ollie Moxham’s efforts to clear the ball off the line, it sliced off his boot and trickled in to make the score 4-4 and setup a grandstand finish to the game.
Elliot Evans lobbed home Codeweavers’ fourth goal of the game.
With time running out and penalties looking a distinct possibility to separate the two sparring sides, another pinpoint Podmore corner was met by a near post run from his midfield partner in crime, Jack Ganley with a bullet header into the top-right corner of the net, giving Williams no chance and putting The Clickers 5-4 up!
Jack Ganley leapt high to nod in Click Dealer’s fifth goal from another Joe Podmore set-piece.
Minutes later, another trademark Podmore corner-kick routine paid off, this time it was Father to be, Keiran Munn who rose high to power home a stunning header and provide another example of his scoring prowess! The Wolverhampton native wheeled off in jubilant celebration after restoring Click Dealer’s two goal lead and seemingly putting the game to bed.
Keiran Munn rose like a salmon to head home The Clickers’ match-winning goal!
Codeweavers continued to fight to the bitter end though and their perseverance was rewarded when Click Dealer centre-half Ben Wood threw them a lifeline by inadvertently lobbing his own goalkeeper to make the score 6-5 with a nail-biting last two minutes still to go!
Ben Wood’s spectacular own-goal gave Codeweavers a late lifeline!
The Clickers cleared their lines as best they could but they were dead on their feet after an all action display and with seconds left on the clock, Jack Davenport glided past two defenders before curling a tremendous shot inches past the far post in an agonising final attack for Codeweavers.
Jack Davenport almost equalised for Codeweavers with a stunning effort just seconds from time.
But in the end, it was Click Dealer who held on to win the inaugural Jude’s Rimet Trophy match, with Captain, Jamie Baker lifting the cup in front of a delighted crowd.
Click Dealer clinched the inaugral Jude’s Rimet Trophy after a dramatic 6-5 win over Codeweavers at Pershall Park.
Over £1,600 was raised for Leighton Hospital’s Ward 17 thanks to Click Dealer’s Family Footy Fest and The Clickers would like to extend a huge thank you to Codeweavers and their friends and family for supporting the event, we couldn’t have done it without you!
More than ever, our cars are controlled by legislation. Jumping through European emission hoops and safety standards is the number one priority for manufacturers.
This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, we’ve now got greener cars with more horsepower. It’s changed the face of our hot hatchbacks however, so much so that we’ve now got a new market; the super hatch.
Original Hot Hatches
The MK1 Golf GTI and Peugeot 205 GTI are without doubt two of the best known hot hatches ever. Despite their low horsepower output, chuckable dynamics and lightweight design made them the cars to have in the eighties. 100bhp from a 1.8 litre naturally aspirated engine was standard then, the addition of a turbocharger added a small increase in horsepower but the cars the sports versions were built on were getting heavier; rendering the performance benefits minimal.
Four-Wheel Drive
Our modern hatches now need four driven wheels if they’re to compete with the best; the Civic Type R being a pleasant exception. Four-wheel drive isn’t just a marketing tactic though, these cars genuinely need the extra grip to put all of their power down. To produce 400bhp from a 2.0 litre engine takes incredible engineering and it makes you question how strained these engines really are. The likes of the A45 AMG do display signs of turbo lag at lower revs and their uprated brakes are grabby around town.
Socially Acceptable
The best thing about these modern super hatches is that they are socially acceptable. The 80’s hot hatches were frowned upon by ‘decent’ society and stolen by so many proto-chavs that insurance premiums rose to such levels no-one could afford to run one. And because their power units have been developed at least partially as a result of increased efficiency they return +30mpg.
Overview
We live in an age where power is easier to access than at any time before. A normal family can have a 300bhp, 1400kg, sensible and reasonably priced hatchback in the drive and they won’t be outed as scum by society!
And it won’t cost a great deal to tax, fuel and insure. Many of our super hatches can only be recognised from the rear thanks to their head-sized exhausts. The rich can have their supercars, with a few simple modifications I can have their power from an Audi RS3 and still take the kids to school in comfort!
The automotive industry is facing what is set to be one of the biggest transformations it has ever gone through, according to predictions from professionals.
Two main causes of this transformation can be identified: changing mobility patterns and increased interest in e-commerce.
Mobility Patterns
Experts believe that less people are going to be buying and owning their own cars in the future, with options like car sharing and PCP finance becoming a preferable option. Research suggests that people would be more willing to ditch their cars if ride-hailing and vehicle-sharing services were more widely available.
Many have speculated that in the future, OEMs will sell on a B2B marketplace rather than a B2C marketplace, so rather than vehicles being sold to individual customers, they will be sold to car rental companies and mobility service providers.
Online Retail
In addition to shifts in mobility trends, the shift towards online vehicle trading has already began and specialists within the industry think that it is going to become increasingly popular very quickly.
As with mobility, as more digital options become available for creating deals and buying vehicles become available, they are likely to become more popular and customers will spend less time in dealerships.
Preparing for the Future
It is unlikely that the traditional methods of vehicle retailing will simply disappear altogether. There is a far greater chance that we will instead end up with vehicle sales being processed by multiple channels, which will be increasingly digital.
Although this may not be the future you had hoped for, it is best to be prepared for it. It might be worth looking at your current business model and considering whether there is any room to adapt.
ClickEngage™ is designed to help car dealers adapt to new digital methods of automotive retail. This technology integrates seamlessly on your website, allowing your customers to pick a car, get part-exchange valuations and finance quotes and choose from your selection of add-on products. They can also pay a reservation fee online.
This digital platform is created to not only cope with the strain caused by disruptive industry changes, but to actually contribute to the disruption, presenting your dealership as a forward-thinking company, who actively puts customers first, allowing them to buy cars in the way they want to.
Call 01782 454354, email [email protected], or send a message via our contact page to speak to find out more about ClickEngage™.
A new survey for RAC Dealer Network revealed that an estimated 7 out of 10 used car retailers are feeling hopeful about their future prospects for the remainder of the year.
The survey, which took place in April 2018 to gather data for a comparison of the performance of the new and used car market, expresses the opinions of more than 100 independent car dealers who are members of the RAC Dealer Network.
RAC Dealer Network Survey Results
Around 38 per cent of those surveyed described their expectations of the remainder of 2018 as positive and 29 per cent as very positive. A further 26 per cent of the dealers who took part in the survey said that their expectations for business are neutral, while a mere 8 per cent of them felt negative or very negative about the months to come.
33 per cent of the dealers who completed the RAC Dealer Network survey admitted that business performance in 2018 had been better than anticipated, while an additional 9 per cent of those questioned said that business this year had been much better than they had expected it to be. Out of the remainder, 30 per cent agreed that their performance so far this year had met their expectations, while 19 per cent appear to have thought the first half of the year would have been more fruitful and a further 8 per cent thought that it had been much worse than they had imagined it would be.
Used Car Demand Remains Firm
According to sales director at the RAC Dealer Network, Sean Kent, the results from the survey revealed that, no matter what the state of the new car market, used car dealers are doing well. He said, “The respective performances of the new and used car markets are sometimes quite different, and this appears to be one of those times.
“While the new market is feeling the effect of the movement against diesel, higher prices, decreased manufacturer support for finance and more, there appears to be something of a boom underway for used vehicles. Used car values and demand remain firm, according to almost all of the industry experts.”
Kent spoke about how used car dealers are reaping the benefits of this, with most of them having a good start to 2018 and positively looking forward to the remaining part of the year.
Though, he noted that several dealers had sold fewer diesel vehicles than they had the previous year. “Our research indicates that 41 per cent are selling fewer diesels and only 10 per cent more, which shows that there is some contagion between the new and used sectors in this respect. But at the moment its impact seems to be limited.”
To find out more about how Click Dealer can help your dealership make the rest of 2018 successful, get in touch via [email protected] or 01782 454354. Alternatively, you can send us a message through our contact page.
