As you’ll hear from just about anyone in automotive, it’s all about “the product.” From my perspective there are lots of products at a dealership. Parts and service are certainly products. Scheduling service appointments – ordering service if you will – has been automated through online scheduling tools integrated to dealer systems. Parts ordering, particularly stock parts ordering, has been automated through analytics and sophisticated bi-directional communications of inventory and order history with dealer systems. So why not automate ordering of THE product in automotive—the automobile?
OK, this product happens to be the most complex and have the most dependencies. But, today the dealer communication systems of automakers allow user interaction with order management systems. Why not extend that capability to the systems in dealerships so dealers can spend more time with customers and less time toggling between a disconnected OEM system and a system in the store?
Oxlo is taking a first step in this direction by feeding OEM vehicle pipeline information to dealer systems. Now a dealer can see the entire inventory picture—from what’s on the lot to what’s coming in the pipeline—all in the dealer system.
Yes, customers buy a product and drive it home, but their experience at a dealership is also part of the overall product experience. By finding ways to automate the vehicle ordering process dealer personnel will spend less time with computer systems and more time with customers, putting them in THE product faster and with better results.
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