Essentials

Essentials, developed by Affinitiv, is a comprehensive data-driven solution that aims to enhance the automotive customer lifecycle. This fully integrated platform caters to small to large-sized automotive dealerships, providing them with tools to potentially improve the customer experience, promote repurchase, and foster long-term loyalty. According to the vendor, professionals in the automotive industry, including sales and marketing professionals, customer service representatives, and consultants, can potentially benefit from the features and functionalities offered by Essentials.

Key Features

Advanced Equity Mining: According to the vendor, this feature utilizes predictive technology to identify potential customers who may be ready to trade, and offers personalized equity deals to attract both prospects and existing customers. The customizable customer portal allows for inventory swapping and flexible payment options. Integration with 700Credit is claimed to ensure accurate equity handouts, and the vendor says that service-only customer conquest data provides estimated offers.

SEM, Social, Display, and Video: The vendor claims that Essentials offers a comprehensive digital strategy encompassing search engine marketing (SEM), social media, display advertising, and video campaigns. These campaigns can be customized to capture customers online, and the vendor suggests that specific audiences can be precisely targeted based on OEM brand, demographics, and online activity. According to the vendor, dealer-centric tailoring is possible to meet specific goals and budgets.

Guaranteed Trade-In: According to the vendor, this feature guarantees the value of any vehicle and provides access to a large appraisal desk for a second opinion. The vendor claims that the mobile app enables the conversion of phone ups to in-store traffic, while the integrated database marketing facilitates repeat business. Additionally, the integrated social media marketing platform is said to generate incremental leads.

Fully Integrated CRM: According to the vendor, this feature allows for real-time monitoring of showroom activity. It offers integration with internet lead management from third-party providers and provides wireless access for managing customer interactions on mobile devices. The vendor claims that the direct desk feature allows for adjusting payment options and reducing deal times, while in-depth reporting provides insights on calls, appointments, and advisor answer rates.

Voice Solutions: According to the vendor, this feature provides call center services for both inbound and outbound calls, with professional agents handling sales and service inquiries. Automatic call routing is claimed to ensure that calls reach the appropriate person or department, while customizable call campaigns and voice scripts are said to support effective marketing. The vendor suggests that inbound and outbound calling capabilities contribute to increased lead conversion.