We visited the Car Dealer Live 2026 conference in Gaydon, the UK in March 2026 to get an insight of the talking points of the car dealership market in the UK. There were a range of topics covered from the sourcing challenges of used cars, the influx of the new Chinese brands and models introduced …
Since last summer, we have been meeting regularly with car, machinery, motorcycle, and boat dealers. A recurring theme in our discussions has been how digitalization and artificial intelligence could develop the industry to make trading smoother and improve results—for both dealers and customers alike. Based on these encounters, we have identified five key, recurring challenges …
Today’s car buyers spend an increasingly greater amount of time online searching for information before arriving at a dealership. Your website doesn’t just compete with other car dealers’ sites, but also with international and large marketplaces that have set a high bar for user experience. Many dealership websites are still built solely to showcase inventory, …
In today’s automotive retail landscape, most dealerships have some form of online presence, but there’s a substantial difference between simply having a website and having one that actively drives business results. Many dealers have basic sites that display inventory but miss opportunities to engage customers through the entire buying journey. In a competitive market where …
In the automotive retail industry, acquiring a new customer costs five to seven times more than retaining an existing one. Yet many dealerships focus primarily on inventory turnover and new customer acquisition while underinvesting in customer retention. This approach leaves significant revenue on the table, as repeat customers spend more, require less convincing, and often …
Today’s car buyers move fluidly between digital research and physical dealership visits. They check vehicle specifications online, visit showrooms for test drives, return to digital channels for comparisons, and often repeat this cycle multiple times before purchase. This non-linear buying process creates significant challenges for dealerships still operating with separate online and in-store systems. The …
The Finnish automotive market continues to evolve with today’s customers expecting a seamless blend of online convenience and in-person service. Buyers now research extensively online before visiting dealerships, comparing options and checking vehicle specifications and history information. This shift in consumer behavior creates opportunities for used car dealerships to improve their customer experience by connecting …
Let’s face it – financing is where many vehicle sales either come together or fall apart. As more car shoppers move online, dealers who offer smooth digital financing options are winning more business. Here’s why online financing matters and how dealers can get it right. Why Customers Want Online Financing Options Today’s vehicle buyers hate …
Car dealerships can significantly enhance their digital footprint by strategically leveraging automotive marketplaces. These platforms expand visibility to millions of potential buyers, generate quality leads, and offer data-driven insights. Successful dealers select the right mix of general and specialized platforms, optimize listings with professional photos and detailed descriptions, integrate marketplace data with their systems, and …
Vehicle trade professionals typically see a 15-25% return on investment from specialized marine marketplace platforms within 6-12 months. Top performers can achieve up to 40% ROI by leveraging advanced listing features, optimization tools, and strategic pricing models. The initial investment, which ranges from $2,000-$10,000 annually depending on platform and scope, typically delivers measurable returns through …
