In today’s fast-paced automotive industry, having a clear picture of inventory and the ability to manage it effectively is crucial. To shed light on this, Mike Costello, Corporate Affairs Manager at Cox Automotive Australia, sat down with Vlad Djurdjevic, the Sales and Relationship Manager for the Retail Data Solutions business at Cox Automotive Australia. They discussed the importance of data-driven tools like SmartPublisher and AutoRadar in helping dealers optimise their operations.
The Heart of Dealership Operations
According to Vlad, “Smart Publisher is almost the heart of your operation for a dealership.” This powerful tool allows dealers to send their stock from their Dealer Management System (DMS) to their website and other destinations. It serves as a central hub for managing where inventory is advertised, adjusting prices, and updating vehicle comments. With mobile-friendly access, dealers can easily walk around the yard, take additional photos, and make updates on the go. Integration with various dealer management systems ensures seamless operation behind the scenes.
Maximizing Efficiency and Reducing Costs
One of the standout features of Smart Publisher is its ability to help dealers reduce selling times and marketing spend. Vlad notes, “If you’re getting a lot of leads on a particular vehicle, you can stop advertising it to certain destinations to reduce your cost per lead.” This flexibility allows dealers to quickly and easily adjust their marketing strategies based on real-time data.
“If you’re getting a lot of leads on a particular vehicle, you can stop advertising it to certain destinations to reduce your cost per lead.”
Leveraging AutoRadar for Competitive Edge
In addition to Smart Publisher, Cox Automotive offers AutoRadar, an insights tool that provides dealers with valuable data to optimize their inventory mix. Autoradar consists of three key elements: inventory analysis, valuation, and market insights. The inventory analysis piece helps dealers see if their vehicles are overpriced, underpriced, or just right based on Kelley Blue Book guidelines. The valuation tool allows for quick input of registration numbers to get approximate values, providing a useful check against gut feelings. The market insights feature shows the fastest-selling vehicles in Australia, lowest market day supplies, and the most popular search vehicles on Cox Automotive’s websites built on the Radius platform.
Real-World Impact
Vlad shared a compelling example of how these tools can make a difference. A dealer was about to offer a customer a certain amount for a vehicle but decided to check AutoRadar first. The data revealed that the vehicle was worth much more than initially thought, saving the dealer from a potential loss. Vlad emphasizes, “Having quality data today is vital for any sort of competitive edge.”
In conclusion, tools like Smart Publisher and Autoradar are essential for modern dealerships looking to stay competitive. By providing a centralized way to manage inventory and leveraging data for informed decision-making, these solutions help dealers enhance their sales and profits. As Vlad aptly puts it, “It’s all about having the right data at your fingertips to make the best decisions for your business.”
Learn More about SmartPublisher & AutoRadar
To learn more about LeadDriver, click here and to learn more about AutoRadar, click here.
