Your Summer Mobile Snapshot at the Dealership

[JessicaRuth]

Mobile and Automotive Retail:

Ben Anderson's articles always have great timing, don't they? YES!

We all know that mobile is how we're reaching our potential customers these days. Fail in that category and you very much give up on selling more cars.

Did you know that the average smartphone user downloads 83 apps per device? Wow. Or, how popular the Windows phone is getting? Or, that the new iOS7 will do....well, you should just read this article yourself.

Questions:
How has mobile impacted your dealership so far in 2013?
What percentage of your total web visitors are now coming from tablets and smartphones?
How many of your customers are using a mobile device while visiting your store?
How has your dealership embraced mobile?

 

[TomLaPointe]

ben - thanks for the great stats

 

[ThatOtherCarDealer]

Selling cars has not changed, but it's weird how people think the basics no longer are relevant. That's funny because I work at a used car store doing 120-150 units and I disagree you need an APP when a "Responsive" website can achieve the exact same desired effects on all devices - with infinitely greater flexibility - in real time, and cost containment. Across the country, the number is 40-50% of site hits come from mobile/tablets, but it's also hard to find analytic you can really trust 100%. Many of those "lookers" do so again at home or at work on a PC/Mac. But this number doesn't mean you need an APP and gotta hop on the bandwagon. My apologies and I know you run an APP business, don't want to talk down your business, but for purpose of an analogy: why buy two jackets, when the one that works in all conditions is reversible? There is a new trend and paradigm coming and it's not APPS, it's Responsive websites. I'm not looking for an agreement, just saying what we know to be true, and working for us.

 

[Jeff Kershner]

Ben, thanks for the post around all the recent mobile stats. Great info!! We always look forward to your posts. 
"The average iOS user http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/10095401/Android-apps-to-overtake-Apple.html " - That's crazy!! But I believe it. If there's an app available (and it's a feature rich app), I would personally rather download the app vs using the mobile version. 
Example: I'm a heavy user of the Amazon app. I actually find it just as easy (if not easier) to use and purchase on as the full web version. I never visit the mobile site since I have the application and the app offers much of what I need to do what I want to do - search, buy, look up and track previous orders.
We have had the discussion here in the recent past on DealerRefresh around the increase of mobile traffic and the importance of having a stellar mobile presence. Extremely important as these customers on our mobile sites by phone are low in the funnel. 
Here's a discussion from 2010 around the increase of mobile traffic - Tracking Your Webite Visitor Analytics by Mobile Device – DealerRefresh
Here's a fun thread over in the forums around a "prediction for mobile in 2013" - http://forum.dealerrefresh.com/f43/what-your-mobile-website-numbers-prediction-2013-a-2521.html  
Jump in and share your stats with the community. 

How has mobile impacted your dealership so far in 2013?
What percentage of your total web visitors are now coming from tablets and smartphones?
How many of your customers are using a mobile device while visiting your store?
How has your dealership embraced mobile?

 

[TomLaPointe]

revisiting this post with the eyes of a consumer - I will NOT download an app for every company that may have my next lawn mower, much less have half dozen or more dealership apps. TO ME, dealer apps will go the way of FLASH INTROS (remember those $5k hype pieces that only the owners loved? except perhaps for superstores like autonation or CarMax, who will potentially have dozens of cars that appeal to a shopper