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Autobytel Inc. Launches AIC’s AutoSuite 2002, Next-Generation Research Tools for Manufacturer, Dealer Web Sites
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| Integrated Tools Allow Manufacturers and Dealers to Target Today’s Feature-Driven Consumers with Dynamic, Fluid Shopping Experience |
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| Updated |
Jun 10, 2004 21:53:36 |
| Rating |
 16 ( -2 -12.5% ) |
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Description:
New Orleans, LA-January 28, 2002 - Autobytel Inc. (Nasdaq:ABTL), the world's largest Internet automotive marketing services company, today announced the launch of AIC AutoSuite 2002â„¢, a set of hosted data and software research tools designed to help manufacturer, dealer and automotive portals attract and hold today's feature-driven consumers. Developed by Autobytel's Automotive Information Center (AIC), one of the industry's leading providers of research tools and price and specification data, AutoSuite 2002 is an integrated set of tools -- AutoResearcherâ„¢, AutoEquipperâ„¢ and AutoComparitorâ„¢ -- that provides consumers with a uniquely efficient, fluid and dynamic car shopping experience. Currently, AIC provides online consumer research tools for 22 of the major manufacturer Web sites.
"One third of all new car shoppers literally rule vehicles in and out of consideration on automotive Web sites. This is why configurators, comparitors and search engines have become critical marketing tools for both manufacturers and dealers," said Autobytel Inc. President and CEO Jeffrey Schwartz. "In order to increase -- or maintain -- market share, manufacturers and dealers must expand their share of online automotive consumers. AutoSuite 2002 tools can help them do just that by working on two levels: helping consumers find the right car, and dealers and auto manufacturers target the right consumers." AutoSuite 2002 automatically carries information entered by consumers across the various research processes -- searches, configurations and comparisons -- for a much more efficient shopping experience. "Users never have to re-enter information as they move from one stage of the shopping process to the next," notes Schwartz. "For example, you won't have to create an entirely new comparison just because you want to go back and change a single option on the first vehicle you're evaluating -- a common limitation with other comparison tools." Schwartz stresses that by automating so much of the `busy work' and carrying consumer preferences from step to step, AutoSuite 2002 can help keep consumers online and utilizing the Web site throughout the entire shopping -- and buying -- process.
Helping to improve overall site "stickiness" with an enjoyable, information-rich consumer experience, the tools serve as a powerful marketing platform for auto manufacturers and dealers to target and impact consumers during the critical research phase of the car-buying process. AIC can customize AutoSuite 2002 for OEMs, portals and dealers to mirror the look and feel of their existing Web site, in terms of branding, colors, data categories and grouping, functionality placement and even the names of the tools, themselves. The tools, moreover, can be custom-configured to showcase specific manufacturer/dealer brand advantages during the research process -- for example, a manufacturer can elect to highlight the superiority of its vehicles' safety features during side-by-side comparison with competitive models.
AIC AutoSuite 2002 components include:
AutoResearcher, the suite's search engine, accommodates all levels of consumer automotive knowledge. More advanced or returning shoppers can go right to a specific vehicle. Savvy but undecided buyers can elect to search using a range of specific criteria (e.g., features, specifications and/or options). Those just beginning their research or less familiar with automotive specifics, alternately, can conduct a subjective search, inputting more qualitative priorities (e.g., "performance," "utility," "family-friendliness," etc.) to automatically generate a list of vehicles that best meet their personal lifestyle requirements.
AutoEquipper, the configuration tool, is equally intelligent, offering among other innovations, a "best price" feature that automatically chooses the most cost-effective standard option package based on the user's expressed preferences for certain options. For example, this feature chooses a package including leather seats and a CD player when the package is less expensive than purchasing these options separately. It also explains the choice to the consumer.
AutoComparitor empowers shoppers with a user-friendly "apples-to-apples" comparison capability that automatically equips numerous competitive makes and models to match the configuration (and even the re-configuration) of the lead vehicle. The tool can highlight vehicle advantages in both icon and/or complete sentence form. AutoComparitor can be complemented with AutoGalleryâ„¢, enabling users to visually compare multiple interior and exterior digital photos of competing vehicles. Another complementary feature is the eBrochureâ„¢, a hybrid tool that allows consumers to configure and compare vehicles at the same time, on the same screen. |
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