With more than 60 percent of all automotive purchases involving customers trading in their vehicle, the importance of an easy-to-use trade-in valuation tool cannot be overstated.

The rise of ecommerce sites has established a precedent whereby customers want a simple way to research and purchase a vehicle, and they’re looking to dealers like yourself to help simplify the sales path.

The trade-in valuation tool integration offered by 3 Birds is designed to do just that – it’s a transparent, consumer-friendly, mobile-first trade-in valuation solution for use in your email communications.

The right tool for the job

With nearly 60% of all email being opened and read on a mobile device, the importance of providing mobile-friendly tools is crucial to your dealership’s success.

The tool is a refreshing and different way for prospects and owners to quickly and easily calculate the current value of their vehicle on any device.

The tool functions similarly to Amazon’s One-Click Ordering, and requires just a single click by the customer to access the market report on their vehicle and initiate a lead process your site.

The integration is designed to make the entire process less frustrating, too. Customers no longer need to painstakingly re-enter information that your dealership has in its possession (name, email, phone number, make, model, trim level, etc.). This not only makes it easier for the customer, but it also makes use of existing data to reduce friction for consumers and results in a better experience all around.

How does it work?

The tool extrapolates value based on similar cars currently for sale in the local market.  Customers are presented with the sales prices of similar vehicles in and around their zip code instead of a national book value that does not account for local market conditions and supply issues.

Providing better results and transparency for the customer also promotes greater consumer confidence in your dealership, which in turn establishes a positive rapport with your dealership and transforms a one-time sales opportunity into a lifelong customer.

The integration of the trade valuation tool has many applications. The tool can be integrated for use in a normal monthly “Core” communication to the full dealership database (newsletter). It can also be the centerpiece of a more targeted vehicle buyback campaign or it can accompany an inventory-based message.

Data that does more

While it’s easy to use and provides reliable information for the customer, the 3 Birds integration of the trade-in valuation tool also enhances your customer data and provides valuable intent data.

The market report allows consumers to query the value of other vehicles in the household, leading to the collection of other valuable data concerning household vehicle ownership.

Results

So, does it work? Yes. Conversion rates for the trade-in valuation tool when integrated into dealer communications have been exceptional in real-world applications with our client dealerships. Here are some of the numbers:

  • Click-to-open conversion ratios as high as 23%. Nearly 1 in 4 people who open the email communications click to view a market report on their vehicle, thereby generating a lead for the dealership.
  • More than 21% of the customers and prospects who were presented with the lead opt-in form completed it and agreed to send their information to the dealer.

Give them what they want

Today’s car shopper wants a digital experience that’s on par with the experiences they have with products outside of the automotive industry. The 3 Birds integration of the trade-in valuation tool was designed to do that and more. It provides a quick and easy way for customers to learn the current value of their vehicle, and it does so by providing better information for the consumer and more in-depth data for your dealership to generate a lead with – all while laying the foundation for a long-term relationship between you and your customers.

Click here for a comprehensive look at the trade-in valuation tool integration offered by 3 Birds.