Your Checklist for a Complete eCommerce Solution
Selling online is on the rise. In fact, about 20% of retail sales – and growing – take place online. With this trend toward online sales, providing an intuitive, comprehensive and secure eCommerce solution on your website can give your dealership a competitive edge over other dealers who only offer in-store sales.
Consider the following checklist of website tools and features to ensure that your eCommerce service offers the complete online buying service shoppers want.
Essential Tools & Features
Here's a checklist of essential features and tools you'll need to create a streamline online shopping experience that allows your customers to complete their purchase on your website.
Easy Website Navigation
Complex menus and confusing categories can lead to user frustration and lost sales. Your website navigation should be streamlined, enabling visitors to effortlessly find what they're looking for. Give your shoppers the option to filter their searches by make, model, year and price—the primary categories most people use to narrow down possible buying options.
Complete Inventory Listings
One of the most important features your eCommerce solution must offer is a complete listing of your available inventory. Each unit should have a dedicated page with its unique details, specifications and any current promotions. Ensure that the 'out of stock' notices are clearly displayed to manage expectations and reduce customer disappointment. Complete listings can serve as the backbone of your digital showroom, providing shoppers with all the information they need to make a purchase decision.
DMS Integration
To ensure your inventory is always up-to-date, seamless integration of your DMS with your website is critical. This allows real-time updates when products are added, sold or need restocking. Consistency between your physical showroom and online inventory is pivotal for trust and efficient operations. DMS integration can also alleviate the majority of manual updates you need to make, so you can spend time ensuring that your customers have everything they need.
High-Quality Images & Videos
To mirror the in-person experience as closely as possible, product listings must include high-resolution images from multiple angles. In the dealership industry where visual appeal and specific unit details matter and 90% of shoppers value visual content, consider adding videos that showcase performance or usage techniques. An immersive experience can significantly influence online purchase decisions.
Customer Reviews
Trust in online purchases is largely built through customer reviews and ratings. These act as social proof of a product's quality and functionality. A platform that allows customers to leave feedback (and for you to respond) positively enhances not only shoppers’ trust but also your brand's credibility.
Easy Online Payment Calculation & Financing Tools
Buying a unit often involves presenting complex financing options to customers. Offer tools that calculate monthly payments based on various factors, such as down payment, interest rates and the term of the loan. Streamlining this process reassures shoppers about the affordability of their desired purchase. Offering your shoppers the ability to pre-qualify for financing on your website enables them to fast-track their purchase, as they don’t need to consult their bank or a third-party vendor first.
Secure & Efficient Payment Portal
With digital payment methods predicted to increase 23% in the coming year, implementing a trusted payment processing system on your website is fundamental. Look for integrated, secure payment gateways that can handle high volumes of transactions during peak times without compromising on user data security. This will give your customers added convenience of buying online and the peace of mind that their payments and information are secure.
Purchase Fulfillment Services
If you offer online orders, you must have a clear purchase fulfillment policy. Depending on your dealership’s capabilities and the preferences of your shoppers, you may want to offer more than one option for buyers to receive their new purchase.
Shipping
Provide customers with the ability to calculate and select different shipping options. Integration with shipping carriers' systems can provide real-time cost estimates for transparent and convenient transactions, as well as provide buyers with a tracking number to monitor their delivery date.
Buy Online, Pick Up In-Store (BOPIS)
Many customers appreciate the convenience and speed of a “buy online, pick up in-store” service. This option reduces shipping time and costs, offering an efficient solution for local customers who prefer to inspect their purchase in person before taking it home.
Enlisting the Partnership of an eCommerce Vendor
By considering and implementing these features, you can ensure your eCommerce platform is up to speed with the demands and expectations of today's online consumers. To execute these features successfully and without overloading your team, you may consider partnering with a website vendor who offers an eCommerce solution designed for dealerships.
The right partnership will help you integrate these elements smoothly into your existing website, ensuring a user-friendly experience for your customers and greater sales opportunities for your dealership.