Ford says it has found a way to reduce the time customers spend waiting around at its dealerships with the launch of its Ready.Shop.Go. platform in the U.S.
The new online car-shopping experience is an attempt to meet changing consumer needs, as people appear to be more impatient today than ever before, according to Ford’s news release.
“Our customers are busy people, whether with daily work demands or spending time with their families. Quality time is scarce and downtime is even more so,” said Mark LaNeve, Vice President, U.S. Marketing, Sales and Service. “Ready.Shop.Go. allows them to find the perfect vehicle online, spend significantly less time at the dealership and drive away with their new ride sooner.”
Approx. 57 percent of consumers aged 30-44 and 63 per cent of those aged 18-29 are more impatient today than they were in the past, based on the automaker’s Looking Further with Ford 2017 Trends book.
Ford’s Ready.Shop.Go. online platform aims to curb that impatience by providing customers with the ability to search through vehicle inventory, view pricing and incentives, lock in a deal for 48 hours (depending on availability), apply for financing, estimate trade-in values and schedule a test drive — and all before stepping into a dealership. Other offerings such as customizable purchase and lease options, along with the ability to digitally execute contracts (with Ford Credit), will be available in the future.
“As we worked with our dealers to develop Ready.Shop.Go., it was important to make sure the experience benefited both our customers and our dealers,” said LaNeve, adding that the experience is meant to provide customers with the functionality and flexibility needed to select a vehicle “at their preferred dealership.”
