Digital Air Strike announced its acquisition of BestRide.com at the annual NADA Show, which was offered virtually for the first time in February due to the pandemic.
The company, which offers leading social media, lead response and consumer engagement technology, will integrate the newly acquired BestRide.com technology to provide dealers with a new way to showcase and market new and used inventory. BestRide.com is an automotive marketplace that allows consumers to search for new and used vehicles online. It was acquired from digitally focused media company Gannett Co., Inc.
“BestRide.com will continue to be a great resource for our millions of readers looking to purchase a vehicle,” said Jeff Urgo, Vice President of Local IQ Automotive, a division of Gannett Co., Inc., adding that “Digital Air Strike has been a valuable partner whose work with the automotive industry will only enhance the consumer and dealership experience on BestRide.com.”
The deal marks a significant opportunity for Digital Air Strike to expand their offerings with a consumer-facing website.
In addition to providing new ways to showcase and market inventory, Digital Air Strike plans to use the newly acquired technology to offer at-home test drives, purchases and delivery, “while providing enhanced online shopping options to combat online-only pre-owned vehicle retailers like Vroom and Carvana.”
The company also plans to continue to enhance BestRide.com’s technological capabilities and will offer unique “buy at home” options from dealerships for pre-owned and new vehicles.
Digital Air Strike said that, according to Google, 92 per cent of auto purchasers now begin their research online. As such, the company plans to deliver on the consumer desire to have more of the buying process be contactless and virtual. It also plans to use the newly acquired technology to improve the experience for both retailers and consumers, while also providing education and “shop at home” services.
“Our technology allows dealers and consumers to communicate, engage, and transact virtually, and the acquisition of BestRide.com only furthers that objective,” said Venneri in a company news release. “The combination of Digital Air Strike’s industry-leading intelligent lead response and consumer engagement AI technology, along with BestRide.com’s massive online inventory of both pre-owned and new vehicles from trusted, local dealers, creates the ideal consumer auto-buying experience.”
Speaking with the company’s co-founder, Alexi Venneri said they are working on the Canadian angle and dealers in the country can expect something in the next few months.
