HeyAuto is a Calgary-based company that aims to be “the easiest and fastest way to shop for vehicles with confidence and get the best deals.” On Tuesday, Hey Auto launched Glovebox, a secure vault for storing valuable digital vehicle records, which they say will provide “a platform for consumers to engage more meaningfully with automobile dealerships”.
“The Glovebox concept was born from the need to revolutionize the currently disconnected car ownership experience,” said Brent Lane, Chief Executive Officer of HeyAuto. “You have loose receipts, warranties, and all manner of other automotive related material with deadlines and expiration dates. Why not have all of that information stored in one digitized space that also provides connected tools related to buying and selling your car?” said Lane.
For Car Owners Glovebox, promises simple, secure, and easily accessible document storage service plus “an enhanced car ownership experience”, allowing consumers to store car purchase, repair, and maintenance records and receipts securely in one place, digitally, and receive timely notices for any maintenance or recalls needed from their dealership(s); and share digitally stored vehicle information quickly and securely when needed, such as for insurance and insurance claims, and proof of maintenance when selling the vehicle.
Users can also collect purchase offers for their vehicle through the My Offers feature, where users can quickly and confidentially post their vehicle for sale to attract multiple offers from a variety of dealers.This allows them to quickly ascertain the trade-in value of their vehicle, as they can receive real-time trade-in results from dealers against the vehicle they want to purchase.
The Glovebox feature aims to provide value to automobile dealerships by enabling “meaningful engagement with car buyers”, driving value into the dealership. Through the My Offers feature dealers can potentially receive access to thousands of private car sellers, and “openly win inventory at discounted rates while engaging thoughtfully and respectfully with new and current customers.” My Offers also allows dealers to provide initial trade-in values to car sellers, “increasing both customer loyalty and retention via the HeyAuto automated customer connection funnel.”
“The intention for Glovebox is to create more opportunities for meaningful customer interactions and for increasing the lifetime value of customers for the dealership,” said Lane.
Glovebox also allows dealership management to identify salespeople who are “diligently building their business and positively connecting with their customers” so dealers can reward team members who are actively engaged in growing the business. Sales staff are also able to use the vehicle suggestions tool to recommend specific vehicle options. “Dealerships may also make vehicle suggestions to their connected customers, a unique capability to showcase how invested they are in their customers on an ongoing basis, not just at point of sale,” said Lane.
