Cobalt Newsroom - Press Release

Cobalt Launches Cutting-Edge Vehicle Merchandizing for Dealers

September 18, 2008

New inventory solution leverages best practices from ecommerce and Web 2.0 to drive sales

SEATTLE - Cobalt, the leading provider of automotive marketing solutions and services, announced today that it has launched new vehicle merchandizing capabilities optimized to help automotive shoppers get to the information they want faster - often in one click compared to three to five clicks for competitive alternatives. This much-improved consumer experience drives more engaged shoppers, leads, test drives and sales.

Cobalt's inventory solution has been completely redesigned based on extensive research and hundreds of hours of consumer usability testing. Dealer website visitors will now enjoy an improved search, navigation and shopping experience, resulting in higher lead generation rates. This release includes over 100 enhancements and incorporates current Web 2.0 technical advances and features, deploying innovative merchandising and content to equip Cobalt-operated dealer websites with the very best inventory display available. Some of the innovations include:

  • Immediate presentation of persuasive content: Specials, Photos & Certified labels
  • Multiple contact options provide consumers choice and dealers more leads
  • Easy-to-use vehicle search "sliders" on price, payment, age, mileage and other factors
  • Flexible merchandising options including promotion of Specials and "Show Me" offers
  • Side-by-side new and used inventory searches
  • Strategic placement of a relevant calls-for-action in tools and content
  • Integrated vehicle history reports and financial payment calculators
  • Use of AJAX technology for dynamic updating of consumer content
Dealers have complete control over the presentation of their inventory and configuration of features. Updating pricing, photos, and specials is easily accomplished on-line. The dealer can do this for themselves or have their Cobalt Advocate merchandize their inventory for them.

"Within days of getting the new inventory display on our Cobalt site we saw a significant increase in online leads. Leads from the vehicle details page increased by approximately 75% and have held there for the last few months," said Alan Johnson, Sales Manager at Bill Butler Chrysler Dodge Jeep. "The new inventory display is brilliant. It is easy for a customer to customize and the Vehicle Details page has more calls to action than any other solution I have seen. I am very pleased with the results."

"Selling cars is about matching the consumer with the right vehicle for their needs," says Greg Meyer Senior Vice President of Products for Cobalt. "Cobalt has incorporated the most current trends in online merchandising and the latest web technology available into our new vehicle inventory solution. Our dealer clients are seeing more visitors engage more deeply with their inventory, which is driving more showroom traffic and sales."

Over 8,000 of Cobalt's dealer clients have been upgraded to the new solution over the past few weeks.

To see an overview of Cobalt's new inventory solution, please visit: http://www.cobalt.com/inventorydisplay/.

About Cobalt
Cobalt is North America's leading provider of automotive marketing services. For thirteen years, Cobalt's mission has been to help automobile dealers and manufacturers increase their retailing effectiveness and profitability. Cobalt provides marketing services to nearly half of the automotive dealerships in the United States, as well as automotive dealers in Canada and Mexico. Cobalt's marketing services are endorsed by two-thirds of the world's major automotive manufacturers.

Contact Information

Amy Hatch
Email: ahatch@cobalt.com
Phone: 206-219-8132

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