- ‘High resolution interior images’ and ‘360-degree interior video’ regarded as among the most important visual aids within online listings
- …yet only 14% of the biggest motor retailers offer 360-degree interior imaging
- Auto Imaging launches in-app 360-degree interior imaging tool later this month
- Industry-first artificial intelligence technology from Auto Imaging audits vehicle images to help maximise quality and consistency
New research from CitNOW Group has found that, while prospective car buyers attach significant importance to interior images when searching for new and used cars online, many dealers are falling short in providing a range of interior visual assets with their listings.
When asked “What visual aids do you value most when viewing an online vehicle listing?”, 34% of prospective car buyers reference ‘high resolution interior images’ (the highest proportion for any factor mentioned), while 30% cite ‘360-degree interior video’. However, in the Group’s analysis of the websites of the UK’s top 100 franchised dealers (by turnover), it identified that just 14% currently provide 360-degree interior imaging as part of their vehicle listings.
Auto Imaging, part of the CitNOW Group, helps retailers meet all customer expectations with its proprietary technology providing high quality, consistent imagery, video and 360 capabilities. Auto Imaging will launch a new 360-degree vehicle interior imaging feature later this month, to help retailers improve the breadth and quality of digital assets offered on their online vehicle listings. Working alongside its cutting-edge technology, Auto Imaging provides a range of digital assets through one, easy-to-use app which automatically uploads the assets to sales portals and dealer websites, significantly decreasing ‘time to web’.
Auto Imaging has also launched its new artificial intelligence (AI)-based quality control technology that automatically assesses the quality of vehicle shots at the time of taking. This new feature significantly reduces the time required to take a set of brand-compliant vehicle images with its immediate, in-app notification as to whether it is an approved shot. The technology ensures dealer staff capture consistent, high-quality and on-brand images, and reduces the potential for delays in uploading listings.
The challenge of creating quality images is one of the main reasons for delays in uploading stock, and the Auto Imaging tool – and its new 360-degree functionality – allows retailers to deploy ‘on-brand’ listings far more rapidly across all e-commerce platforms.
Auto Imaging is advising retailers to ensure the quality of customers’ online experience matches up to the offline showroom experience.
“Customer expectations around the presentation of vehicles online are increasing all the time, and our research indicates that many retailers might not be keeping pace. AI tech can reduce the burden of creating a suitable breadth of digital assets, while at the same time maximising quality,”
Comments Chris Gray, Managing Director, at Auto Imaging.
Auto Imaging’s proprietary technologies provide sales prospects with a consistent omnichannel experience, with all sales processes, including data insights, for both dealership workflows and customer interactions. This is stored centrally on a cloud-based system for all retail staff to access at any time.
A recent CitNOW Group consumer survey found that almost two thirds (62%) of consumers favour dealership websites for researching their next vehicle, ahead of automotive media sites (44%) and vehicle manufacturer websites (43%). This highlights the importance of ensuring retailers’ online listing have the broadest range of consistent, high-quality digital assets.
To access further insights from CitNOW Group’s recent industry research, download the group’s new report, Uniting Customers and Retailers Through Technology, by visiting CitNOWGroup.com.