REDWOOD CITY, Calif. (May 16, 2014) — Dealer Tire L.L.C. and Xtime Inc., a retention solution firm for automotive manufacturers and auto dealer service departments, have formed a partnership that “puts tire selling at the fingertips of service advisers.”
The arrangement makes Cleveland-based Dealer Tire's digital-selling solution and inventory information accessible through Xtime's “Check-In 7” tablet-based service lane solution. In turn, Dealer Tire's eServices tire catalogs have been integrated into Check-In 7 via a tire selling interface designed specifically to blend seamlessly with Xtime's software.
According to the companies, service advisers can now present customers with vehicle-specific, comprehensive tire recommendations and pricing, check inventory for availability and enable an immediate purchase without having to leave customers and return to their desks to retrieve tire information.
“Dealers retain the customer's business at the point where consumers often first take their vehicles to the aftermarket,” the firms said, “while consumers get a transparent, convenient method for maintaining their vehicles.”
With Check-in 7, advisers can “sell tires during the check-in and walk-around inspection processes and capture approval signatures when customers are ready to buy,” the companies said.
Cindy Stull, Dealer Tire partner and chief sales officer, said the integration with Check-In 7 “makes it easy for service advisers to sell tires on the service drive. We are excited to be working with Xtime because we're really in the same business: helping dealers retain customers while increasing service and parts revenue.”
Xtime and Dealer Tire said they both have relationships with more than a dozen automotive OEMs in North America, comprising thousands of vehicle dealerships.
“Dealer Tire shares our dedication to helping dealers deliver the best service experience to their customers, and we're pleased to bring this new functionality to our mutual dealer customers,” said Xtime CEO Neal East. “This is just the beginning of what Xtime and Dealer Tire can accomplish together.”
Dealer Tire provides most brands of replacement tires to the car dealer channel and said it “is dedicated to the mission of putting safer vehicles on the road through designing, implementing and managing auto maker-approved dealership tire programs.”
The company works with 24 automotive brands and more than 10,000 auto dealerships, “helping them retain customers and increase profitability.”
