NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Bridgestone Americas Inc. has enhanced its TireConnect online tire quoting and sales platform to include integration with a custom wheel visualizer, a tire pricing guide, and a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) kits and valves pricing guide.
TireConnect also will leverage aggregated competitive data provided by a third party to enable dealers to price their inventory accordingly, the company said.
"At Bridgestone, we want to empower our dealer network to win and sell more tires online," said Erik Seidel, president, consumer replacement tire sales, U.S. and Canada, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations.
"Consumers want access to real-time product and pricing information online, and we are excited to further enhance our TireConnect platform to provide that information," he added. "TireConnect is a powerful sales tool that allows dealers to build relationships with customers, ultimately driving sales and boosting loyalty."
A tire-pricing research module has been added to give dealers access to national pricing averages and minimum advertised pricing where applicable, Bridgestone said.
The new technology was included in a nationwide update to the TireConnect platform this spring through the addition of a new price guide module. The feature enables dealers to make informed decisions about price structure, ensure compliance with manufacturer pricing guidelines and serve as a resource for their customers by helping them research competitor prices, Bridgestone said.
The TireConnect online platform also offers dealers the capability to provide more accurate pricing for TPMS kits. TPMS kits are highly specific and many dealers have traditionally found it easier to set a flat price, Bridgestone said. The TPMS offering allows tire dealers to provide accurate quotes and better inform consumers about their specific TPMS offering.
The TireConnect platform also interfaces with the iConfigurator wheel visualizer to enable dealers to add wheel quoting and sales to their online offering. Dealers who elect to integrate this functionality into their websites will be able to provide customers with a visual tool that allows them to see what the vehicle and wheels will look like together and order them online.
Bridgestone acquired TireConnect in 2015 to provide its nationwide network of affiliated retailers with a turn-key, online tire sales tool that allows dealers to quote and sell tires on their existing websites while getting full credit for the sale.
Since its nationwide roll out in 2017, TireConnect has powered more than 6 million tire searches and is used by more than 2,500 dealer locations, the company said.