British Car Auctions technology event rallies the used car market
A British Car Auctions (BCA) event held at Microsoft’s London Headquarters has urged the used car industry to develop a mobile strategy.
BCA combined with Microsoft, TBS Enterprise Mobility and the Mobile Data Association on June 30th for a one-day conference examining how mobile technology is impacting the used car market today, and what the future may hold.
Chaired by Christopher MacGowan OBE, whose introductory overview underlined the market’s significance to the wider UK economy, the conference was warmly received by delegates representing a cross-section of the UK’s major buyers and sellers.
Jonathan Higham from BCA illustrated how mobile technology is already a part of the wholesale used vehicle market, both as a part of the remarketing process for sellers and as a platform for buyers.
Mobile inspection and appraisal technology has been part of the BCA model for many years, gathering and uploading data that kickstarts the remarketing process. The current generation of hardware and software provides another level of consistency, reliability and efficiency – allowing vehicles to be described accurately and swiftly before entering the remarketing arena.
A snapshot of how next generation technologies could develop was offered by Paul Foster, Developer Evangelist for Microsoft. He explained how mobile devices have effectively consumerised IT, giving everybody the power to harness technology for their own needs, through a wide range of devices and applications, inside the home, the office and the car. He presented a vision of how contextual computing could lead to Artificial Intelligence driven ‘life advisors’ that help everyone with those difficult purchasing decisions.
Steve Reynolds, CEO of TBS Enterprise Mobility – the technology delivery partner for BCA – and President of the Mobile Data Association, focussed on the aspects of everyday life which are converging with mobile technology and how these are multiplying.
He also explained how the benefits of mobile telemetry and data transfer technology will grow clearer, increasingly helping to avoid traffic congestion, improve fuel efficiency and add safety features.
Richard Richmond from Lombard highlighted how effective application of the latest technology is central to the remarketing process, particularly in inspection and remote selling channels where transparency of condition is critical.
Every speaker stressed the importance of assessing how customers choose to communicate and receive information, which will inform both the wholesale sector and how consumers buy cars from dealers in the future.
This was reflected by Steve Reynolds, who commented: “The benefits of new, agile technologies really can be enjoyed by everyone in the vehicle remarketing value chain today. This is what we hope was stressed to attendees. The technology exists now to improve efficiencies and drive growth, even in today’s challenging climate.”
