As a result of the development of online commerce, easy access to customer data, digitization of communication and changes in European regulations (VBER, Vertical Block Exemption Regulation or Vertical Block Exemption Regulation, https://bit.ly/3dbeiNN) car manufacturers are hypothesizing direct sales in the market, with the aim of shortening the path between factory and customer and recovering margins.

Current Italian car dealers will soon most likely have to turn into commission agents with a clear loss of control over customers to the parent companies.

Do Dealers have a way to “defend” themselves?

Absolutely they do: by systematic, continuous and automated data collection of the cars they deliver (today by selling them, tomorrow, perhaps only by distributing them) to buyers.

In order for a Dealer to maintain profitable relationships, send relevant communications and not lose contact (regardless of the contractual relationship) with the motorist, it is essential that the bond is strong.

Eureka SmartCar (https://bit.ly/3qBR4n2) was created precisely to ensure that future “ex-Dealers” can stay connected with the motorist in real time through the systematic collection of their car data.

It is not only about obtaining statistical information or having the ability to send relevant communications, but about receiving real-time details about any faults that are affecting, have affected, or are about to affect the car.

This is made possible by installing an OBDII key in the vehicle in the port located under the steering wheel connected to a mobile application on the driver’s smartphone (Android and iOS).

In full compliance with GDPR and privacy regulations (no geographic tracking of any kind), the Dealer will be able to detect in real time any anomaly affecting “their” fleet and the customer will receive timely and accurate information on what to do.

In this way, the driver gets personalized and timely service while the Dealer is able to stay in touch with a customer on an ongoing and profitable basis.

Eureka SmartCar, a system launched in the spring of 2022 that already has thousands of installations, is the brainchild of Eureka Srl (https://www.eurekautomotive.com), an innovative startup in the field of digitization in the automotive sector, founded by Alberto Benzoni (international experience in motortrade software, https://bit.ly/3BbxmDO), Ramon Rozzi (30 years of experience in the automotive after-sales sector, https://bit.ly/3xh1Y5u) and Marco Biagiotti (innovation manager with more than twenty years of experience in automotive communication, https://bit.ly/3qxNlqG).

Thanks to Eureka SmartCar a professional automotive operator (new sales, used sales, after-sales, rental) can maintain a qualified contact with the person driving the car regardless of the existing business relationship.

This shifts the value from the contract to the contact.

And maintains control of it.