A host of new tablet product launches will see a further increase in the amount of dealers adopting the technology for IT-based tasks.

The launch of Apple’s new iPad Mini, Microsoft’s Surface, and the growing number and falling cost of Android tablets means that there is a much wider variety of options available to dealers.

Many manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz and Audi have rolled out tablet computers as a standard in their contract agreements across their networks.

James Tew, director of finance e-commerce company iVendi, said: “The beauty of the tablet in a dealership environment is that it allows staff in different departments to carry out IT-based tasks of all kinds without having to sit down at a desk and use a PC.

“This has obvious implications for improving the sales process where, potentially, vehicle specifications, stock lists and finance options can all be looked at in front of the car with the customer.”

Tew believes tablets can also be used in the workshop for vehicle healthchecks.

He said: “Having a tablet that runs Windows in the shape of Microsoft’s Surface will mean that adapting legacy dealer software becomes much easier.”