Vantage Motor Group is “embracing the burgeoning digital retail opportunity” with the integration of GForces’ NetDirector Auto-e online vehicle sales platform across its 25 dealership sites.

The Knaresborough-based AM100 retail group will underpin a new end-to-end digital used car buying experience for customers with the roll-out of the technology, it said in a statement issued today (June 17).

The new ecommerce capabilities will initially enable the Vantage Group to market and sell used vehicles from across its Toyota, Honda, Lexus, Kia, Citroën and Škoda franchises.

The group is also establishing a dedicated customer contact centre team to handle any website leads, live chat and offer online order support.

Vantage Group operations director, Andrew Mallory, said: “We are embracing the burgeoning digital retail opportunity by providing a complete online user experience, and by removing the obstacles customers typically face when attempting to buy via the internet.

“While we are establishing a contact centre to help with the transition from traditional retail methods, the ultimate goal is for our customers to be able to choose their preferred car from our used stock and complete the buying process – including part-exchange and finance – as and when it suits them and all online.”

GForces’ NetDirector Auto-e platform delivers customers a guaranteed part-exchange valuation, the ability to reserve online or outright purchase a vehicle and fill-out finance applications.

These elements link up with dealership operations to support the various journeys modern consumers choose as part of their path to purchase.

Vantage is working with Toyota Financial Services and Volkswagen Financial Services as finance partners to offer customers a rapid decision on their finance application, without disrupting the retail process.

Paul Stokes, head of online retailing at GForces, said: “Customers want the simplest method to buy and will go to dealerships that are offering this. There is a huge opportunity for dealers to react to this shift and maximise the opportunities that ecommerce offers.”