SAUSALITO, Calif. — ChannelNet, a provider of
multichannel solutions for the automotive and financial services industries,
today announced that VW Credit has expanded the use of Personalized Websites to
include all of the customers in its lease portfolio.
First
launched in mid-2008, VW Credit's Personalized Websites were made available to
customers that had one year left on their lease. The initial objective was to
ensure that the most complicated part of the leasing process, end of term, was
made easier and more convenient for customers using the Web.
Once a VW
or Audi customer has concluded their VW leasing transaction at the dealership,
they are automatically provided their own Personalized Website. In addition to
deploying for the entire lease term, VW Credit can keep the Personalized
Website active for up to eighteen months after lease end.
VW Credit
realized that most customers that buy their vehicle will trade out to a
different vehicle within 12-18 months after lease end. Keeping the Personalized
Website open allows VW Credit to market to the VW owner after their lease is
terminated. "Vehicle leasing customers need different types of content and
information at different points in their vehicle ownership lifecycle,"
according to Paula Tompkins, CEO and founder of ChannelNet. "We are
delighted that VW Credit has expanded the use of the program across their
entire portfolio of lease customers."
The VW and
Audi Financial Personalized Website solution leverages ChannelNet's SiteBuilder
technology, which includes the Website Administration Tool. With this tool, a
non-technical VW Credit business representative can make real-time updates to
the content, promotions and information a customer receives based upon over 50
types of customer criteria. This enables VW Credit to deliver personalized
content that is highly relevant to the customer's needs, at a specific point in
time.
"Today
over 85 percent of new- and used-vehicle shoppers research online before making
their purchase in a dealership," said Tompkins. "Most of the Web
activity to date in the automotive industry has been directed toward the new or
used vehicle sale. VW Credit recognizes that the use of the Web, and online
tools, is even more important and relevant to customers after they have
concluded their financing transaction and drive off the lot."
