Consultancy Capgemini has launched a new service, AutomotiveConnect for Retailers.

It said in recognition that dealer groups must exceed customer expectations and deliver a highly personalized digital experience both in-store and online, this new service is designed to help dealers deploy the latest digital technology and harness new data streams to drive sales and profitability, increase customer retention and improve operational efficiency.

Capgemini’s AutomotiveConnect for Retailers leverages the company’s consulting and technology expertise to help dealers, distributors and importers navigate this shifting landscape with focused services in four specific areas: connected customer, connected vehicle, connected insights to enable dealers to interpret vehicle, customer, market and environmental data to make smarter decisions, and connected operations to help dealers drive efficiency through the implementation of digital platforms that integrate inventory management, financial, human capital and other legacy systems.

Kai Grambow, global head of automotive at Capgemini, said: “Dealers are an essential part of the automotive buying process, providing customers with a trusted source of expertise, local market knowledge and a hands-on vehicle experience.

"But in a market place where digital is disrupting the purchasing cycle and new competitors like Tesla and Apple emerge, dealers need to protect their competitive advantage by staying ahead of the curve and incorporating digital technologies into their sales model.

“By harnessing the growing stream of automotive data to drive better customer experiences, dealers will create a winning formula that keeps customers coming back year after year.”

Capgemini’s AutomotiveConnect for Retailers is an extension of its AutomotiveConnect for OEMs and AutomotiveConnect for Suppliers, which were launched earlier to support the automotive industry in driving customer value.

All offerings will be serviced by the company’s Automotive Insights Laboratory.