What can’t your smartphone do?
Checking e-mail to booking airline tickets, more and more people are using smartphones to do just about anything. According to e-marketer, there are currently 60.2 million smartphone users in the us (2010). That number is expected to grow to 109.5 million users by 2015. With numbers like that, many companies are investing more money into finding ways to utilize these devices to reach and engage their customers. Apple coined the phrase “there’s an app for that”, and it seems their right. There are apps to do your banking, apps for shopping, apps for checking the news, and apps to keep up with social media like twitter and Facebook. The automotive industry is starting to see this and are taking steps to capitalize.
Ford was one of the first auto makers to start incorporating apps with their vehicles with Ford Sync in 2009. GM has also begun to tap the smartphone market. GM has developed an app that can sync up with some of their 2011 models giving the customer detailed information about the vehicle like fuel level, oil level, and tire pressure. Users can even lock/unlock the doors from their phone. Manufactures are not the only ones developing apps. Apps from Autocheck, NADA, and Black Book to name a few are all geared to the wholesale auto market.
Manheim recently introduced an app for Iphone users. The app allows dealers to scan vin numbers to quickly display the current MMR values for that vehicle. Other functions are planned as well as availability for android in a future release. With such easy access to mobility, when and where you should be using these devices can sometimes become a struggle.
Recently a woman was made famous when she walked into a water fountain at a mall while she was texting and walking. We see it everyday, people walking around with their head down and their eyes are glued to their smartphones. Another great example of when not to use your phone is texting while behind the wheel. Meanwhile many people seem to oblivious to what is going on around them when multitasking with their phones. As more people get these devices I hope that people will use common sense when using their phones.
So what will be the next big app to come out for the Auto Industry? Will they look to other mobile opportunities to engage their customers? How much should they be investing in mobile? Anyway to look at it mobile is here to stay and will only get bigger as time goes on. Companies that understand this now will be positioned for greater exposure in the future. How their customers use the apps they develop, well…we’ll just have wait and see.
Chris Moulding
Marketing Manager
Manheim New England
To download Manheim’s App go to: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/manheim-com/id400320197?mt=8
