Suche
Mein Konto
These tools are only available from us”
AutoScout24 sales manager Jochen Jakopitsch speaks in the automotive industry interview about the market, current challenges and explains what makes AutoScout24 unique. by Wolfgang Bauer
These tools are only available from us”
Automotive Industry: Mr. Jakopitsch, how big is your team and how many automobile dealers do you support across Austria?
Jochen Jakopitsch:We have six sales representatives and five people responsible for support. We currently support around 3,000 dealers.
What does AutoScout24 offer customers apart from the platform?
For example, we started our dealer academy about a year ago. This has taken place three times in Vienna. We were in Graz for the first time about a month ago. We always have between 25 and 40 participants. The group should not be too large so that optimal interaction is possible. A training course lasts half a day.
What content does the dealer academy have?
Most recently, we looked at the topic of “How to take photos correctly”. This is something that burns under the nails of many people. We have hired a renowned photographer who will give our dealers valuable tips and tricks when taking photos. Apart from that, we have dealt with the topic of “sales talks”. With a focus on the conclusion.
Are you planning to expand the dealer academy to other federal states?
Yes, we are planning events in Salzburg and possibly in Upper Austria and Tyrol. Interested dealers should now let their AutoScout24 representative know whether they are interested in taking part in a training course.
How did the merger of AutoScout24 with aktuellwagen.at develop?
We are still in the migration process, which will be completed on October 1st. From then on, all dealers have migrated to a so-called combined contract. The response was consistently positive. There were a few difficulties at the beginning because everything had to be brought together technically, but within a very short time everything worked out perfectly.
What has changed in recent years for the retailers you and your team support?
Until the beginning of the noughties, print still had a significant importance. From the “bazaar” to the “trove” to daily newspapers. Print actually no longer plays a role today. Everything has moved online. A lot has also changed in terms of the presentation of the vehicles. Ten photos or more per car are no longer uncommon these days. In addition: More and more retailers are willing to invest in additional products because they have recognized how important optimal presentation on the Internet is. If this is excellent, then the location is relatively irrelevant. The potential customers will definitely come. What else has changed: It used to take place at the used car lot on Saturdays and Sundays. People had time and the car dealerships left. And they also knew that on a Sunday they wouldn't be bothered by a seller and could look around in peace. That doesn't exist anymore.
How has the requirement profile for salespeople in car dealerships changed over the years?
Nowadays, customers are often well-informed due to the research they have carried out on the Internet before visiting the car dealership. A dealer recently told me a story about a used Mazda 6. The potential customer came with a thick folder. It listed all the defects that a Mazda 6 could have.
Which tools do you offer have a specific benefit for retailers?
One of our assets is the free call manager, which is greatly appreciated by virtually all of our dealers because they no longer miss a call. As part of the statistics, we not only show our dealers the emails, but also the printouts. In other words: As soon as someone prints something out, they are really interested. We already see this as an important lead.
What does the AutoScout24 dealer blog offer?
We have had a dealer blog for over a year in which we present news, carry dealer interviews and regularly publish the used car price index ( autoscout24.at/haendlerblog). This year we have honored our dealers for the second time based on customer reviews. We will interview the top three from each federal state by the end of August and discuss with them how they deal with reviews, how they obtain reviews, etc. These results are then also interesting for other traders. Another interesting question is: How do I deal with a negative review?
What advice do you give your dealers?
The dealer should comment on each review. If insults occur, you should simply delete them.
Which retailers have you recognized?
The approximately 100 dealers who had an average rating of 4.5 received a certificate from us, which we handed over personally. We also provided free merchandise items. Every retailer is happy about an award that comes from the end customer.
How do you stand out from competitors?
There is a certain percentage of users who use multiple platforms. But there is also a large part that uses platforms exclusively. We are excellently positioned in terms of reach. With AutoScout24 and aktuellwagen.at we have a total of almost eight million visits. The fact that we focus exclusively on vehicles definitely sets us apart from our competitors. Our users value tools that are efficient and that they cannot find anywhere else, such as our rating system. We have a price rating. We evaluate: top offer, good offer and fair offer. A tool that is extremely valued by our dealers.