How we’re improving the car buying journey

Here at Auto Trader, we’re constantly investing in technology and data to improve the car buying and selling journey, as well as empowering our customers with the tools, insights and intelligence they need to navigate today’s complex retail market.

Highlighting the scale and reach of our technology, our Auto Trader Connect API platform receives 85 million information requests per month – 32 times every second – whilst our award-winning valuations data is being engaged with over 20 million times every month.  

Our product and technology team of over 380 people is constantly evolving and refining our technology, and in fact, make 25 times more software releases than we did 10 years ago, with more than 1,000 updates per week. This year’s seen some hugely significant data-led releases and product upgrades, which have been developed though the team’s uniquely ‘simple’ approach.

You can find out more on how the team approaches product development in this short video, and get a flavour of the many brilliant new and improved products they’ve created in 2023.

As revealed in the video, some of this year’s highlights include:

A new vehicle-level performance dashboard

Our Vehicle Insight dashboard is an intuitive new product which makes it easier and more efficient for retailers to access our market leading insights through their Portal accounts. It brings together key performance indicators in one single tool, providing easy-to-read insights into any vehicle, helping retailers to respond quickly to the fast-moving market and improve performance across their digital forecourt. By embedding this data centrally in the stock management process, retailers can save time, make faster and more informed choices, and ultimately improve sales performance, maximising their margin and profit potential in the process.

Easy-access vehicle data

We've made it easier for retailers to use our vehicle data by creating more flexible ways to create new stock records when registration lookups aren't available. They can now use their third-party systems to search our vehicle data and build simpler, more customised stock creation journeys.

Auto Trader Connect gets an upgrade

Our API platform already links retailer’s third-party systems together in one place. But now these systems are notified of new leads in real-time, rather than through periodic updates. They can access more data in more places, on-demand, which lowers the risk of lost leads.

Personalised PPC adverts

Our new consumer data platform monitors the preferences of each user in real-time as they browse. This means we only show them car adverts with features that matter to them in future. Better user experience for the buyer, stronger leads for you.

A simplified part exchange journey

We've condensed our part exchange question set into simple condition bandings with clear, helpful language to give people more confidence in assessing their car's condition. Now it's faster, friendlier and more consistent – an all-round better experience for both you and your buyers.

We revamped the reservation process

This year we optimised our payment process which strengthened the integration across Portal, adverts and back-end systems. Together they allow the £99 reservation holding payment on vehicles to be automatically returned to buyers, meaning less admin for sellers, and a more streamlined reservation and buying process for consumers.

A brand-new account space for online buying

We've built and launched a new area within the account space for consumers to track, review and manage their online car-buying journeys. They can now see all the cars they've started orders for, get status updates from retailers, and continue and complete active orders on the go.

The flexibility to pause, stop and start

The new account space now gives consumers the flexibility to complete their online orders at their own pace. We save their progress as they go along, so if they need to pause for the school run, a work meeting or just to make dinner, they can stop, leave and then pick up where they left off.

Delivery, from anywhere

This year we integrated our Market Extension service into our online car buying journey, so buyers are no longer limited to buying from dealerships within a standard delivery radius. Now they can order their car from sellers anywhere across the UK, and have it delivered to their home. This means much more choice for buyers and much more reach for you.

It's been another big year.

Turning complex data into simple products is no easy feat, but it's what we do best at Auto Trader. And we've got more features and upgrades already in the pipeline for release soon, so watch this space for the next update.