How Auto Capital are using Deal Builder to enhance online reservations
Auto Capital, a leading van retailer, have been leveraging online reservation tools since 2020. Initially, they adopted ClickDealer’s ClickEngage solution, enabling customers to reserve vehicles directly through their website. In December 2024, Auto Capital to further enhance their online-to-forecourt journey.
We spoke to Keith Hardy, General Manager at Auto Capital Ltd, to get an insight into how he and the team have been using Deal Builder alongside their existing systems and processes to improve operations and customer experience.
“I see this as Auto Trader taking a big step towards taking on the role of the salesperson. Now, the customer can do much more of the buying process on Auto Trader, just as easy as they do on the likes of Amazon.”
Auto Capital’s adoption of online reservations
Auto Capital have been utilising ClickDealer’s ClickEngage since 2020, allowing customers to make online reservations. On average, 20 reservations are made through their website each month.
In January 2025 alone, Auto Capital recorded 26 online reservations via ClickEngage, successfully converting 21 into sales – an impressive 80% conversion rate. The remaining five reservations were declined solely due to issues with securing finance for customers.
Integration with Deal Builder
In December 2024, Auto Capital started using Deal Builder. Within the first month, they received 14 deals, with an outstanding conversion rate of over 90% (13 out of 14 deals completed). Keith agreed that this early success demonstrated the potential of Deal Builder in boosting customer confidence and improving their conversion rates.
How the Auto Trader brand has postively impacted Auto Capital’s reservations
Two of Auto Capitals’s customers, Andrew and Tony, shared positive experiences with Deal Builder:
Andrew, who purchased a Vauxhall Vivaro, found Auto Capital’s advert while browsing Auto Trader. He found the reservation process easy and seamless, and credited his confidence to reserve online to his trust in the Auto Trader brand. He admitted that if he was looking to reserve directly on the retailer’s website, he might have hesitated.
Tony, who purchased a Ford Transit Custom, echoed Andrew’s comments, mentioning Auto Trader’s credibility as a key factor in his decision to reserve online.
Key benefits of Deal Builder for Auto Capital
Increased Customer Confidence – The strong association with Auto Trader has reassured buyers, leading to higher conversion rates.
24/7 Customer Engagement – Nearly half of reservations occur outside business hours, emphasising the importance of a robust online reservation system.
Seamless Integration with ClickDealer – Auto Capital’s sales team can engage with customers instantly through ClickDealer’s chat functionality, improving response times and customer interactions.
Efficient Admin Processes – The automatic refund of the reservation fee, which processes within three days, has significantly reduced administrative workload.
Improved Visibility of the Reserve Button – While Keith suggests further enhancements like colour or animation for better visibility, the current setup has already driven impressive results.
Conclusion
Keith and Auto Capital’s experience with Deal Builder has been overwhelmingly positive. It has reinforced customer trust, improved conversion rates, and streamlined administrative processes.
As Keith summarised: “I see this as Auto Trader taking a big step towards taking on the role of the salesman. Now, the customer can do much more of the buying process on Auto Trader, just as easy as they do on the likes of Amazon.”