Cox Automotive says it's unlocked more ActivEngage messaging innovations across several Cox retailing brands and solutions, including Autotrader, Accelerate My Deal, Dealer.com and Kelley Blue Book. It will now offer face-to-face video during live chats in the messaging window, supporting dealer-customer engagement at its highest level to help guide today's shoppers through the digital retailing process and encourage more of the deal completion process online.

ActivEngage Messaging will be available through Cox Automotive brands and solutions in the second quarter. That will allow dealers to scale up or down managed live, online chat support to build relationships while trusting that digital dealerships are kept staffed round-the-clock to eliminate missed opportunities.

"With more than half of all vehicle transactions in 2023 predicted to be conducted with at least one digital step or tool, maximizing value from every customer interaction is paramount," said Jessica Stafford, Cox Automotive SVP of Consumer Solutions. "Building trust, confidence and rapport through face-to-face engagements will help us deliver the car buying experience today's consumer expects."

Messaging Innovation Highlights

People-powered interactive messaging solutions enhance the natural progression of conversations, allowing automotive dealers to engage shoppers in their preferred communication channel while cultivating high-quality, deep shopper profiles from numerous ways to interact and gather insight.

With the innovative messaging technology brought by the Cox Automotive and ActivEngage partnership, customers can expect:

• Face-to-face video chat sessions online so you never leave the customer side, whether remote or in person

• The ability to follow the shopper throughout every step of the online deal completion, providing the live, in-person feel you get on location at the dealership

• Empowerment of automotive dealers and consumers to build relationships with engagement experts trained to drive digital retailing conversations that turn into sales

"Dealers understand how critical it is to make digital consumer experiences more human and engaging," said ActivEngage Chief Revenue Officer Eric Schlesinger. "This unique collaboration between two industry powerhouses helps dealers better meet consumers online to create an emotional connection to the dealership and their purchase. The enhanced service will guide shoppers through the digital retail process and gather essential insight for more productive in-person conversations."