PACIFIC PALISADES, Calf. — fusionZONE Automotive LLC has launched Mobile Text Coupons, a new tool for auto dealers. Customers shopping from home can choose a coupon, enter their phone number, and store this coupon in their smartphone’s wallet. The customer can then present their smartphone to the dealership’s sales or service department and redeem their desired discount or deal, according to the announcement.

“Dealers on their game regularly add prominent specials to their website. However, we discovered a big problem: In most cases, those specials only offer a ‘click to print’ option and aren’t optimized for mobile devices. As 60% to 70% of consumers use the internet via mobile devices, we saw a need for change and created Mobile Text Coupons for both sales and service,” said Brett Sutherlin, FusionZONE’s.

Among the beta testers was William Finsilver, general manager at BMW of Bloomfield (N.J.), who reported a 200%-plus increase in service leads. “In the past, if the service customer printed a sheet of coupons, we were not capturing a lead. Now our service team proactively reaches out to the customer and books the appointment,” Finsilver said.

“Mobile Text Coupons are for both sales and service, but we have found that they finally give an identity to the service department,” Sutherlin added. “While most dealers concentrate solely on sales, this product provides fusionZONE dealers with an upper hand by generating leads for the service department, something dealerships have struggled with forever.”

Visit fusionZONE at Booth 7935W at NADA Show 2019.