SAN DIEGO — Global digital marketing provider Search Optics announced the launch of Virtual Business Development Center (VBDC), a turnkey solution for comprehensive automotive dealer lead management.

The new offering was designed to improve response times, increase lead conversion rates, and reduce the cost of sale for dealers around the world. VBDC is staffed by experienced agents who use industry-leading practices and personalized processes to manage the entire lead-development program in partnership with Search Optics’ auto dealer clients, according to CEO David Ponn.

“As a digital marketing company with many years of specialization in the automotive market, Search Optics knows the challenges and pain points that dealers face,” Ponn said. “In developing the VBDC, we’ve applied our global knowledge and local focus to produce the most effective lead-management approach available for dealers today.”

VBDC was designed to simplify lead management by offering dealers a holistic view of the entire process. Key benefits of the VBDC solution include improved lead-response times, fewer “lost” leads, a more powerful database, and an improved customer experience, according to the company.

Ponn said the VBDC model proved successful in providing dealers long-term benefits for boosting lead generation while increasing brand loyalty through better engagement with prospects through an accelerated communication cycle. Results included an improvement of initial response times within 10 minutes and appointment-setting rate increases of up to 15%.

“Dealers generally have limited resources to manage, respond to and capitalize on leads, which results in missed opportunities and lost revenue,” he added. “By shortening lead response times and more effectively managing customer engagement, VBDC is proven to produce more appointments in the showroom and, ultimately, to reduce the cost of each sale.”