Aston Barclay has seen used car purchases via its buyer app hit the £5m mark just eight months after launch.

Just over 15% of all online bids are now being received via the buyer app, reinforcing how used car buyers value being able to run their businesses from their mobile devices.

March 2018 was the app’s most popular month with 160 used cars purchased, with one buyer sending in a video of him having purchased cars while on holiday in Pakistan, as well as others submitting videos of them actively sourcing stock from their living rooms.

Its recent buyer satisfaction survey showed that buyers rated the app eight out of 10, with 75% of respondents stating they would solely use digital platforms to source vehicles.

Version 11 of the app is now available in app stores and includes functionality driven by buyer feedback including fingerprint log in, enhanced search options as well as new vendor functions.

Since its April launch, vendors have sent 500 messages directly to rostrums as they start to unlock the power of being able to remotely manage their sales.

“Used car buying patterns are changing and we are seeing buyers rely on their smart phone very heavily to run their businesses,” explained Neil Hodson, Aston Barclay group CEO.

“The buyer app kicked off our revolutionary digital strategy in July last year and according to buyers it has dramatically changed the way they access and source used stock. 12% of buyers we surveyed stated they would rather receive app notifications as the preferred method of contact with our buyer services team.

“In eight months our app is already on version 11 where competitors are still in the planning and testing stages. It is testament to our buyer services and IT teams that buyers have transitioned over £5m of spend to a totally new channel.”

Colby Breegan, group vehicle buyer at Dace Motor Company, had never bought a used car from Aston Barclay, but is now the group’s second biggest mobile buyer having purchased £900,000 of stock via the app.

He said: “When Aston Barclay launched its buyer app, I immediately saw the benefits of being able to source stock on the go with a total picture of the vehicles I’m bidding on. I use the app every single day and it has transformed my business.

“I don’t have to worry about traffic or being away from home or the office, and the continual updates and increased functionality reinforce my trust in Aston Barclay. I use it to source 95% of my entire stock needs.”

The app has now been downloaded nearly 8,000 times and has recently been shortlisted in the DXA UK 18 Digital Experience Awards for best Mobile Strategy of the Year, alongside blue-chip companies such as EE and Three for the second year running.

Aston Barclay’s next digital venture is a new appraisal app.

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