ChannelNet & iTapMenu Partner to Bring Dealerships iPad-Based F&I Tool
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DETROIT and CARMEL, Ind. — Automotive digital solutions
company ChannelNet and iTapMenu revealed this week the two companies have
partnered to bring an iPad-based "F&I menu selling to automotive
showrooms."
Through a value added reseller agreement that has been
established between the companies, they aim to make the F&I experience more
enjoyable to consumers, as well as easier to sell for dealers.
Commenting on iTapMenu —
an iPad-based software product designed to help automotive shoppers
through the final steps of their new-vehicle financing process in the showroom — Paula Tompkins, ChannelNet chief executive officer and founder, noted,
"Today's vehicle shoppers are time starved and wary of the F&I
experience in the dealership.
"Consumers are looking for speed and transparency,
especially in the final stage of purchasing a vehicle. iTapMenu enables a
streamlined educational experience that is fully transparent and a welcome
change in the overall vehicle shopping process," she continued.
Instead of dragging out the dealership visit for a shopper
by tacking on F&I products at the end of a sale, iTapMenu, a Web-based
program that operates on the iPad, aims to speed the process up.
How does it work?
First, the F&I manager has the option of creating a
two-column or three-column customized menu for each individual customer.
"After customizing a menu for a customer, the F&I
manager uses the iPad to deliver the product recommendations," officials added.
Then, the F&I products, represented by icons, are
selected and can be dragged and dropped into the "customer selections" column.
"Tapping on one of the icons pulls up product descriptions,
replacement statistics and short video clips that detail the product and its
features," the companies explained. "iTapMenu also dynamically recalculates
when products are removed or added from the ‘customer selections' column."
Officials also explained that product pricing, terms,
interest rates and down payment can be changed in real time, right on the iPad.
Lastly, the customer signs on the iPad screen with their
finger and the virtual paperwork can be emailed or printed from the device.
"The opportunity for iTapMenu to partner with ChannelNet is
a vital strategic alignment. It represents a historic step for us as we move to
provide a mobile device sales solution for F&I managers. We've merged the
'leap-forward' technology at iTapMenu with the strong marketing entity at
ChannelNet, who we believe can help us rapidly and effectively scale our
business," according to Michael Wilson, president of iTapMenu.
"Dealers report that using iTapMenu allows customers to feel
in control of the shopping process," added Tompkins. "Our partnership
with iTapMenu allows ChannelNet to continually bring new and innovative
consumer-based technology solutions to our automotive clients."