WALTHAM, Mass. -

DealerRater announced the official release of CustomerConnect, a new product that aims to connect the in-market shopper and a top-reviewed dealership salesperson in real time — and before the showroom visit.

DealerRater found through a recent survey that 97 percent of prospective car buyers would rather choose a salesperson or service advisor to work with before they get to the store.

CustomerConnect allows them to do so.  

Through this platform, dealerships can feature their best-reviewed employees on DealerRater search directories and vehicle detail pages. The shopper and salespeople can connect via SMS texting, email and click-to-call.

“Cars are still sold one at a time, between two people,” says Gary Tucker, chief executive officer of DealerRater. “But today’s consumer wants a different car-buying experience than they have had in the past — one that respects the considerable time and effort they put into researching automotive products, pricing, and places online, and that lowers the anxiety prospects often feel before they have even set foot on a dealer lot.”

Auto Remarketing talked to Tucker in-depth about this platform at NADA for this feature story.

To learn more about CustomerConnect, visit http://info.dealerrater.com/CustomerConnect.