SARASOTA, Fla. -

Especially now during the coronavirus pandemic, operators need other ways of reaching their customers other than a face-to-face conversation.

Textmaxx Pro, a national text message communication platform with special expertise in the automotive retail marketplace and part of the Leedom Group, recently entered a new partnership with the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association’s National Member Benefit program.

NIADA’s 16,000 independent dealer members now can use Textmaxx Pro’s fully compliant business texting technology to communicate more effectively with their teams, their customers and their prospects.

“We are pleased to welcome Textmaxx Pro to as our newest National Member Benefit partner,” NIADA director of business development James Gibson said in a news release. “NIADA has used this platform’s texting services at NIADA Conventions and other events. It’s been a great way to stay connected with our members and a key ingredient in our mobile communication strategy.”

The company emphasized that text messaging has become a primary means of communication between consumers and the businesses they choose to interact.

Textmaxx Pro’s award-winning platform employs technology that can allow for nearly instantaneous communication with clients. The company said studies have shown more than 90% of individiuals who receive a text read it within three minutes and 40% respond within 15 minutes.

Of those consumers who opt into a text or messaging platform, 77% never opt out, according to Textmaxx Pro.

NIADA members can immediately reap the benefits of the new partnership. Textmaxx Pro is offering complimentary use of the platform for 45 days, and “managed services” support for 60 days.

Textmaxx Pro explained its offer allows for turnkey integration into the business, eliminating administrative work for dealerships and finance companies so they can focus on business with a tool to effectively communicate and engage customers in the current challenging environment.

“The economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic has been intense and dramatic, and virtually no business has gone untouched,” Textmaxx Pro chief executive officer Chris Leedom said. “As a longtime automotive retailer who understands the necessity of getting back to business as soon possible after such an economic shock, we’ve pledged to help our clients and NIADA members achieve that through timely, effective communication using our platform.

“We have seen incredible usage and adaptation over the past 60 days with dealers and finance companies using texting as a primary method of communication,” Leedom went on to say.

For more information or to sign up for the complimentary Textmaxx Pro NIADA member benefit, call (866) 367-6889 or text “SMSNIADA” to 95000. To request a demo, visit textmaxxpro.com.