Years ago, experts predicted that the rise of the internet would mean trouble for car dealerships, but in fact, it’s been exactly the opposite. The internet has made car shopping more accessible than ever for consumers, and dealers willing to embrace it are reaping the benefits. Car shoppers can buy Nissan online or shop for Hyundai or Ford online but still work with their local dealer.

The Changing Scope of Online Car Sales

When the internet first started growing, dealerships used it as a way to get customers to their showrooms, but not as a tool for selling their vehicles. Over the past two years, Covid has changed this. Now, more and more dealerships are using the internet to not only boost their sales but, in some cases, even surpass their traditional in-person sales.

The Preorder Trend

Consumers are going to dealerships with more information than ever about the car they want and the features they want. In the past, car buyers would have to settle for what dealerships had on their lot, but this is changing with the option for preordering. Both customers and dealerships benefit from this because dealers don’t miss out on a sale if they don’t have the car their customer wants on their lot. Instead of letting the sale walk out the door, their sales staff can preorder the vehicle and get it to their customer when it comes in.

Nissan@Home

Programs such as Nissan@Home make it easier than ever for car sales staff and dealerships to help their customers buy Nissan online. This program allows customers to find the car they want online and then purchase it through a participating dealer. The internet also makes it easy for car buyers to find a local dealer so they can connect in person if they want, or they can complete the entire process from home.

Nissan@Home allows car shoppers to cast a wider net while shopping, but dealers at the local level benefit from the sale.

Online Car Buying Makes Dealerships More Efficient

Dealers and car sales staff benefit from the added efficiency of online car sales. Online car buying is a much shorter process, making it possible to sell more cars. One reason the process of buying Nissan online is quicker is that consumers are doing more research before they complete the deal. They don’t need to sit with their salesperson in order to get information about the cars they are interested in, but the salesperson will still get credit for the sale.

Gaining New Customers From Unexpected Places

Whether consumers want to buy Nissan online or shop other automakers online, it’s a win for dealers across the country. Dealerships can now gain customers who might not have shopped at their dealership if they had to make the drive to the showroom, and once you gain the customer, they will come back for service and maybe even their next vehicle.