“Portfolio’s marketing services were selected on the basis of product, support and price, plus the fact that the whole solution, along with the eBusiness Centre software, is designed specifically for vehicle manufacturers and their dealer networks,” said Simon Wheeler, Fiat’s Used Vehicle Remarketing Manager.

Fiat UK has appointed Portfolio, part of Manheim Retail Services, as a key partner to help market Approved Used Vehicles throughout the Fiat dealer network. Using Portfolio’s latest e-Business Centre Platform – a web-based showroom tool, Fiat dealers can load, manage and market all aspects of their used car, MPV and light commercial vehicle stock online. 

All a dealer needs to post a used vehicle online is the registration number, mileage and price of the vehicle for sale. This information is cross-referenced with multiple third party data sources including the DVLA data, to populate a more comprehensive vehicle description. From here a dealer can choose to add further information and vehicle photographs, or take advantage of Portfolio’s professional vehicle photography service.

With the information in place, dealers then have the ability to sit down with showroom customers and use the system to locate Fiat vehicles from their used stock. Retail customers can also opt to browse the selection of Fiat Approved Used vehicles on www.fiat.co.uk (currently around 600 online) from the comfort of their homes.

The new e-Business Platform has been launched to give Fiat dealers better tools with which to capitalise on used car sales. During the current economic downturn, where more customers are being forced to buy used, it’s come at a good time for the network.

Major attributes of the new Portfolio services over the previous provider include a new online stock locator with extended functionality and the ability to present vehicles in a more visually compelling manner, with up to six images. The search facility is more accurate than previously, and the model and vehicle description information is far more comprehensive. Furthermore, the system loads quickly and the IT platform is very stable. Specific vehicles and corresponding data and imagery can be selected by dealers to send as ‘stock broadcast feeds’ to on-line consumer publications such as Auto Trader. All of the new used car marketing services are supported with Portfolio’s dedicated online and telephone back-up – plus in-dealership support provided by their Regional Account Managers.

“Portfolio’s marketing services were selected on the basis of product, support and price, plus the fact that the whole solution, along with the eBusiness Centre software, is designed specifically for vehicle manufacturers and their dealer networks,” said Simon Wheeler, Fiat’s Used Vehicle Remarketing Manager. 

“The system ticked all of the right boxes in terms of elements required, plus our research, conducted on all major motor manufacturers’ used car web sites, consistently showed that those managed by Portfolio were the most highly rated for quality and functionality. We were also closely involved in the design of the vehicle selection pages, creating what we believe to be the most user friendly, functional and visually pleasing stock locator available from any manufacturer.”

The introduction of Portfolio solutions is just one element in the major redevelopment of Fiat’s marketing services for used vehicles to be rolled out throughout dealerships over the next two months. This will help Fiat to present stock in the most professional manner and in a consistent format throughout the network.