Product Design
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Roadster

 
 

Roadster

A modern and non-linear car buying experience that empowers sales agents and consumers to fully transact online, saving time and improving overall satisfaction.

 
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The Problem

Roadster’s old checkout (buy flow) forced customers through a long and linear process regardless of their current situation. In turn, sales agents were forced to take the consumer out of Roadster to better accommodate their needs, resulting in low conversion and completion rates.

 
 

Target Users

Consumers are more comfortable with making larger purchases online, and demanding better experiences when shopping for a car. With remote sales gaining in popularity due to COVID-19, a big opportunity presented itself to dealerships willing to adapt their process to a full digital retailing experience.

 
 
 
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Consumer

Savvy online shoppers know what they should be paying for a specific car and don’t like to waste time

 
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Sales Agent

Manages leads coming in from multiple channels, finds inventory, and drafts the first deal structure

 
 
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Old User Flow

A liner experience with massive drop-offs. Consumers had to jump through many hoops before they could initiate their car purchase.

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New User Flow

A familiar e-commerce checkout experience that lands the consumer on a task-based order page. In this order page the consumer can perform tasks non-linearly and at their own convenience.

 

Approach

 
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Simplified

Streamlined and simplified checkout flow to increase engagement. Time-consuming tasks become optional.

Flexible

Users can choose to complete forms at checkout, or simply reserve the car and finish later.

Empowered

Agents are empowered to start the online process on behalf of the customer and push purchase tasks required to solidify the deal. 

 
 

The New Experience

Checkout - Payment Step

Checkout - Payment Step

Order Page - Task-based non-linear flow

Order Page - Task-based non-linear flow

 

Dealer Experience

Once the order is placed by the customer, the sales agent has full visibility into every step that has been completed, and she can request extra tasks, adjust the deal to fit the customer’s financial situation, and message with the customer in order to finalize the deal. The full transaction takes place online, including digital signatures with full CRM integrations.

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Recent Results

The old flow showed a 2% conversion rate (orders submitted), where the new flow shows somewhere around 7% and 8% with almost 80% of those orders having some tasks completed.

The two flows are not easy to compare since many steps have been removed and others made optional, but we have seen a steady rate of new orders started and submitted as well as an encouraging task completion rate.

 

Next Steps

 

As observed in the metrics above, Vehicle Detail Page (VDP) conversion into an order is still low despite research evidence that shows consumers desire to skip the dealership and buy cars online. In a separate research effort we uncovered that most consumers don’t believe that clicking the “buy” button, on a deanship’s website, will lead to an online transaction.

Online shoppers believe the “buy” CTA will only submit their personal information to the dealership that will in turn, start calling, and sometimes harassing them to make an in-person appointment. Understanding how to increase consumer trust and awareness will be key to continue pushing the boundaries of what’s possible for automotive retailing.