First developed by SoftAd in 1995, the latest release of DealerConnection gives Ford's dealers more flexibility in building and maintaining their own Web site, while still allowing Ford Motor Company to retain control over its brand. Over 5,000 Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, and Volvo dealerships have been successfully launched on this microsite platform. DealerConnection solved Ford's dilemma of how best to get its dealership partners online without compromising its own brand. DealerConnection 3.0 provides Ford's dealers with new functionality-the ability to upload and maintain inventory online and the ability to manage leads that were generated online.
Enhanced flexibility provides dealers with extensive opportunity for graphical customization.
The new format allows dealers to interact with consumers throughout the entire vehicle buying and ownership experience. Consumers are seamlessly connected from the brand site, to the dealer sites, to the physical stores-online page views are turned into leads, and the brand image and consumer experience is consistent and preserved throughout the process. DealerConnection enables channel cooperation and eliminates channel conflict. The SoftAd Group offers its microsite strategy through its ChannelNet product, an e-commerce software system designed to help corporations sell intelligently online, connect their channel partners online, and build loyalty. ChannelNet delivers this vision and functionality as a modular solution that enables corporations to rapidly build, implement, and grow their e-commerce presence.