5 Types of Automotive Data That Every Dealership Needs to Employ


Over the last 5 years, there has been a paradigm shift in marketing and advertising across all industries. The "spray and pray" method, hammer everyone with promotional content and hope it sticks, is finally fading, as businesses become more strategic in their messaging.

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Topics: Automotive Data, Vehicle Equipment, Dealers


The Value of High-Quality Content for Dealerships


An Interview with Connie Keane of Motor Matters

DataOne Software recently interviewed Connie Keane, president of AutoWriters Associates, Inc. and owner of Motor Matters. Motor Matters and DataOne have been partners for quite some time, with DataOne offering Motor Matters vehicle overviews and weekly automotive articles as part of our digital media & editorial product for dealers. Connie and her team of writers have been serving the automotive industry for a number of years now and are known for creating engaging content for all types of vehicle buyers.

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Topics: Dealers, Automotive Content


VIN Decoder, VIN Check & Vehicle History Reports: How Do They Differ?


Is there a difference between a VIN decoder and a VIN check? What information is available from decoding a VIN number? Does a VIN check provide vehicle history data? All of these are valid questions that many consumers and even automotive industry professionals are unsure about.

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Topics: Automotive Data, VIN, Vehicle Equipment, 3rd Party Mapping


3 VIN Lookup Resources for the Takata Airbag Recalls


If you have kept up with the news or social media on any level, then the Takata airbag recall should ring a bell. It has been deemed the largest recall in U.S. history, totaling almost 34 million vehicles (1 in 4 on the road). The NHTSA has thus far listed 11 manufacturers with multiple models affected by this recall. So far the list consists of BMW, Chrysler, Daimler Trucks, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru and Toyota. Let's not forget about their sister companies such as Acura, Infiniti and Lexus.

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Topics: Automotive Data, VIN, Vehicle Equipment, Dealers, 3rd Party Mapping


Car Infotainment Systems to Consider in the Vehicle Shopping Process


Auto Technology: Infotainment Systems

Remember the days when an 8-track player in your car, or multi-disc changer (for the millennials), was the best thing since sliced bread? Today, if your car doesn't have an auxiliary port or Bluetooth capability it would be considered prehistoric. As smartphones have become more of a standard, a simple connecting cable doesn't quite cut it anymore. Infotainment systems (information and entertainment) are the new auto industry standard.

The bottom line is that cars supporting music entertainment needs, as well as readily available information through smartphone integration is essential for many vehicle shoppers. Unfortunately, choosing a vehicle with the perfect infotainment system is more complicated than it was with previous entertainment systems.    

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Topics: Mobile, Auto Manufacturers, Automotive Technology


The Effect of "Mobilegeddon" on the Automotive Industry


Mobile devices are becoming a standard means of browsing the internet, researching products and services, and making purchases online. According to Global Web Index, 80 percent of internet users own a smartphone and 47 percent own a tablet. With these kinds of statistics, you better believe that your website is receiving a significant amount of its traffic from mobile users - unless you fell subject to the latest Google algorithm update last week. 

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Topics: Mobile, Vehicle, Parts & Services, Insurance, Automotive, Dealers


What If On-Demand Roadside Assistance Apps Could Help Prevent Vehicle Breakdowns?


Getting stranded on the side of the highway, or even worse, on a dirt road far from civilization is one of a driver's worst fears. These fears have driven many consumers to seek various roadside assistance services for peace of mind when the time arises.

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Topics: Mobile, Insurance, Roadside Assistance


Usage Based Insurance: How it Works and Who it Benefits


Paying for a service based on usage is not a new business model, as we’ve seen it used with cellular and internet service providers, but is now growing as a popular automotive insurance option available through several insurance providers. Usage-based insurance (UBI), also known as pay-as-you-drive (PAYD), uses key metrics such as accrued mileage and driving behaviors to determine insurance rates for individuals or businesses.

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Topics: Automotive Data, Insurance, Automotive Technology, Vehicle Equipment


3 Auto Insurance Underwriting Challenges a VIN Decoding Solution Will Overcome


The process of underwriting for auto insurance policies involves many steps and needs to account for a number of risk variables. The vehicle specifications are just one piece to consider when assessing risk. Some others include client demographics, geography, and driving history. 

As the variety of available vehicle safety equipment continues to increase, so does their effect on insurance risk ratings. It’s important that underwriters utilize the right resources to help them understand the options available, thereby saving them time and increasing process accuracy.

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Topics: Automotive Data, Safety, Insurance, Automotive Technology, Vehicle Equipment


10 Auto Blog Articles We Thought You'd Enjoy! Part 2


It's been a couple of months since we last put together a list of ten awesome auto industry blog articles. Since then, there have been plenty more share-worthy blogs to sift through!

Similar to part one, the blogs we've shared below are from all different segments of the auto industry, providing value for several auto niches. Topics range from vehicle maintenance and safety to best practices for marketing your automotive business to both B2B and B2C.

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Topics: Mobile, Marketing, VIN, Insurance, Automotive Technology, Vehicle Equipment