June 14, 2012—Summit Software and Marketing Solutions announced it is now offering an unsold estimate sales and communication service.
The service is designed to let collision shops implement automated sales and follow-up communications using e-mail, text messaging and phone applications to increase closing ratios and sales, according to a news release_notes.
“Based on industry statistics, more than 30 percent of consumers that drive into an auto body shop for an estimate do not immediately agree to have their vehicle repaired,” said Frank Terlep, CEO of Summit. “Most shops don't have the time or resources to call every unsold estimate. Secondly, in today’s world it’s difficult to connect with busy consumers via a phone call. Our e-MarketPlace unsold estimate sales and follow-up service uses email, text messages and in-app communications to automate the entire unsold estimate process.”
Terlep said selling is a numbers game. “Shops with $1 million to $3 million in annual sales and a 70 percent closing ratio lose sales opportunities worth $299,000 to $900,000 a year respectively,” he said. “By simply following up with an email, text or an in-app communications to every unsold estimate we can improve a shop’s closing ratio by 2 percent to 15 percent.”
