iMotors Goes Live With Full Service Audio Tour Guide To Enhance Online Shopping Experience; AudioBase Chosen to Bring Sound and Voice to Site Navigation
3 November 2000
iMotors Goes Live With Full Service Audio Tour Guide To Enhance Online Shopping Experience; AudioBase Chosen to Bring Sound and Voice to Site Navigation
SAN FRANCISCO--Nov. 3, 2000--iMotors, the first online direct seller of certified used cars, announced today that it has incorporated AudioBase's full service voice and sound conversion solution into the iMotors Web site in order to enhance consumers' browsing and shopping experience.iMotors chose AudioBase to better assist and guide shoppers by offering the option of voice and sound to enhance the explanation of iMotors' advantage, buying concept and order process. With audio supported site navigation, consumers can choose to complement their site visit with a full service audio tour guide that assists in almost every step of the process in ordering an iMotors certified used car.
"At iMotors, we're focused on constantly improving the consumer's used car shopping experience," said Adam Simms, iMotors founder and CEO. "Incorporating voice and sound into our site allows us to offer another helpful resource to our visitors."
Partnering with AudioBase, iMotors researched the impact of audio on its site prior to full implementation. An independent study conducted by Vividence in September 2000 demonstrated the effectiveness of sound and voice to enhancing the online shopping experience. Research highlights include:
| -- | Respondents are 15 percent more likely to return to the audio version of the site (69 percent versus 60 percent, indexing 115) versus the non-audio version. |
| -- | Seven of ten respondents rated the audio-enhanced car search more convenient and helpful, as well as enjoyable, versus the non-audio version. |
| -- | Almost a fifth of the respondents are more likely to consider the audio site customer-friendly, versus the non-audio version (62 percent versus 52 percent, indexing at 119). |
iMotors' Web team and AudioBase worked together to develop and implement the Audio Tour Guide to inform and instruct web site visitors. This included the addition of voice and sound to the welcome page, quotes section, weekly specials, and order forms.
Here's how iMotors works:
-- A customer orders the one to five year old vehicle they want
via the Custom Order, Express service or iDeals on Express by
signing up online at www.imotors.com, or by calling
1-888-IMOTORS (466-8677). Orders are secured with a $250 fully
refundable deposit and proof of financing.
-- Through its network of off-lease, auction, and other public
and non-public sources, iMotors' expert buyers find and
purchase the vehicle that the customer ordered.
-- iMotors transports the vehicle to one of its state-of-the-art
Vehicle Certification Centers where ASE and I-CAR certified
technicians test, inspect and certify the vehicle. iMotors
makes needed repairs, replaces parts, and performs
preventative maintenance, bringing the vehicle back up to
like-new standards both mechanically and cosmetically.
-- iMotors delivers the car to the customer at the nearest,
licensed iMotors Delivery Center. The customer reviews the
vehicle, takes a test drive and signs all remaining paperwork.
iMotors backs every vehicle with a 3-month/3,000-mile
comprehensive warranty, a 7-day/700-mile money-back guarantee,
and an AutoBiography(SM), detailing the vehicle's history.
About iMotors:
iMotors was launched in September 1999 as the Internet's first and only used car company, allowing customers to buy thoroughly tested, inspected and certified used vehicles entirely online. iMotors is a privately held company, backed by a renowned group of investors with successful track records at leading land-based retail and internet/e-commerce businesses. For additional information, visit www.imotors.com or call 1-888-IMOTORS (466-8677).