From Franchise to Independent: Increased Engagement & Digital Ownership
35%
Increase in online vehicle reservations
50%
Rise in customer engagement
859
Vehicle Valuation Requests
PDH Cars is a well-established independent car dealership based in Sussex, known for its high-quality used vehicles and exceptional customer service. Having previously operated as a franchise dealership for Fiat, Abarth, Alfa Romeo, and Jeep under Stellantis, PDH Cars made the strategic decision to transition to a fully independent used car dealership. This shift required a complete overhaul of their digital presence, operational processes, and marketing strategy.
The Goal
As PDH transitioned from a franchise dealership to an independent used car retailer, they faced the challenge of moving away from manufacturer-backed systems and establishing their own independent digital infrastructure. Building a strong online presence became a priority, along with efficiently sourcing and rotating used car stock without the support of manufacturer-supplied inventory. They also needed to provide customers with real-time, accurate finance options while eliminating costly third-party website subscriptions, ensuring full ownership of their digital platform. Additionally, enhancing customer engagement through high-quality vehicle information, videos, and integrated finance tools was key to their success.
Inter Vivos Digital Marketing worked closely with PDH Cars to design and develop a bespoke, fully independent website tailored to their new business model.
Supporting the Transition to an Independent Used Car Dealership
As PDH Cars shifted away from Stellantis’ franchise dealership model, they required a website that gave them full control over their branding, messaging, and marketing strategy. Independence in managing their stock, pricing, and promotions was essential, along with a need for a cost-effective platform without ongoing subscription fees. To support this, we developed a fully custom WordPress site with tailored integrations—delivering a scalable, subscription-free solution that PDH Cars completely owns and can manage independently.
Custom WordPress Plugins for API Integration
To ensure real-time accuracy and seamless digital operations, we developed custom API integrations for PDH Cars. We created a Navigator DMS Integration, which bridges their Navigator system to the website, syncing car listings in real-time. This ensures that customers always see the most up-to-date availability, pricing, and specifications. Additionally, we integrated Codeweavers Finance, allowing customers to instantly generate accurate finance quotes directly on the website for both Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) and Hire Purchase (HP) plans.
CAP Data-Powered Used Car Valuation Tool – A Key to Stock Rotation
As an independent dealership, PDH Cars needed a reliable way to acquire new stock. To address this, we built a car valuation tool powered by CAP data via Codeweavers. The tool allows users to enter their vehicle details and receive an instant, industry-standard trade-in valuation, making the part-exchange process more transparent and efficient. This solution helps PDH Cars maintain a steady flow of fresh stock while improving the overall customer experience.
Enhanced Car Stock Pages with Comprehensive Vehicle Information
We designed highly detailed vehicle listing pages to enhance the customer experience and improve engagement. Each stock page includes high-quality images and videos to effectively showcase the vehicles, as well as comprehensive specifications such as mileage, engine details, features, and history. Customers can download PDF datasheets containing all key details for offline viewing. To further enhance user interaction, we integrated custom finance calculators for PCP and HP finance quotes, powered through the Codeweavers API via our custom-built Codeweavers Bridge plugin. Additionally, the website supports reserve and buy online functionality, allowing customers to complete their purchases digitally.
E-Commerce Functionality: Online Purchasing & Reservations
To modernise the car buying process, we implemented secure online transaction functionality, enabling users to reserve a car online with a deposit, complete vehicle purchases digitally, and customise finance options in real-time based on their preferred terms and deposit amount. This seamless, user-friendly system ensures that customers can easily navigate the purchasing process from start to finish, all online.
Mobile-Optimised User Experience
With a growing number of users browsing via mobile devices, we built a fully responsive, fast-loading website to ensure a seamless customer journey across all devices.
The Results
By developing a fully independent, high-performance website with custom API integrations, Inter Vivos Digital Marketing enabled PDH Cars to successfully navigate one of the most significant transitions in its history. The integration of Navigator for real-time stock management, Codeweavers for finance calculations, and a CAP-powered used car valuation tool has created a seamless digital experience for customers. Now, customers can easily browse vehicles with detailed images, videos, and PDF downloads, get real-time, accurate finance quotations for both PCP and HP plans, trade in their vehicle for a fair, instant valuation, and reserve or purchase cars online with ease.
What’s next?
Moving forward, Inter Vivos will continue to work closely with PDH Cars to ensure the website remains up-to-date and fully aligned with their evolving business needs. This collaboration will include regular updates to the platform, the promotion of sales campaigns, and the integration of new features to keep the digital experience fresh, engaging, and competitive in the market.