Over 58% of Americans own a smartphone and 42% own a tablet. Clearly, it makes sense to have mobile access for consumers, but what you may not realize is that this same level of mobile use carries over to the other side of the parts counter. Aftermarket Business World estimates that a little over half of aftermarket professionals use a mobile device for work.
As time goes on, more and more mechanics and parts people are reaching for their phones and tablets when looking for replacement parts. That’s why Vertical Development created ShowMeThePartsMobile. Now in its second version, this software makes it easy to turn your existing parts catalog into a mobile app or website that makes finding parts easier for customers, employees, and your field sales force.
What is “Mobile Friendly?”
Standard web interfaces are built with computers in mind, which means the user is accessing the site from a device with a large screen, a mouse, a keyboard and an Internet connection with fast, unlimited data. If you try to use one of these sites on a phone, then it becomes rapidly apparent why they aren’t suited to mobile devices. For example, filling out basic search information turns into an arduous task that involves slow load times, constantly zooming in and out to read text and frequent use of an on-screen keyboard.
A well-designed mobile app is built with touch screens and limited Internet access in mind. That means large text that is easy to read, large buttons that are easy to press, and simplified design elements that are fast to load. Long forms are broken into separate pages so that the user can see everything they need on a single screen instead of scrolling and zooming into multiple areas. Put all of that together, and a good mobile site allows users to navigate and find what they need far faster than they would on a regular website.
There’s also one other clear advantage that mobile devices have over computers: they can be brought to the vehicle needing the part.
Consumers and techs alike can make side-by-side comparisons between catalog photos and the part that needs to be replaced without having to remove the part from the vehicle. When a customer brings a vehicle to your store, your employees can enter information as they find it on the vehicle, virtually eliminating the chances of making mistakes.
Is It Difficult to Go Mobile?
It’s probably easier and more economical than you think. ShowMeThePartsMobile is built as a module that integrates easily with Vertical Development’s software, making it simple to create a mobile version of your current ShowMeTheParts-based catalog.
Not using ShowMeTheParts yet? The software also works with catalogs formatted to the Auto Care Association’s ACES format, so we can easily transform your data into a mobile-friendly application.
