Additional integration points will revolutionize auto financing and retail industry
HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. and SAN JOSE, Calif. - September 10, 2018 - CDK Global (Nasdaq: CDK), a leading enabler of end-to-end automotive commerce, today announced that AutoFi has have agreed to consume digital retailing app programming interfaces (APIs) from the Fortellis Automotive Commerce Exchange™ platform. The company also confirmed that Equifax Inc., a global information solutions company and one of the inaugural publishers on Fortellis, will publish additional APIs for the open, secure and accessible global network for the automotive industry. AutoFi joins Equifax Inc., Sirius XM and Lyft as the first generation of developers on Fortellis. The company made the announcement from the API: World conference and expo in San Jose, Calif., where CDK EVP & Chief Technology Officer Rajiv Amar is speaking about opening the doors of automotive commerce.
"Finance and Insurance processes have always been a roadblock for dealers looking to provide a seamless digital and in-store shopping experience for their customers," said Ron Frey, executive vice president and chief strategy officer, CDK Global. "This is another great example of how an open, secure and accessible platform can bring together developers of highly-specialized offerings that enhance the auto retail experience across the industry."
San Francisco-based startup AutoFi brings to Fortellis a fully-automated Finance and Insurance (F&I) platform, providing dealers the ability to offer a digital shopping experience powered by real-time lender connectivity and offers. By consuming APIs on the Fortellis platform, AutoFi can deliver its digital lending technology to dealers with connection to multiple CDK products through the DMS, Connected Store, websites and desking solutions. The omni-channel integration enables dealers to offer their customers lending options through their websites and in-store via mobile tablets on the showroom floor, while also allowing dealers to support customers with their digital purchase over the phone when they are shopping at home.
"Our fintech expertise delivers transparency and convenience to the customer by moving finance further up in the shopping experience," said Kevin Singerman, CEO and co-founder, AutoFi. "We see a tremendous opportunity to bring this experience to the auto industry through CDK and Fortellis."
Earlier this year at the National Automotive Dealers Association (NADA) in Las Vegas, Equifax announced it was one of the inaugural publishers to contribute APIs for the Fortellis Automotive Commerce Exchange platform, having published two unique APIs for the platform in less than five business days. Equifax has now added an additional API to enable developers to personalize their solutions to the consumer based on their credit profile, and to help drive personalized experiences in areas such as payment calculators, incentive display, and personalized deal quotes online. Equifax previously published an API for InstaTouch, which provides dealers and solution with a frictionless digital retail experience to identify and authenticate consumers while improving the customer experience by prefilling information with limited inputs, from the convenience of their mobile device.
"Innovation will come from partnerships in ecosystem, and Equifax will continue to enable developers with our unique assets and capabilities via Fortellis to help fuel this innovation," said Jennifer Reid, vice president, Automotive Marketing & Strategy Lead, U.S. Information Solutions (USIS), Equifax. "Fortellis has made it easier than ever to bring developers and companies together to innovate for the benefit of dealers, OEM's and other industry third parties, which will ultimately elevate the consumer experience."
About Fortellis Automotive Commerce Exchange™ Platform
Fortellis is a technology platform that enables the automotive industry to leverage, build, innovate and integrate solutions and workflows to transform business. The Fortellis platform—with its Developer Network and Marketplace — connects software developers, OEMs and dealers so they can create new and unique experiences efficiently and seamlessly. Visit fortellis.io to learn more.
About CDK Global
With more than $2 billion in revenues, CDK Global (Nasdaq: CDK) is a leading global provider of integrated information technology and digital marketing solutions to the automotive retail and adjacent industries. Focused on enabling end-to-end automotive commerce, CDK Global provides solutions to dealers in more than 100 countries around the world, serving approximately 28,000 retail locations and most automotive manufacturers. CDK solutions automate and integrate all parts of the dealership and buying process from targeted digital advertising and marketing campaigns to the sale, financing, insuring, parts supply, repair and maintenance of vehicles. Visit cdkglobal.com.
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Authored on Tue, 09/11/2018 - 16:44