VEHICLE DEALERSHIP CUSTOMER SERVICE AND RETENTION UTILITY
First Claim
1. A method for providing dealership services to customers of a dealership, comprising:
- receiving, at a computing device, log-in information corresponding to a customer of the dealership;
estimating, at the computing device, a distance traveled corresponding to a vehicle associated with the customer according to a database at the dealership utility system;
determining, at the computing device, a next service due time based on the estimated distance traveled;
notifying, from the computing device, the customer at a predetermined time prior to the determined next service due time of when the vehicle is due for a service; and
receiving, at the computing device, an input from the customer corresponding to scheduling of a service appointment in response to the notification.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides a convenient platform in the form of a dealership utility through which customers and dealers can manage vehicles and service appointments. Customers may log-in to access a customer module of the dealership utility through which they may receive notifications pertaining to their vehicle, view vehicle status information, adjust their preferences and settings, schedule and manage service appointments, contact the dealership and view service histories associated with their vehicles. Dealers may log-in to access a dealer module of the dealership utility through which they may manage employees, customers and service appointments, as well as review customer surveys and business reports. The dealership utility may be implemented as a web application, software application, or mobile application, and/or in combination with a text messaging system, usable by customers and dealers on any computing device such as personal computers and mobile phones.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for providing dealership services to customers of a dealership, comprising:
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receiving, at a computing device, log-in information corresponding to a customer of the dealership; estimating, at the computing device, a distance traveled corresponding to a vehicle associated with the customer according to a database at the dealership utility system; determining, at the computing device, a next service due time based on the estimated distance traveled; notifying, from the computing device, the customer at a predetermined time prior to the determined next service due time of when the vehicle is due for a service; and receiving, at the computing device, an input from the customer corresponding to scheduling of a service appointment in response to the notification. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for providing dealership services to customers of a dealership, comprising at least one computing device connected to a network having at least one tangible non-transient computer-readable medium with computer-executable instructions stored thereon, the computer-executable instructions comprising:
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instructions for receiving log-in information corresponding to a customer of the dealership; instructions for estimating a distance traveled corresponding to a vehicle associated with the customer according to a database at the dealership utility system; instructions for determining a next service due time based on the estimated distance traveled; instructions for notifying the customer at a predetermined time prior to the determined next service due time of when the vehicle is due for a service; and instructions for receiving an input from the customer corresponding to scheduling of a service appointment in response to the notification. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A networked dealership utility system, comprising:
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at least one web server, application server, and database having computer-executable instructions stored on at least one tangible non-transient computer-readable medium, wherein the computer-executable instructions, when executed, provide a customer module to customers accessing the networked dealership utility system and a dealer module to dealers accessing the dealership utility system, wherein; the customer module further comprises; a vehicle status interface for providing a customer with an estimated distance traveled and a next service due time corresponding to a vehicle associated with the customer; a notifications interface for notifying the customer of at least one of a next service due time, a scheduled appointment, and a marketing promotion; and a customer appointments interface for scheduling an appointment for the customer; and the dealer module further comprises; a customers interface for viewing a list of customer records, adding new customer records, and removing and modifying existing customer records; and a dealer appointments interface for viewing a list of appointments, including scheduled and completed appointments, adding new scheduled appointments, and canceling appointments. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification