BCA teamed up with Microsoft, TBS Enterprise Mobility and the Mobile Data Association for the one-day conference, which was attended by a number of the UK’s major buyers and sellers. 

Jonathan Higham from BCA illustrated how mobile technology is already a part of the wholesale used vehicle market, both as a part of the remarketing process for sellers and as a platform for buyers. 

The company said that mobile inspection and appraisal technology has been part of the BCA model for many years, gathering and uploading data that kickstarts the remarketing process.  The current generation of hardware and software provides another level of consistency, reliability and efficiency – allowing vehicles to be described accurately and swiftly before entering the remarketing arena.   

Steve Reynolds, CEO of TBS Enterprise Mobility – the technology delivery partner for BCA – and president of the Mobile Data Association, focused on the aspects of everyday life which are converging with mobile technology and how these are multiplying. He also explained how the benefits of mobile telemetry and data transfer technology will grow clearer, increasingly helping to avoid traffic congestion, improve fuel efficiency and add safety features. 

Richard Richmond from Lombard highlighted how effective application of the latest technology is central to the remarketing process, particularly in inspection and remote selling channels where transparency of condition is critical. 

All the speakers stressed the importance of assessing how customers choose to communicate and receive information, which will inform both the wholesale sector and how consumers buy cars from dealers in the future.

This was reflected by Steve Reynolds, who commented: ‘The benefits of new, agile technologies really can be enjoyed by everyone in the vehicle remarketing value chain today. This is what we hope was stressed to attendees. The technology exists now to improve efficiencies and drive growth, even in today’s challenging climate.’