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Mercedes-Benz to use iPad as a sales tool

by Dave Caolo Jun 3rd 2010 at 4:00PM

Mercedes-Benz is using the iPad to hawk cars. Unlike Hyundai, who gave iPads to customers, Benz is equipping their sales force.

Autoblog notes that the iPad will serve several functions on the sales floor. First as a tool for landing deals, as salespeople will use them to grab the latest marketing initiatives on certain models and run credit checks quickly (I still prefer the old days when the guy in the plaid jacket had to "talk to his manager").

Also, iPads will be used when turning in leased vehicles. The devices will run a proprietary point-of-sale dealer system called MB Advantage. The system is out in a limited release now, and feedback from participating dealers will be used for fine-tuning prior to a larger release.

Pretty neat, eh? If you're in the market for a Benz and you get a look at the system, let us know how it goes. Meanwhile, those of us not buying a car can still put an iPad inside the one we have.


[Via MacStories]


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Mercedes-Benz is using the iPad to hawk cars. Unlike Hyundai, who gave iPads to customers, Benz is equipping their sales force. Autoblog...
 

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Katie

If they are planning on mounting their iPads on the walls for returning cars and allowing customers to access a kiosk-like application they may want to check the iBracket out..I just found it online today.

http://www.gravityswitch.com/ibracket

Might be of use to them..
..that is all.

June 04 2010 at 12:05 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
CaptCaveman

Good to see the iPad being put to good use. I had an idea a few days ago where they could be used in museums to give background information about exhibits. Perhaps how the exhibit was built, where it came from, the history behind what the exhibit is about.
Yeah, I know, people sometimes destroy what doesn't belong to them. But I was thinking more along the lines of having a good faith attitude where people took care of stuff that was loaned to them.

Could also be good for Realtors. If someone is shopping for a new home, a Realtor could whip out the iPad and show them what else is in the area. Give a virtual tour of the houses up for sale. Show what is in the surrounding area on the map in relation to the house, such as schools, transportation, shopping, and show the route from the house to the home buyers job.

While the iPad would never take the place of actually touring a house. It could save lots of time for the buyer as well as the Realtor. If something looks interesting then they can have a look. If not then they can pass or put it on the back burner. Maybe even if it is something that the buyer may be interested in, they can make a note in the program that will remind them that the buyer may be interested and the program could remind them later about that interest.

June 03 2010 at 6:31 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to CaptCaveman's comment
basscadet

actually, if it would be used for a cd-rom like presentation only, it would make a lot more sense to go and buy those iPed/Apad chinese iPad clones at 1/5 of the price. And unless it's a small museum, they'd need lots and lots of them too. Loading that presentation to tablets owned by visitors when entering the museum is something more practical though.

June 04 2010 at 5:53 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
tuaw

When my salesman went to "talk to the manager", he always came back to say his manager wouldn't let him sell the car for such a low price. As though he didn't already know he was making too low an offer. A good time to get up and walk away from the deal.

June 03 2010 at 5:41 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
directeco

@Roberto: Not sure where you got that idea... Apple has made it very easy for corporations to distribute apps internally to their employees and forgo the App Store for both the iPhone/iPod Touch and the iPad.

June 03 2010 at 5:19 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to directeco's comment
Roberto

With a minimum employee number of 500, most businesses will be welcomed with a door on their face.

June 04 2010 at 7:24 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ed

@Roberto

I'm an indie iphone developer, I can install whatever I like on up to 100 devices using add hoc distribution.

If your a company with with less than 500 employees and need more than 100 devices, you can just get multiple development licenses.

Perhaps you should check your facts before you quote them.

June 04 2010 at 8:18 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Roberto

Apple rules:
If it runs on the iPad, it must be available on the Apple App Store.

June 03 2010 at 4:38 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to Roberto's comment
redcard

Plus a lot of this stuff could easily be done in the browser.

Well done on just making up stuff, Roberto

June 03 2010 at 5:42 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
iPad Weekly

Not necessarily. You can distribute apps on an ad-hoc basis to a smaller number of devices.

iPad Weekly - http://www.ipadweek.ly/

June 04 2010 at 10:39 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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