When we wrote our 2018 update, video had truly come into its own, but in 2019 we’ve taken things another step further. Here we take a look back at the year’s highlights.
After more than 10 years leading the automotive video revolution, 2019 was a big year for CitNOW. But whilst we’re proud of our own achievements, it’s our customers and the millions of videos they’ve produced that have really led the charge.
So let’s take a look at both. We’ll shine the light on some key milestones in the CitNOW journey and take a look at some of our customers achievements on the way too.
January
The post Christmas gloom was helped in 2019 by a raft of exciting new updates to the CitNOW app. We introduced web shortlist, which helps you control the order in which your images are captured – improving efficiency, accuracy and the overall quality of your assets. Theme builder was another big addition, helping dealerships take charge of their brand and make their video pages stand out. All without having to raise a single support case with CitNOW.
February
At the beginning of 2019 our CEO, Alistair Horsburgh, made several predictions for the year – with the roll-out of 5g topping his list. And despite some hiccups in the delivery of 5g, 4 of the major providers have now rolled out the next-gen network across 32 cities in the UK. 2020 is set to be the year 5g really hits the mainstream, so watch this space!
March
There was 10 million videos in 2018, but in March 2019 we topped over a million videos in a single month. A truly astonishing milestone for CitNOW customers – and one we’re really proud of too.
April
In April 2019 we undertook a two-week learning roadshow, visiting several Drive Vauxhall sites across the UK. We wanted to help the nationwide dealership establish video best practice get the most out of their investment in CitNOW.
Adrian Baker from drive vauxhall said:
“The CitNOW learning programme is a great opportunity to establish best practice and ensure everyone in the business buys into personalised video and what it can offer: helping to develop trust and transparency into every customer interaction.”
May
All the hard work paid off in May, as we were ranked the UK’s eighth fastest-growing exporter in their WorldFirst SME Export Track 100. An excellent achievement and a recognition of our global expansion.
June
In our time we’ve seen the the automotive sector – and it’s customers – change considerably. So in June we decided to take a deeper look into the changes in car buyer behaviour in our Evolution of the Car Buyer report.
July
In July we announced the winner of the CitNOW award for best video of 2018. The entry from Arnold Clark Milton Keynes Delivery Centre stood out because of the sales executives personable and enthusiastic approach – a thoroughly deserved win.
August
In our summer release we focused on providing greater choice, flexibility and efficiency. The addition of the ANPR and VIN capture feature was particularly exciting – providing customers with the ability to auto-populate vehicle details, saving them time and improving efficiency. There were plenty more updates in August too, so check out the full summer release.
September
In September we were named the ‘Video Provider of the Year’ at the Car Dealer Power Awards – a testament to the team’s hard work.
October
The entries for the CitNOW awards 2019 closed in October, with a record 1600 entries. An excellent result, even if it did make the judges job a little harder!
Keep your eyes peeled for the winners, who’ll be announced in January 2020.
November
November saw two big milestones in the CitNOW calendar. AM Live, one of the biggest industry events for car dealers, where we showcased our new and improved Web app, and the release of our “Understanding the Modern-Day Buyer Journey” report – an insight into the way the car buying journey has changed over the past decade.
December
And finally as the countdown to Christmas began, we released the shortlist for the CitNOW awards 2019 – showcasing some of the most innovative, creative and high quality videos produced by our customers.
So, as we look forward to another great year in 2020 we’d like to thank all our customers for their support in 2019. And of course, wish you a very Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
