People today want convenient shopping experiences, which is something they enjoy when they choose to make their purchases online. Online catalogs and eCommerce websites offer a wide variety of products and the ability to buy something they need without the hassle of leaving home. Customers’ orders are delivered right to their door, which saves them the trouble of traveling to a brick-and-mortar shop only to find out the part they need is not available.
Due to the popularity of online shopping, the marketplace has expanded to include the buying and selling of auto parts. According to a study conducted by the automotive digital marketing agency Hedges & Co., U.S. online sales of auto parts and accessories are expected to reach $19 billion by 2022 with digitally influenced sales to grow to $162.4 billion.
Enhancing the Online Shopping Experience
When people need parts for their vehicles, searching for them online to compare prices and check availability has become the norm. However, before any real action is made, such as completing a purchase, the customer needs to verify that the auto part will fit their vehicle.
When eCommerce platforms or auto parts websites don’t provide year/make/model information, otherwise known as fitment or compatibility, the buying experience is disrupted when the customer needs to figure out whether or not the part is compatible with their vehicle. Some customers will take the time to contact the seller to verify the part’s compatibility; however, other customers will simply choose to find another seller. You may not have the resources to answer all customer inquiries promptly. The reality is that customers can be impatient, especially when they have an urgent need for a specific car part.
Consumers want quick and effortless shopping experiences. If they feel that you’re not responding quickly enough to their questions, they will likely turn to a competing site that sells the same products but more importantly, provides clear, accurate, and complete fitment data within the product listing.
Expanding Reach and Increasing Sales
Not optimizing your auto parts website with fitment filters could mean a lot of lost opportunities for your business.
Many auto parts fit a wide range of cars. Did you know that the average car part is compatible with about 32 vehicles? Not having fitment data on your eCommerce site also means you’re not meeting your business’s potential. Without listing each vehicle that a part fits, you could be missing out on sales as you’re not reaching all the potential customers whose vehicles are compatible with your parts.
Optimizing your website with fitment filters maximizes your search exposure, increases visibility, and helps you reach more buyers. With smart components like a fitment extension, your customers enjoy a better shopping experience when a part’s compatibility with their vehicle is automatically shown in their search.
myFitment is a powerful, easy-to-use, and affordable solution for your auto parts website’s fitment needs. We can help you drive sales, avoid costly returns, and build your brand – all while saving time and money. myFitment is the key to smoking the competition and identifying opportunities. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up-to-date with compatibility innovations from myFitment!