Reshaping dealer engagement in online car auctions for CARS24
My take on transforming the landscape of online car auctions & dealers adoption to bidding features
Disclaimer -
An assignment by CARS24 as the capstone project through 10kdesigners, I undertook the mission to solve the below stated problems.
Duration: 10 days
Context for problem 1
Dealers swiftly navigate through 25 car auctions in a 50-second session, posing a challenge to capture and retain their attention. The decision juncture is crucial; if auctions don’t align, the likelihood of leaving the platform increases. Positive engagement correlates with appealing auctions, emphasizing the need for an optimized interface and engaging content to prolong exploration.
Context for problem 2
Dealers choose between traditional Place Bid and the automated Auto Bid on our car auction platform. Despite the streamlined process and time-saving benefits of Auto Bid, it’s surprisingly underutilized, with only 7 instances out of 100 auctions. A notable challenge lies in dealers’ hesitancy to set accurate caps, opting for conservative values even when the true worth exceeds. This highlights the need to bridge the gap between perceived risk and the strategic advantages of Auto Bid.
Adapting to Constraints
Lets address the challenges that I dealt with while working on this project.
- Limited access to Dealers App -
Encountered hurdles in accessing the dealer app, demanding a minimum ₹10,000 investment for comprehensive utilization. - Limited data provided -
Limited data availability beyond the outlined scenario, prompting the need for multiple assumptions in project. - Maintain the current app UI aesthetics -
Minimal deviation or alteration, keeping the design & visual elements of the app closely aligned.
My approach to optimize the viewing experience, retain dealer interest, and boost Auto Bid adoption…
✨ My solutions & improvements
Having thoroughly analyzed the data and interacted with the dealer app, I’ve identified several areas for enhancement. In the following section, we’ll delve into these improvements, each designed to elevate user experience and streamline functionality.
Let’s explore these enhancements in detail one by one -
1 - Suggested Tab
Introducing a new ‘Suggested’ tab that tailors auction recommendations based on user’s interactions — whether it’s watchlisting, bidding, winning, or searching. It’s like having your own curated list of auctions that align with your preferences.
This feature ensures that you no longer need to browse through countless auctions. The ‘Suggested’ tab does the heavy lifting, showcasing cars that users are likely to be interested in, making the whole auction discovery process a breeze.
By providing a personalized feed, it not only optimizes your viewing experience but also encourages more active engagement as you discover auctions that align with your preferences and activities.
2 - Auction Card Structure Enhancement
Revamped the structure of auction cards, making them more visually appealing and easy to digest. Now, each auction card is a snapshot of all the essential details user need.
With a clearer, more organized layout, user can quickly glance at auctions, making it easier to find the required ones. It eliminates unnecessary clicks and lets users make informed decisions faster.
The enhanced card structure not only streamlines user’s viewing but also adds a touch of excitement to the whole process. It’s not just about finding cars; it’s about enjoying the experience.
3 - Grouping of Auctions
Auctions are now intelligently grouped based on user’s activity. Whether it’s auctions user have searched for, bid on, or won, they’re neatly categorised, giving a tailored experience to users.
This grouping feature eliminates the scroll fatigue by offering categorised sections. Now, users can dive straight into the type of auctions they are most interested in without scrolling through the rest.
It turns the app into a personalised showroom, simplifying the way user navigate & engage with auctions.
4 - Enhanced Watchlist Functionality
Improved the watchlist functionality. Now, users will not only watchlist auctions but also receive real-time updates & alerts while browsing through other auctions on the side.
By keeping user constantly engaged with updates related to watchlisted auctions, it transforms the watchlist from a passive tool to an active companion in the auction journey.
5 - Auction Detail Page Restructuring
Restructured the auction detail page with intuitive tabs, allowing users to seamlessly switch between different types of details they wish to explore.
By improving the structure, it enhances user experience & makes it easier for users to access relevant information about vehicle/car & real-time bid updates through a dedicated tab for the same.
The revamped page structure contributes to a more user-friendly interface, aiding in efficient navigation.
6 - Bid Log Tab Addition
Introduced the Bid Log tab to provide users with a transparent & detailed history of auto-bid events, fostering trust in the auto-bid process.
7 - Refined Bid Placement Popup
Introduced a new structure of the bid placement popup to provide a more user-friendly and visually appealing interface for placing bids.
By improving the bid placement process, it aims to make bidding more intuitive and accessible for users.
8 - Comprehensive Auto-Bid Guidance
Created a standalone instruction page for Auto-Bid with an embedded video, offering users a comprehensive guide to understand & utilise the auto-bid feature.
By providing clear and detailed instructions, it aims to simplify the understanding of auto-bid, addressing potential user hesitancy.
The addition of instructional content, including a video, contributes to improved user education and a more user-friendly platform.
& that’s a Wrap! 🎉
I hope you enjoyed this concise case study as much as I enjoyed tackling it.
Huge thanks to Jeevanshu (product designer at CARS24) for constant support & 10kDesigners for this opportunity to work on real product problem.
Feedback? I’m all ears! Happy to hear your thoughts.
🤝 Open to product designer opportunities! If you’re building an awesome design team and think I’d be a great fit, let’s chat on LinkedIn or Twitter. I’m eager to be part of an impactful design conversations.
For more design delights, swing by my portfolio.
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Thankyou & dasvidaniya 👋🏻
