Snappa: buying cars with a little help from AI

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In the last couple of decades, little has changed in the way that people finance their cars

It’s a slow and often disconnected experience – either under high-pressure tactics in the showroom or multiple forms and calls away from it.

We found that a younger, mobile native audience are suffering from experience inflation and expect immediacy in their commercial interactions.

They want brands to be responsive with 24/7/365 service at their fingertips, wherever they are.

There was both a consumer need and a business requirement to automate the process, delivering an end-to-end experience from spotting the car to securing the loan to buying it, within 3 minutes. In an entirely mobile, call-free, experience.

Integrating numerous APIs, authentication and image recognition AI, customers could take a snap of a car number plate and access all the important information they need before making a big decision, including running costs, fuel efficiency, and depreciation.

They could then explore finance options based on smart credit scoring and their deposit, authenticate themselves, secure funds, arrange a pickup date and even find a local garage and arrange their first service.

Impact:

Sadly, changes in the client team meant that the product never went live, but the proof of concept won widespread interest within the business. We hope Snappa has made a significant contribution in terms of moving a new generation of drivers towards an easier way of buying a new car

Working with Nimbletank has been a breath of fresh air. Helpfully they get business, brands, fintech, customers and technology. Thanks to them we have a strong and innovative brand, product and business.

Ben Green, CEO/co-founder Kitti/Santander