WhatsApp videos put the marketing pedal to the metal for car seller, showing what messaging can do for engagement
Henrys Cars, a Glasgow retailer for Honda, Skoda and Suzuki, has moved its customer follow-ups from email to WhatsApp by combining AI video from Phyron with Konversable’s automated messaging – and sees 90% open rate.
The change tackles a growing issue in car retail: customers ignoring email follow-ups, leading to slow responses and missed leads. By switching to WhatsApp, used by more than 40 million people in the UK, Henrys Cars has lifted engagement across its enquiry process.
The retailer is now seeing a 90% open rate on vehicle enquiries sent through WhatsApp. Email typically delivers 30 to 35% in the automotive sector. Customer responses have also jumped, with a 22.5 to 25% reply rate. One in four customers is now replying directly to automated video messages to progress their enquiry.
When a customer sends an enquiry, they receive a short AI-generated Phyron video of that exact car through the Konversable platform. The video gives a fast visual overview that’s easier to process than a text-only message.
“At Henrys, we’ve found that when a customer enquires about a car through our WhatsApp channel, they love the fact that they are sent a video of the car as part of the response,” says Peter Mustard, Dealer Principal at Henrys Cars. “It’s easy for them to share with friends and family, and it helps build the desire and excitement to take the enquiry to the next stage. We’ve also noticed significantly more interaction once customers receive the video compared to a standard text-only message.”
The integration also places the WhatsApp icon inside the Phyron video player. Customers can watch the vehicle overview and then tap the screen to start a conversation with the sales team. This removes the friction of missed calls and long email threads.
“You’re hitting the customer when they’re hot,” says Wes Beard, Managing Director at Konversable. “They’re already looking at that car, and then suddenly they see it come to life in a video inside WhatsApp. It’s instant, visual and exciting. That’s why we’re seeing such strong engagement.”
Mattias Kellquist, CEO at Phyron, adds: “Henrys is getting real conversations back from their enquiries because customers see the exact car, on their phone, within seconds. That’s the experience buyers expect, and it’s where automated video makes the biggest difference.”
Sell quicker with AI and automation
Video has emerged as the most engaging content format, with Meta’s internal studies revealing that ad campaigns combining images and videos lead to 17% higher conversions compared to those with images alone. It is also a key search mechanism as we reported here.
And car retailers in the UK are moving stock at a more rapid rate thanks to Phyron, 100% powered by AI and automation. All of this with no input or effort needed by dealer staff, with the AI platform essentially becoming an essential tool to support busy internal marketing teams.
Seven years in the making, Phyron can elevate a dealer’s car-buying funnel, from website to marketplace to social media, with automated videos and enhanced stills – for less than the cost of a coffee per car.
Phyron works with more than 4,000 dealer customers across 35 countries. Since January 2021, these customers’ automated videos have generated more than 500 million views.
