Autotrader IOS mobile app

Three questions for the project team

What was the particular challenge of the project from a UX point of view?
Creating an app-based car shopping experience posed a unique challenge: combining a sleek, user-friendly interface with the complex needs of our sophisticated customers. These users require powerful search and filter options to refine their results and need to view detailed listing data on a smaller screen.

To address this, we introduced innovative, flexible components. For instance, our new search module consolidates three previously separate sections into a single interactive widget. This tool expands to display options relevant to the shopper’s search, making crucial information quickly accessible while offering a deeper level of interaction for those looking to enhance their search experience.

What was your personal highlight in the development process? Was there an aha!-moment, was there a low point?
The development process hit a low point when the first version of our app received disappointing feedback from beta users. The satisfaction scores were below our expectations, and we were challenged to stop and take stock. But then came the aha! moment. Our team rallied together, diving deep into user feedback to identify patterns in the issues they faced.

By prioritizing and iteratively addressing our customers’ most important concerns, we saw an immediate improvement in user engagement and increased primary business metrics. The real highlight? Hearing directly from users that our new features made it easier for them to find their perfect vehicle. That was incredibly satisfying and validated all our hard work.

Where do you see yourself and the project in the next five years?
In the next five years, our app will already have evolved to better address user needs. We will continue identifying challenges that consumers face when looking for, buying, and selling their vehicle. As new technologies become available, we will use them to solve existing problems in new ways. The car buying process continues to be a challenge as car prices and interest rates rise. With mobile devices becoming an integral part of our daily lives, we envision a massive opportunity to assist our customers in accomplishing complex tasks with high-stakes financial impact. We are committed to developing powerful products and remarkable experiences built on cutting-edge mobile technologies, powered by our unique data superiority.