The Worldwide Demand for Convenience - The 'Netflix' of the Automotive Industry

We are all aware of the revolutionary stories that arise through sheer innovation. Stories that oftentimes result in closure of longstanding businesses because they failed to adapt, and the rise of (mostly tech-based) other companies, that were born through innovation at a time when the world was changing.

The rise of online video streaming platforms, namely Netflix, eventually resulted in the closure of a hallmark video company: Blockbuster. What Netflix realized, and Blockbuster failed to in time, was that convenience is the most in demand service in the world - and the demand is growing day-by-day.

The option to pay a marginal monthly fee and have access to most, if not all, of the movies, TV shows, documentaries you could ever want to watch at the touch of your fingertip was FAR more convenient for the world than having to get up, get dressed, get out, drive over to Blockbuster and rent a movie, then do the same process when you are finished and want a new one.

This increasing rise in demand for convenience has seen many other companies rise from the dark and take over industries that were for so long completely saturated. We see Kindle and similar platforms looking to do the same to traditional book stores - although this is slightly more complicated as the factor of having a tangible, warm book in your hands and flipping through pages adds value to the overall experience of reading for many.

The Automotive industry in the MENA region is seeing something very similar taking place. More specifically, the industry of car buying and car selling. For context, traditionally, the car buyer (i.e. Dealer) would receive a call or invitation to come and take a look at cars at a companies yard - or, they would browse classified websites, navigate to the 'cars for sale' page and then proceed to contact the individual seller, set up a meeting date, collect as much information about the car as he can in that brief period of time, take a risky test drive and then negotiate a price with the seller.

Now, for the car seller, the process is quite similar in its longevity - but most importantly, in its convenience, or lack of. Individual car sellers can list their cars for sale in the 'cars for sale' section of classified websites - this listing is also accompanied by a fee of around AED100 for the seller to pay. They must then take dozens of calls from 'potential buyers' and host dozens of meets with these strangers, let them drive their car around uninsured and then go through the hassle of constant negotiation until perhaps they get too tired of the whole thing and end up settling at a price much lower than they initially wanted.

This sounds like an industry that is due sheer innovation, does it not?

Convenience needs are clearly not being met in the traditional model and even if they are in some form, they can be improved vastly. Fortunately, this sheer innovation has already taken place.

It is called SellAnyCar.com

Without delving too far in to the details - SellAnyCar were the first of its kind in the region, starting operations over 7 years ago. Now, they are the biggest of its kind. They have done this not just through incredible marketing and PR work - but through addressing the most in demand service in the world: CONVENIENCE.

Car buyers can now, on their phone, tablet or laptop, browse through thousands of vehicles and be notified of live auctions taking place from the comfort of their homes, anywhere in the world. These dealers are also provided with a 200 point checklist, highlighting anything and everything about the car they are potentially about to bid on, from wear-and-tear, to driving issues all the way to the the entire service history of the vehicle. With this added information, they are more informed, therefore are able to place a bid matching with their actual expectations of the cars worth.

Let's not forget: all this from the comfort of their home.

If they decide to buy the car, SellAnyCar also takes care of all paperwork and gets the car delivered to their doorstep, anywhere around the world.

Similarly, the car sellers, are greeted with an even more convenient procedure. They can, quite literally, sell their car in 30 minutes. They have the option of driving their car to any one of SellAnyCars 25 branches across the UAE, or even schedule a 'at my location' appointment, which entails SellAnyCar employees conducting the entire inspection and bidding process from the comfort of the sellers garage. Within 30 minutes, the customers car is checked thoroughly, test-driven without risk and the seller is given a guaranteed offer for purchase at that very moment. They are paid instantly. Paperwork, legalities and transportation of the car are taken care of by SellAnyCar.

In an era of mass disruption through the use of technology to provide convenience to the end consumer, SellAnyCar.com have displayed the required sheer innovation to meet those needs, right here in the United Arab Emirates. Getting there early has led to the company becoming the biggest in the region, and with expansion plans already set in motion throughout the MENA region - we should be proud to host a company doing successfully what companies like Netflix, Apple, Google have written in to folklore.