About Virtual Reality :

The virtual reality is the concept that has been fast catching up to the tried and tested marketing methods in the new market. Virtual reality is a fascinating way to travel using nothing more than the power of technology. With a headset and motion tracking, VR lets you look around a virtual space as if you're actually there. The current wave of VR products has found wide range of applications with the latest addition of Mahindra in the automotive sector.

Entry of Mahindra :

Mahindra & Mahindra has launched a new online platform called Mahindra SYouV to retail its SUVs. This new innovative digital platform will offer an all-new buying and after sales experience to its customers. Based on the company's new 'Bring the Showroom Home' concept, the new platform works on two key digital tools - SYouV and With You Hamesha. While the former focuses on the pre-sales and sales aspects the latter focuses on after sales and services. Both the digital tools offer a portable, mobile based, interactive and transparent experience to make the entire process of purchasing and owning a car better.

Features :

The Virtual Showroom incorporates a range of features to give potential buyers all the necessary information about Mahindra SUVs. The features on offer include checking stock availability with the nearest dealer, live chat for queries, comparing cars, booking a test drive, handling finance and insurance, and booking your SUV.

In case of stock unavailability, the user can view the estimated next availability date for the selected stock at a particular dealership of his/her choice. The system also has the concept of Collaborative Exploration (CE), where one can co-create and customise his or her vehicle with friends/family member online. The Mahindra SYouV also allows you to connect with a Mahindra expert either through chat, audio call or video call to help your buying decision. The system also allows you to compare the car with other option in the market.

The user has the option to browse available slots online and block a slot for the test drive. They can also track the test drive vehicle coming to his location through google maps. Along with the actual vehicle, the representative will also bring a virtual reality (VR) headset, which will feature a 360-degree voice assisted VR experience with a pre-installed app that will allow you to view the car in the virtual showroom. This will aid the customer's decision-making process to finalise which variant, colour or styling package to choose and see in virtual reality how the car will look.

Initially, the SYouV platform will be only limited to 20 dealerships located in metro cities but Veejay Ram Nakra, Sales and Marketing Head of Mahindra’s Automotive Division, has confirmed that the company will be extending the service to all 300 dealerships by November 2018. Mahindra also aims to increase its sales penetration through online platforms – from the current 8 percent, to 16 percent in the next fiscal.

Finally at the end Mahindra has a tie-up with various online car-selling portals, along with its own network to provide online booking services. After purchasing the car, you can also use Mahindra’s ‘with you hamesha’ platform to avail all the post-purchase services, such as booking for car servicing, service reminder notifications, instant chat to fix any quick issue, Save-Our-Soul (SOS) service (in case your car gets stalled), their video chat service and online payment service.