Think back to 2004, the 3G network was just launched and everyone had a Nokia device. There were no iPhones, no Google mobile search, no Facebook and no Android. Fast forward to 2021 and in a blink of an eye, it has all changed. The 5G network is in full swing and mobile devices are multi-dimensional personal entertainment hubs. Consumers have adapted quite easily, even the later generations became tech-savvy to connect and communicate with their children and grandchildren, a technology trickle-up effect. So where is the internet going in the next three, five and 10 years — and is your dealership ready?  

Forget the idea of “mobile-first” — this is an overused cliché that has no meaning to today’s consumer experience. It is about being “beyond mobile-first”; creating experiences across devices and browsers that interact in a native application-like environment. 

Google is leading the way in this development by providing developers with its own coding framework called Angular. Like a chassis of a car, this framework provides companies and developers the ability to build Google-like experiences for consumers. This is what Google wants! They want to control the user experience on the internet and are leading the way. Today, they dictate how pages should load, look and have attribution models to help index pages better (SEO).  

To get ready for the future, the first step is to look at your website and compare it to applications that you have on your phone; maybe BestBuy, Costco, Amazon, Nordstrom, Macy’s, Expedia, Priceline, etc. See the experiences they are providing their consumers and then look at your desktop and mobile — that’s right — your desktop! 

The desktop browser experience is going through a renaissance period, and it is about to have a mobile-like environment. No more left-side filters, no more scrolling on product pages, no more pop-up lead forms. This is yesterday. You better be ready for tomorrow, today.