"Nobody knows what that light means," Ammons says. "Do I pull over? Do I keep driving? It could be as simple as I've got to tighten my gas cap, or it could be something severe, that if you don't pull over now, you're going to lock up your engine."
Dealers can sell Pocket Drive as a standalone product or as part of a service contract or prepaid maintenance plan. A click-to-call button pops up in response to maintenance alerts, warnings about potential problems and recall alerts -- letting customers know when it's time to visit the service department.
Because the device syncs with other F&I products the customer buys, such as tire and wheel or a service contract, Pocket Drive lets customers know if a repair is covered through those products.
Pocket Drive also sends customers promotional offers specific to their vehicles' needs.
"It could be that I'm giving 15 percent off an oil change," Ammons says. "I know that's relevant to you because you're due for an oil change."
If Pocket Drive tells drivers they need an oil change but then reports that the oil has been changed without a visit to the dealership, Assurant would launch a survey through the device asking why the customer didn't go to the selling dealer's service department.
Data gleaned from post-service repair surveys could largely benefit the selling dealer, Ammons says.
"Did you not come back to me because I wasn't convenient, the price was too high, or our customer service just isn't up to your standards?" Ammons says. "That's really valuable information for the dealer to know."
