December 2021

Connecting offline and online touchpoints along the customer journey is more important now than ever. Omni-channel marketing allows a seamless customer experience across various touchpoints, channels and devices. Until now, there was no valid market measurement focused on online behavior and the actual point of sale visit.

Online to offline measurement with Google Store Visits

In collaboration with Mercedes-Benz Germany, the German dealer network, the Mercedes-Benz Global Media Unit, the AMQ media agency and Google Germany, we have successfully implemented a new approach: Google Store Visits.

For the first time, we can bring a user’s interaction with a digital ad into direct context with his or her actual visit to the dealership (the point of sale).

Measurement of Google Store Visits is integrated cross-divisionally in the Google Ads campaigns of about 1,000 vehicle dealerships in Germany for sales and after-sales of Mercedes-Benz passenger cars, vans, trucks and Smart.

Data-driven decision – valuable findings for sales and marketing

The data provide a look into the relevant details over the timespan between an advertising click and the actual point of sale visit, as well as the distance between the customer and the dealership. Moreover, we can evaluate the cost of generating a “store visit”, for example.

The results have a strong influence on future sales and marketing strategies, because we have assessed customer behavior both throughout Germany and internationally with 10 participating markets. The concept will now be used and communicated as a blueprint and best practice for the global rollout.

In our white paper (PDF) you can find details on the approach and the technology behind it, on performance insights from the pilot campaigns and on the background and next steps.