Impel, the global leader in AI-powered customer lifecycle management and digital merchandising for the automotive industry, announced today that it has released a fully-automated Virtual Photo Booth and Image Enhancement solution that enables dealers and OEMs to deliver branded, studio-grade vehicle photos and 360° walkarounds without investing in expensive physical booths. Powered by state-of-the-art Computer Vision AI technology, Impel’s automated imaging solution optimizes image and video quality, removes background clutter, and ensures compliance with OEM-mandated imaging requirements.
The company’s AI-powered Virtual Booth technology delivers an authentic photo booth viewing experience without the need for capital investments, additional hardware or dedicated physical space. Featuring a variety of adaptive 3-D backgrounds and customization options, Impel’s Virtual Photo Booth provides a realistic studio environment that increases shopper engagement and establishes visual consistency across auto retailers’ digital showrooms. According to Erick Kirks, Marketing Director at Johnson Automotive Group, “For more than eight years, we’ve relied on Impel to support our dealerships with game-changing technology solutions that strengthen our brand. The company’s AI platform delivers tangible business impact and massive ROI for us, and we couldn’t be more excited to be using Virtual Booth to bring an even more engaging and consistent experience to our shoppers.”
Powered by state-of-the-art Computer Vision AI technology, Impel’s automated imaging solution optimizes image and video quality, removes background clutter, and ensures compliance with OEM-mandated imaging requirements.
Unlike traditional photo editing services, Impel’s AI-powered image enhancement technology instantly updates vehicle photos at the time of upload – with no user intervention or process changes required. With Impel’s Virtual Booth, shoppers can explore every aspect of a vehicle in a rich and dynamic format from any digital device. By leveraging computer vision AI to remove unwanted visual distractions, dealers can deliver a more professional and engaging shopping experience across their entire digital showroom. Through direct integrations with leading third-party marketplaces including CarGurus, Cars.com, Edmunds and Autotrader, syndicated vehicle listings are automatically updated with enhanced SRP images and interactive 360 vehicle walkarounds, delivering a consistent OEM and dealership branded experience wherever consumers are shopping.
Key features of Impel’s Virtual Booth technology include:
- Computer Vision AI that automatically adjusts image perspective, vehicle size, and background regardless of camera distance, pitch or height
- AI-based denoising for the highest resolution images possible
- Adaptive 3D backgrounds and shadows for an ultra-realistic 360° photo booth experience
- License-plate blurring, dealer-branded backgrounds, and plate overlay options
“Auto dealers and manufacturers are increasingly turning to AI-powered automation to improve operational efficiency while enhancing the shopper and customer experience,” said Devin Daly, Impel Co-Founder and CEO. “Impel has long been at the forefront of using AI to drive innovation in automotive retailing and we continue to invest in leading-edge technology that drives meaningful business results for our customers. Our conversational AI products have transformed the way in which thousands of retailers communicate with consumers, and our Virtual Booth represents a major step forward in applying AI to advance digital merchandising in new and exciting ways. We’re excited for what the future holds, and we remain committed to developing new capabilities that enable OEMs and dealers to deliver exceptionally engaging and consistent consumer experiences while reducing operating costs and complexity.”
Impel has been providing digital engagement solutions to the auto and specialty vehicle industries since 2014. Over the last five years, the company has expanded its leadership position in generative conversational AI and computer vision AI, supported by two company acquisitions and more than $100 Million in growth funding.
