CitNOW Group

What CitNOW Group does

CitNOW Group is a UK-based provider of software solutions for the automotive retail sector, selling primarily to franchised and independent dealerships, dealer groups, and vehicle manufacturers (OEMs). The company originated in 2008 around app-based video communications and has since assembled a portfolio-plus-modules platform covering the full customer journey, including sales enquiry management, personalised video walkarounds, vehicle health checks, bodyshop assessments, multi-channel messaging, marketing automation, aftersales workflow management, and (as of June 2025) a proprietary automotive CRM.

The group's product architecture is built on Microsoft Azure and AWS with regionalised data hosting, integrating with Salesforce, Twilio, WhatsApp, DVLA, and dealer management systems such as Keyloop. Eleven acquired brands (Dealerweb, Web1on1, RTC, dealerdesk, Auto Imaging, AutoSLM, Quik, Reef, Vehicle Vision, Tootle, and Feasa) extend the platform geographically and functionally across the UK, Continental Europe, the US, and reseller markets in Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa. The current product suite combines generative AI (via OpenAI in CitNOW Conversations), computer vision (CitNOW Triage), predictive aftersales analytics, and messaging/chat automation, with enterprise-grade certifications including ISO 27001, TISAX, and Cyber Essentials Plus.

CitNOW Group is a privately held company owned by private equity firms Livingbridge (lead investor since July 2022) and Tenzing (investor since 2018). Revenue is generated through recurring SaaS subscriptions on annual billing cycles, supplemented by implementation, integration, and support services; pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The go-to-market is sales-led and enterprise-oriented, with dedicated account managers serving large dealer groups and 44 OEM partners, direct sales in core markets, and an international reseller network elsewhere. As of the most recent reporting, the company operates from UK headquarters in Wokingham with offices in Stirling, Exeter, Hamburg, Munich, and Amsterdam, supports over 19,500 dealer installations in 82 countries, and holds 75% penetration of UK franchised dealerships.

Name

CitNOW Group

Legal name

Zype TV Ltd (t/a CitNOW Group)

Website

https://citnowgroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

CitNOW Group provides software solutions for automotive retailers and OEMs, including video communications, CRM, enquiry management, marketing automation, and aftersales tools. The UK-headquartered company serves 11,000+ active dealerships, 19,500+ dealer installations, and 44 OEM partners across 82 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive Dealer Software

NAICS

Software Publishers (5132)

akta.pro primary industry

Customer Service/Support CRM & Contact Center Platforms (BPAFAFAK)

Keywords

• Automotive video solutions
• Dealer software platform
• Automotive CRM software
• Vehicle sales technology
• OEM dealer communications

Headquarters

HQ city

Newbury

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Software Subscriptions: SaaS-based software solutions provided to automotive dealerships and manufacturers across sales, aftersales, and customer engagement. Revenue generated through recurring subscription fees for access to the company's suite of digital tools including video, CRM, enquiry management, and workshop solutions.
2. Implementation and Support Services: Professional services for onboarding, integration with existing dealer management systems, and ongoing technical support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CitNOW Group provides video, imaging, and conversational software solutions to automotive dealerships and OEMs, enabling personalized video communications between sales/service staff and customers throughout the vehicle purchase and ownership lifecycle. The platform also offers CRM, dealer management, and marketing automation tools, deployed across more than 19,500 dealerships in 82 countries.

Product overview

CitNOW Group is a platform-plus-modules architecture providing a comprehensive ecosystem of interconnected software solutions for automotive retail. The core CitNOW platform offers video, imaging, conversations, CRM, and marketing automation capabilities, supplemented by acquired brands including Dealerweb (enquiry/lead management), RTC (REALsales, REALinsights, REALstorage, REALevhc, REALaftersales), Web1on1 (multi-channel messaging), Dealerdesk (German CRM/contact centre), Quik (US dealer management), Auto Imaging, AutoSLM, Vehicle Vision, Reef, and Tootle (part exchange appraisal). Products span the full customer journey from initial sales enquiry through to aftersales, integrating with Salesforce, Microsoft Azure, AWS, Twilio, and other platforms. The group operates globally with presence in 82 countries and over 19,500 dealer installations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CitNOW (including Video, Imaging and Conversations): App-based video and asset collection products including Sales, Workshop, Bodyshop, Imaging, Triage, Appraise, Conversations, and Insights for automotive retail.
• Dealerweb
• Dealerdesk
• Quik
• RTC (REALTime Communications)
• Web1on1

Products and services

• CitNOW
• AutoSLM
• Auto Imaging
• Dealerdesk
• Dealerweb
• Quik
• Reef
• RTC
• Vehicle Vision
• Web1on1
• Tootle
• Feasa
• CitNOW CRM
• CitNOW Marketing360

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 48% reduction in days to sell for customers using 2025 solutions
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration25 records

AI capability11 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SalesforcecoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025Partnership for Marketing360 platform development. CitNOW Group is a Salesforce partner with Feasa being the UK's leading dedicated Salesforce automotive software partner.
• KeyloopcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 January 2024Strategic partnership to broaden and extend long-term collaboration. All CitNOW Group businesses became part of the Keyloop international partner ecosystem, improving dealers' access to functionality and data integration.
• NFDA (National Franchised Dealers Association)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 December 2023Associate membership providing access to UK franchised car and commercial vehicle retailers. Co-sponsorship of NFDA Driving Digital events.
• FeasacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 December 2023Acquisition of Feasa, the UK's leading dedicated Salesforce automotive software partner, to optimise software connections and Salesforce integration for automotive retailers.
• dealerdeskcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 October 2022Acquisition of dealerdesk, a German provider of enquiry management solutions and multichannel customer relations management hub. Helps synchronise dealership operations and improve CRM, time management systems and customer database accuracy.
• Auto ImagingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 September 2022Acquisition of Auto Imaging, a leading provider of digital solutions for the UK motor industry. Offers products that help dealers capture, augment and aggregate vehicle listing assets including pro-grade vehicle imagery, stock web video, and automated quality control.
• Real Time Communications (RTC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 August 2022Acquisition of RTC, an industry-leading supplier of integrated technologies that streamline sales and aftersales operations for automotive retailers. The acquisition expanded the product portfolio to include REALsales, REALinsights, REALstorage, REALevhc, and REALaftersales modules.
• Web1on1coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 May 2022Acquisition of Web1on1, Europe's leading multi-channel messaging software platform. Provides live chat, WhatsApp and chatbot support for automotive dealership customer interactions.
• AutoSLMminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Acquisition of AutoSLM, a UK-based sales lead management provider that helps dealers improve sales conversion rates by optimising customer relationship management processes.
• TootleminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Online part exchange vehicle appraisal tool using cap hpi for valuations with digital asset upload capabilities.
• Reef Business SystemsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Provider of showroom and dealer management software, integrated into the UK portfolio.
• QuikminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Personalised automotive video software platform provider based in the US.
• DealerwebcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Enquiry and lead management tools for automotive retailers, integrated in December 2020. Dealerweb Showroom is a modular platform for managing customer enquiries, configuring vehicles, and administering finance applications.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Tekion: Cloud-native, end-to-end automotive retail platform serving franchised dealers and OEMs across sales, service, CRM, and digital retailing. Closest modern direct competitor to CitNOW Group's integrated platform-plus-modules architecture.
• Keyloop: International automotive retail technology platform (formed from CDK International and other assets) providing DMS, CRM, and digital retail solutions. Both partner and competitor to CitNOW Group — sits upstream in the DMS layer that CitNOW integrates with.
• Pinewood.AI: UK-based automotive retail SaaS provider offering DMS, CRM, and aftersales tools to franchised dealers. Directly comparable in geography, vertical focus, and integrated product philosophy.
• DriveCentric: Customer Data and Experience Platform (CDXP) purpose-built for automotive retail, combining CRM, desking, equity mining, and marketing. Comparable to CitNOW's CRM and marketing automation modules targeting the same dealership buyer.
• AutoAlert: Automotive customer engagement and equity-mining platform focused on driving service and sales opportunities for dealerships. Comparable to CitNOW's predictive analytics and customer-engagement modules within the same automotive vertical.

Broad incumbents

• VinSolutions (Cox Automotive): Cox Automotive's flagship automotive CRM and marketing platform, sold into franchised dealers globally. Comparable product category to CitNOW's CRM and Marketing360, but bundled within Cox's much broader automotive portfolio.
• Dealertrack (Cox Automotive): Cox Automotive's DMS and dealer software platform in North America. Comparable to the DMS-adjacent layers of CitNOW's stack but delivered by a much larger incumbent with broader portfolio reach.
• CDK Global: Largest North American dealer management system provider, offering DMS, CRM, and digital retailing to franchised dealers. Comparable to CitNOW on CRM and digital workflow layers, but anchored in a much larger installed DMS base.
• Reynolds and Reynolds: Established US automotive DMS and retail software provider offering dealership management, CRM, and document solutions. Comparable to CitNOW on the integrated dealer-software layer, with deeper US footprint.

Regional players

• PBS Systems: Canadian-headquartered DMS and dealer software provider for automotive, RV, marine, and powersports retailers. Comparable to CitNOW's Dealerweb and Quik sub-brands on enquiry and dealer management, but primarily serves the North American market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/citnowgroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/citnowgroup

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CitNOW Group