Automated removal of sold vehicles from online listings

Purpose

1.1. Automate the detection and removal of Acura vehicles marked as sold, ensuring online inventory listings are accurate across all platforms.
1.2. Prevent customer dissatisfaction and wasted leads by ensuring sold vehicles are instantly removed from dealer sites and third-party listing platforms.
1.3. Streamline inventory management to reduce manual labor, errors, and update latency.
1.4. Maintain reputation and up-to-date digital storefronts, complying with franchise and regulatory requirements.
1.5. Integrate dealer management systems (DMS) with sales, website, and listing ecosystems for full process transparency.

Trigger Conditions

2.1. Status update to "sold" in DMS or internal inventory software.
2.2. "Sold" flag detected via API/webhook event from dealership CRM.
2.3. Periodic polling of inventory feed for sold status.
2.4. Manual override or deletion request from showroom manager.
2.5. Reconciliation of inventory discrepancies after batch import/export.

Platform Variants

3.1. Salesforce
• Trigger: Outbound Message/Platform Event when vehicle ‘Status’ changes to "Sold".
• API: REST API / Process Builder configuration to trigger removal routine.
3.2. HubSpot
• Feature: Webhook on Deal Stage move to "Sold".
• Setting: Workflow triggered webhook sending VIN and inventory ID.
3.3. DealerSocket
• API: Vehicle Inventory API — DELETE `/inventory/{vehicleId}` endpoint upon sale.
3.4. CDK Global
• Feature: Inventory Management Webhooks enabled for sold updates.
• API: Notification triggered for vehicle sales event.
3.5. vAuto
• API: Inventory Management REST API, PATCH request to set "visibility=false".
3.6. Reynolds & Reynolds
• Feature: Inventory Feed Export, remove entries with "Sold" status.
• API: Integration utilizing the ERA-IGNITE API.
3.7. Dealer.com
• Setting: SFTP vehicle feed adjusted to remove sold units on next sync.
3.8. Cars.com
• API: Inventory Ingestion endpoint DELETE request with sold VIN.
3.9. Autotrader
• Setting: Bulk feed management to exclude sold units at ingest.
3.10. Facebook Marketplace
• API: Webhook listing removal via Graph API for sold items.
3.11. Google My Business (GMB)
• Feature: Business Listings API PATCH method to update/remove inventory.
3.12. Shopify
• App: Script to run on product status update, triggering removal if custom “sold” tag is applied.
3.13. WordPress (WooCommerce)
• Hook: Custom action on `product_updated` to remove vehicle when meta "sold" is true.
3.14. eBay Motors
• API: Trading API End Listing call using Item ID when unit is sold.
3.15. Zapier
• Integration: Webhook Catch Hook triggers deletion in downstream listing apps.
3.16. Make (Integromat)
• Function: Scheduled scenario watching DMS, filter sold, invoke DELETE on listing platform module.
3.17. Slack
• Workflow: Auto-notify sales/admin when listing auto-removed via Slackbot API.
3.18. Microsoft Power Automate
• Flow: Event trigger from DMS updating SharePoint/Excel, launches HTTP request to remove sold car.
3.19. AWS Lambda
• Function: Executes code on S3/DB update detecting sold, calls listing platform API for removal.
3.20. Google Sheets (Apps Script)
• Script: Monitors “Sold” column, deletes row and triggers webhook to remove from all platforms.
3.21. RESTful API (Generic)
• Method: DELETE `/api/vehicles/{id}` when called from any system upon sale.
3.22. FTP/SFTP Inventory Feeds
• Mechanism: Automated cleanup of XML/CSV prior to nightly upload, removing records flagged as sold.

Benefits

4.1. Eliminates manual labor and reduces errors in inventory updating.
4.2. Improves buyer trust by keeping listings real-time.
4.3. Prevents customer frustration and negative reviews due to false availability.
4.4. Reduces lead waste and optimizes advertising spend by avoiding promoting unavailable vehicles.
4.5. Increases compliance with brand and advertising policies.
4.6. Enables audit trails and inventory transparency.