Hybrid rollout is delivering results, claims Countrywide CEO

Countrywide CEO Alison Platt yesterday made a robust defence of the company’s recently-launched digital hybrid offering, saying it has improved the performance of the businesses within which it’s been rolled out. In June last year Countrywide introduced what is essentially a parallel hybrid offering at the branches of several  brands including Austin & Wyatt, Frank Innes and Spencers, where customers are offered a low-cost digital-only services both in-branch and on each agency’s websites, as well as their more expensive high street offering. Alison says the roll-out, which so far covers 25% or more of all its branches and is part of a strategy called Every Customer Counts, enables vendors to upgrade from Countrywide’s fixed-price online offering at any point to its full high street service, if they “feel they need the extra help and support”. “For the business, the brands where we’ve rolled out Every Customer Counts have seen better performance at every step of the journey, increased traffic, more valuations, better conversion, improved sales progression and increased revenue,” Alison said. Online mortgages The Countrywide CEO also revealed that the company will be launching its much-discussed online mortgage offering for both consumers and brokers and that leading tech firm Blenheim…