Glossary
Outbound Feed
Definition: A structured, automated data export from a dealer's inventory system that distributes vehicle listings to third-party marketplaces — keeping AutoTrader, Kijiji, and other platforms in sync with the master inventory record.
How outbound feeds work
An outbound feed is a file or API connection that your dealer management system generates — typically in XML or CSV format — containing your current inventory. Third-party listing platforms (AutoTrader Canada, Kijiji Autos, CarGurus, Carpages) read this feed on a scheduled basis and update their listings to match your current inventory.
From a dealer's perspective, the workflow is simple: update a price in your DMS, and the listing on AutoTrader updates automatically at the next feed refresh. Mark a vehicle as sold, and it disappears from all platforms simultaneously. No logging into each site to make manual updates.
Why outbound feeds are essential
Without an outbound feed, a dealer managing listings on 3 or 4 platforms manually updates every change in every place. A single price reduction on 5 vehicles means 5 changes multiplied by 4 platforms — 20 manual updates. A vehicle that sells today must be removed from 4 platforms separately before a buyer calls about a vehicle that no longer exists.
Outbound feeds eliminate this entirely. The DMS is the single source of truth. Everything else updates automatically. Dealers who make the switch from manual listing management consistently report saving 3 to 8 hours per week.
Feed configuration options
Most DMS platforms allow you to configure which vehicles appear in which feeds. A dealer might push all vehicles to Kijiji but only vehicles over $15,000 to AutoTrader, or exclude vehicles marked 'wholesale only' from all consumer-facing feeds.
Photo optimization is also handled at the feed level — images are automatically formatted for each platform's specifications so the right dimensions and file sizes are sent to each destination.
Common questions
How often do outbound feeds update the listing platforms?
Feed update frequency depends on the DMS and the listing platform. Most platforms refresh their feeds several times per day. Critical changes (vehicle sold) are often pushed immediately; pricing updates may take 1-4 hours to propagate depending on the platform.
Does each listing platform charge separately for the feed connection?
Yes. Each platform charges its own subscription fee for dealer listings. The outbound feed itself is a feature of your DMS — but the listing fees on AutoTrader, Kijiji, and other platforms are separate and billed by those platforms directly.
Automo Soft handles this for you
Stop managing the pieces manually. Automo Soft is the DMS built for independent dealers — inventory, website, leads, and more in one place.