Integration
HomeNet integration for dealer websites
Zoomshop consumes HomeNet's standard IOL (Inventory Online) inventory feed via SFTP — the same feed HomeNet already exports to third-party marketplaces like AutoTrader, Cars.com, and CarGurus. Every field HomeNet manages flows into Zoomshop and drives the corresponding vehicle detail page automatically. HomeNet stays your source of truth for inventory management, photo processing, and marketplace syndication; Zoomshop is the presentation layer for your own dealer website.
What this integration does
HomeNet is one of the automotive industry’s oldest and most widely-used inventory management platforms. It’s where many dealers manage their photos (background replacement, photo sequencing, watermarking), consolidate inventory data from multiple sources, and syndicate listings out to third-party marketplaces. If HomeNet is already central to your workflow, changing your dealer website provider shouldn’t disrupt any of that.
Zoomshop’s integration is intentionally minimal. Your team continues to work in HomeNet exactly as they do today. HomeNet exports the same IOL feed it already generates for AutoTrader and Cars.com. Zoomshop reads that feed and turns each vehicle into a real, indexed, machine-readable page on your own domain.
The design goal: nobody’s HomeNet workflow needs to change for Zoomshop to work.
What data moves
| Field | Direction | Cadence |
|---|---|---|
| VIN, year, make, model, trim | HomeNet → Zoomshop | With each feed |
| Mileage, condition, certified status | HomeNet → Zoomshop | With each feed |
| Asking price, MSRP, dealer discount | HomeNet → Zoomshop | With each feed |
| Photos (all uploaded/processed via HomeNet) | HomeNet → Zoomshop | With each feed |
| Photo sequencing | HomeNet → Zoomshop | With each feed |
| Vehicle description | HomeNet → Zoomshop | With each feed |
| Options, features, equipment | HomeNet → Zoomshop | With each feed |
| Sold status (vehicle removals) | HomeNet → Zoomshop | With each feed |
| Lead submissions (form fills on VDPs) | Zoomshop → your CRM (not HomeNet) | On submit, real-time |
Photo sequencing is worth calling out. If your HomeNet setup arranges photos in a specific order (front three-quarter first, interior grouped together, engine/undercarriage last), that sequence is preserved on your Zoomshop VDPs — same photos, same order, no re-sequencing needed.
Setup requirements
From your side:
- Your HomeNet account credentials (or ability to reach your HomeNet rep to enable an SFTP export)
- Your CRM’s ADF/XML intake email address (or REST endpoint if applicable)
- About 30–45 minutes total across two conversations
From Zoomshop’s side:
- SFTP endpoint provisioned to receive your HomeNet feed
- Field mapping review against your specific HomeNet configuration
- Test lead pass to verify CRM attribution before launch
Typical timeline:
- Day 1: Kickoff call. Confirm your HomeNet configuration, CRM setup, custom fields
- Day 1–2: Zoomshop provisions SFTP endpoint. You (or your HomeNet rep) point HomeNet’s export at it
- Day 2–3: First full feed arrives. Zoomshop maps fields, runs full inventory sync, generates VDPs
- Day 3: Test lead sent through your CRM to verify attribution
- Day 4+: Ready to launch on your schedule
Dealers with straightforward HomeNet setups often complete integration inside a week. Custom field mapping (certified programs, warranty tiers, promotional pricing) may add a day or two on the mapping side.
How lead attribution works
When a shopper submits a form on your Zoomshop VDP (inquiry, test drive, financing pre-qual, trade-in), Zoomshop generates an ADF/XML lead with:
- The shopper’s contact information
- The specific VIN and vehicle details from the HomeNet feed
- The referring page URL
- Source labeled as your dealership website
- UTM parameters preserved from the shopper’s original ad click or referral
The lead delivers to your CRM’s ADF intake within seconds. Your CRM parses the XML, creates the lead record with correct source attribution, and your team gets to work.
Notably: leads do not route through HomeNet. HomeNet is an inventory system; it’s not on the lead-flow path. The lead goes shopper → Zoomshop → CRM directly.
Questions dealers ask
Does Zoomshop work with HomeNet?
Yes. Zoomshop consumes HomeNet's standard IOL (Inventory Online) feed via SFTP — the same feed HomeNet already exports to third-party marketplaces like AutoTrader, Cars.com, and CarGurus. Every field HomeNet manages (VIN, year, make, model, trim, mileage, price, photos, description, options, condition, notes) flows into Zoomshop and drives the corresponding vehicle detail page automatically.
How often does inventory update?
HomeNet's standard IOL export typically runs multiple times per day. Zoomshop picks up each feed and processes vehicle additions, price changes, and sold-vehicle removals as they arrive. If your HomeNet setup runs at a higher frequency, Zoomshop matches the cadence.
Does Zoomshop replace HomeNet?
No — HomeNet remains your source of truth for inventory data management, photo handling, and syndication to third-party marketplaces. Zoomshop is the presentation layer for your own dealer website. Your team continues to work in HomeNet exactly as they do today; Zoomshop reads the feed HomeNet is already generating.
What about photos — does Zoomshop use HomeNet's photo processing?
Yes. Photos processed through HomeNet's photo tools (background replacement, watermarking, sequencing) flow through the feed to Zoomshop exactly as they display on other marketplaces. If your HomeNet configuration has custom photo sequencing (e.g. front three-quarter first, interior shots grouped), that sequence is preserved on your Zoomshop VDPs.
What happens to lead attribution when a shopper submits a form on my Zoomshop-powered VDP?
Leads generated on Zoomshop VDPs flow directly to your CRM as standard ADF/XML — with vehicle-of-interest data (VIN, year/make/model from the HomeNet feed), the referring page, source labeled as your dealership website, UTM parameters preserved, and the timestamp. Attribution stays clean: the lead's source shows as your website.
What's the setup process?
Your HomeNet rep enables an SFTP export destination pointing at a Zoomshop-provided endpoint. That takes about 10 minutes on their side. Zoomshop confirms first feed receipt, verifies field mapping, and runs a full inventory sync before launch. Total time from your side: usually one short call with HomeNet plus a mapping review (30–45 minutes).
What if my HomeNet feed has custom fields or non-standard configurations?
HomeNet exports vary by dealer — some dealers have custom fields for certified programs, warranty tiers, or promotional pricing. Zoomshop supports custom field mapping as part of onboarding; anything HomeNet exports we can pass through to the vehicle page. Non-standard configurations get reviewed on the onboarding call and mapped explicitly.
Can I run HomeNet-powered inventory on Zoomshop and a legacy dealer website simultaneously?
Yes. The HomeNet feed is dealer-owned and can be routed to multiple destinations at once — you can run your current site and Zoomshop in parallel during a transition, then cut over. Because the feed is HomeNet's, your current vendor cannot block or restrict Zoomshop's access to it.
Ready to see how this works on your site?
Run the free grader to see how your current site scores on the criteria that matter for AI visibility, Core Web Vitals, structured data, and Google search fundamentals — or book a call to talk through your specific setup.