Tag: case study

The Dealer Who’s Different Demands a DMS Who Cares

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Making the move to a new Dealer Management System requires careful consideration from the stakeholders at your dealership. When evaluating the technology that houses the data driving your business, your entire staff will be affected by making the switch. For the team at Greg Hubler Automotive, who made the switch to a new-to-market DMS in early 2022, the promise of a better experience for both their guests and their people was reason enough to leap into the unknown. However, when the promise from their vendor was under-delivered and their employee morale took a big hit, Matt Lohmiller, VP of Operations, was ready to pull the plug. Greg Hubler Automotive is a different kind of dealer—one who truly values its people and its guests. Here’s their story.

A DMS Partner Who Lives Up to Their Promise

A few months after implementing their new DMS, Lohmiller received feedback from his team that things weren’t on the up and up. “I was going to potentially be losing some team members if we stayed (with the other DMS) …and I couldn’t have that.” Employee retention and satisfaction have always been key components of what makes Greg Hubler unique. While going through multiple DMS switches within several months isn’t ideal, Lohmiller took careful consideration from his team and decided to switch to Dealertrack DMS. After hearing their input, it was clear which direction they wanted to go. “We had to make the change,” he recalls.

A Partner Committed to Their Success

A key benefit of making the switch to Dealertrack DMS was the ability to observe the implementation process first-hand and compare the difference from Greg Hubler’s previous provider. The switch to Dealertrack DMS was more streamlined and the level of support “has been great, all around,” said Lohmiller. “Even after the implementation team has left, we have a Performance Manager we can reach out to any time.”

For the people at Greg Hubler, the difference has been night and day. The change enabled ownership and management to keep their promise of being a different kind of dealer—one that listens to team members cares for customers and prioritizes people.

Looking for a DMS who matches your values? Read Greg Hubler’s full story here. 

Making the Switch to Your New DMS

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Changing technologies might be the right move for your dealership, but it’s never an easy decision. Many dealers hold off switching to a new Dealer Management System for fear of disrupting workflows and downtime. It’s not a decision that any dealer takes lightly, which is why it’s so important to find a DMS partner committed to helping you every step of the way. Watch this video and discover why making the move to a more flexible DMS was worth the switch for these real-world franchise auto groups.

Trusted Partners

Your DMS provider should be invested in your success. When it comes to the time for installation, your new DMS team should be on-site, ensuring that your dealership has everything it needs to succeed. That means answering your questions, ensuring that every employee is up to speed, and employing industry best practices for data migration and installation.

Ongoing Support

Once your installation is complete, your new DMS partner should help you get the most out of your new technology. Your provider should have an ongoing presence in your dealership, consulting with your teams on a regular basis to improve performance and help enact operational changes when necessary. Because technology and the auto sales industry are constantly changing, your DMS partner should be forward-thinking, providing ongoing support and updates to help your dealership grow, as the industry evolves.

Watch the video below to see how real-world dealers, like you, made a successful transition to a new DMS and DMS partner.

Control Your Data with the Right DMS Partner

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Your dealership’s data is your business, literally. It’s the key to invaluable insights into your customers, your operation, and the overall performance of your dealership. When you’re in control of how you run your operation—and whom you choose to do business with—you not only save time, but you also save money. Find out why dealers like you are switching to a DMS partner with open and integrated solutions. Watch the video.

Seamless Open Integration

Are you spending money to access data you already own? It sounds wild, but certain vendors can and do charge (often hidden) fees just to access customer information. The average dealership now uses up to seven software systems to complete a sale—and that can add up over the course of a year. Most franchise dealers are paying up to $42,000 every year on integration fees, alone. * (Yowza.) A DMS partner who offers seamless integration with bi-directional data flow and third-party software and OEM integration, would speed up processes and save dealers a lot of cash.

Real-Time Insights

How you access your data is just as important as how you share it. Your data should be on demand, not waiting for you the next day after a lengthy overnight download. Your DMS partner should empower you to access your data when you want, whenever you want. With unrestricted data access, you can get up-to-the-minute insight into transactions, account balances, and dealership performances. You have the freedom to make quick, effective decisions at a moment’s notice, with every possible piece of information.

It’s your data. You should be able to access it when, and where, you need it most.

See how real-world dealers, like you, are taking control of their data with a true DMS partner in the video below. 

References

*Avg. $500/month x 7 third-party apps x 12 months = $42,000/year

 

Find a DMS Partner Invested in Your Success

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A good salesperson can earn your business. And, often, that business transaction ends at the point of sale. But a great partnership is built long after the ink dries on the contract. Your DMS partner should work hard to help you achieve success. Improving your day-to-day operations and accomplishing long-term goals is an investment in the future. You expect your technology to do a lot for your organization. It’s time to start expecting more from your partners. See why dealers like you are making the decision to switch to a partner invested in their success. Watch the video.

An Invested Partner

A great business partner should empower you to be the company you want to be. That means working with your team to ensure a seamless installation and technology migration. It means helping you find solutions to all your questions and working with your dealership to get the most out of your technology. Your DMS partner should be an invaluable resource to you, helping your team navigate industry complexities, enact operational change, and grow your business.

An Intuitive Technology

Any technology you take the time and resources to invest in should be intuitive to learn for new and experienced employees alike. It should make your operations more efficient by reducing the number of clicks to complete a task and making it easy to access information. That includes being flexible enough to integrate seamlessly with third-party systems and meet the requirements of every dealership department.

Flexible Contract Terms

Finally, your business partners should be easy to do business with. Technology providers should earn your business every month, giving you the freedom to choose and the ability to change direction at any time. That means offering flexible contract terms, not auto-renew clauses. In other words, you should be in control of the direction of your dealership, not your DMS provider.

Watch the video below to see how real-world dealers, like you, have made the transition to a DMS partner that’s invested in their success.

 

 

 

 

Digital Technology Ushers in New Level of Partnerships

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According to buyer sentiment, digital adoption in the auto industry is here to stay. It’s not just that dealers have adapted to new norms and implemented new digitization tactics. Although, they are. (And at record pace!) According to the 2020 Digitization End-to-End Retail Study from Cox Automotive, 69% of franchise dealers now boast at least one new digital step to their buying process such as test drive home delivery, purchased home delivery, and online credit apps. It’s also due to overall record buyer satisfaction rates—72% at recent count.

With so many changes taking place, who can dealers turn to for guidance and accountability? For the following dealerships, finding the right Dealer Management System to drive better efficiency across the entire organization was the first step. The second, was finding a true partner—not just a vendor—they could trust.

A Vital Business Partner

For Downtown Auto Group, finding the right Dealer Management System (DMS) was a process that spanned over 18 years. In most cases, what felt like the right solution ended up being more of a burden. However, Dealer Principal Matt Garner, calls their current DMS a “no brainer.” Garner specifically selected it for its intuitive nature and simple integration with other systems. But, more than anything else, Garner and the team benefit from the expertise of their Performance Manager.

“A DMS is such a critical part of the dealership, and choosing Dealertrack DMS was a no brainer… But the number one thing for me, hands down, is the fact that Dealertrack DMS comes with a Performance Manager,” explains Garner. With Performance Management, Garner has a dedicated industry veteran available to help his dealership capitalize on new growth opportunities. And with the roll out of new digital technologies, the auto group also has a resource to ensure everyone gets the most from their technology.

Read their story here.

“A DMS is such a critical part of the dealership, and choosing Dealertrack DMS was a no brainer… But the number one thing for me, hands down, is the fact that Dealertrack DMS comes with a Performance Manager.” — Matt Garner Dealer Principal, Downtown Auto Group

A Partnership Built on Respect

For the service center at Lawton Kia, finding the right provider to meet the needs of their state-of-the-art facility would require more than just top-tier technology. The dealer group prides itself on delivering no-nonsense experience. And that’s exactly what they were looking for from their next DMS partner. Lawton Kia soon discovered that the right DMS was more than just an expense—it was a profit-driver. “We love having our Dealertrack DMS Performance Manager. He brings a lot of value to the table—from real-world experience and his ability to think outside the box, to helping us with campaigns, finding gains, and reviewing analytics,” explains Service Manager Frank Seitz. “He helps us strategize how to capitalize on more opportunities and bring us more profit.”

Read their story here. 

The right partner should do more for your dealership than hand over a contract. With Performance Management, data-driven insights, and streamlined workflows that integrate with technology at your dealership, finding the right DMS partner can optimize your entire business. Learn more.