Dealertrack DMS is helping Sisbarro run their business smarter through easy-to-use technology and excellent customer support.
Sisbarro Case Study
Tag: DMS
Gerald Nissan Case Study
Dealertrack DMS provides Gerald Nissan with real-time and easy-to-access data that helps them make smart decisions to move their business forward.
Heritage Ford Case Study
Heritage team members find Dealertrack to be the easiest DMS to use, which means they can focus on customer care.
Crestmont Case Study
Dealertrack’s implementation team spent five weeks on-site ensuring that no data would be lost and that every employee was comfortable.
Smythe Volvo Case Study
This family-owned and operated dealership treats their customers and staff like family. So do we.
Acura of Glendale Case Study
Acura of Glendale uses a technology driven DMS that empowers their staff by providing data access and security through Dealertrack.
A Dealership’s Digital Ecosystem
Today’s modern dealerships are adopting technology at a rapid pace. This new shift is changing the way consumers buy and use cars, as well as the way businesses sell them. But, does adding more tools, software platforms and services add value to the process? Sometimes it’s hard to see the forest through the trees. Dealertrack partnered with an independent market research firm to conduct a comprehensive study about dealers’ most used technology systems. Take a look at the data displayed below from 229 respondents and discover a new insight into the role technology plays for the modern franchise dealer.
Driver’s Village: More Than A Vendor, A DMS Partner
The crew at Driver’s Village relies on their DMS for a lot of things: running a smooth business, digging deep into their data and analytics, and growing. So, when it came time to choose a new technology, they didn’t want to purchase a vendor, they wanted to find a partner. That’s where Dealertrack DMS came in. But, what does it take to make the grade? What are the key attributes that make a DMS provider qualify as a partner? Here are the four top qualities that Driver’s Village looks for in their partnership:
A True Partner Drives Connectivity
With Dealertrack DMS and Opentrack, there’s a bi-directional connectivity with other partners and integration that allows dealerships the ability to look back. And when you have the ability to dive into your dealership’s history, like Driver’s Village, you’re more empowered as you move forward. Connecting, empowering, and making all data easily accessible is step number one to being a good partner.
Good Partners Help You Grow
Driver’s Village has actually partnered with Dealertrack DMS since the 1990’s and a lot has changed. As they’ve grown (and grown!), Dealertrack DMS has been there each time a new dealership has joined the family. Having a partner who helps Driver’s Village reach their goals, without being a roadblock or a burden, is key.
“We don’t consider Dealertrack DMS as a vendor,” says Firas Makhlouf. “We consider Dealertrack DMS as a partner.”
A Good Partner Brings Bright New Talent to Your Dealership
The old, archaic days of DMS in the green screen is the fastest way to scare away millennials when recruiting new team members. With high turnover rates and an increasingly difficult race to master the millennial market, a shift in DMS technology can be the key to finding, onboarding, and retaining potential candidates. “Our new hires? They like that ease-of-use and point-and-click…When we show them a nice DMS user-interface, with point-and-click, they feel at ease,” says Fira Makhlouf, CIO of Driver’s Village.
Making the Switch to a New Partner
An overhaul of your dealership’s DMS technology is a big deal. Although Driver’s Village has been with Dealertrack DMS for several decades, each time they acquire a new dealership their team faces the reality of changing the new business’s DMS to Dealertrack. The emotional process of making the switch, however, is softened by having a good partner at-the-ready. “Dealertrack’s DMS is intuitive,” explains Lou Bregou, Director of Operations. “Dealertrack has a history of integrating companies.” Plus, Driver’s Village points out that Dealertrack DMS is backed by Cox Automotive. It’s a partnership that the their team has come to rely on as more than just a vendor. “We don’t consider Dealertrack DMS as a vendor,” says Firas Makhlouf. “We consider Dealertrack DMS as a partner.”
Your dealership will always work with outside vendors, SaaS providers, retailers, perhaps even marketing agencies. And those vendors can be the key to your success or drive your downfall. It’s vital to select technology vendors who understand your goals, have reliable platforms, and are willing to work together to drive the success of your business. Ultimately, take time to select your vendors wisely and to forge partnerships with real people you trust. Read more about Driver’s Village and watch their story here.
5 Unique Lessons from the Experts: Hire Better, Not More
The automotive industry faces high turnover, employee burnout, and staffing struggles that cost dealerships more money than most realize. Considering most employees reach their highest level of productivity at three years on the job, it’s disheartening to learn the average employee tenure rate at most dealerships is as low as 18 months. Dealertrack DMS AVP of Operations, John Grace, reached out to Van Horn Auto Group’s leadership team to learn the secrets of their high employee tenure rate. In their conversation, Chief Financial Officer Tom Stocco discusses Van Horns’ innovative hiring practices and unique strategies. Here are five valuable takeaways from the conversation, which was recorded and is available to watch anytime here.
Those Annual Reviews Should Really Be Daily Reviews
The saying goes, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” According to Tom Stocco, if you’re focused too much on the strategy of people management, and not on the culture of where actual people are working, those annual reviews are not going to work out for you. Instead, Tom recommends managers check in daily to get a pulse on the team’s satisfaction with their role and their workload. Checking in once a year is, sadly, too little, too late.
When Hiring, Tell The Story Of Your Dealership
When a candidate is interviewed at Van Horn Auto Group, transparency is key. Tom suggested that dealerships make an effort to tell the story of their dealership. Where did you come from and where are you going? What are your goals and aspirations as a company? Let the candidate know, and be upfront, because this will tell them more about your culture than you know. And, speaking of culture…
It Shouldn’t Take A Personality Test To Learn About Someone Sitting Across From You
Tom and his team threw out the personality tests a long time ago and instead opted to go with trust. According to Tom, it hasn’t always worked out. However, it feels more honest. Having multiple people within the dealership meet and interview each candidate, and giving each person the benefit of their full attention and time, is part of their culture.
Make Your Dealership Family A Priority
Investing in your employees needs to be more than lip-service. Company picnics and parties are nice, but your dealership needs to do more to prioritize their people. At Van Horn Auto Group, the leadership knows employees work harder for companies who actually care about them. Van Horn wants to see their team become successful long-term, and to prove it, they’ll pay half of the tuition cost for their employees to get a college degree. They also have serious focus on creating community, with shared experiences, within the dealership.
“Everything that we’ve done has focused on creating shared experiences and building a family.” – Tom Stocco, CFO of Van Horn Auto Group
Technology Is Critical Today. Embrace it!
Technology can, and should, bring knowledge to the transaction, to the customer, to your entire sales experience. If you aren’t making training and learning opportunities mandatory for your staff, you’re making a mistake. Reach out to your vendors and ask for additional training if you feel that your team would benefit from it. The bottom line is that dealerships spend a lot of money on technologies, and if you’re unable to optimize it, you’re hurting your employees.
In addition to these valuable takeaways from John Grace and Tom Stocco, you can view the full webinar on-demand here.
Overcome Your DMS Transition Fears
Breaking the news to your controller that your dealership is switching technology is a difficult day for any Dealer Principal Owner or GM. While a technology transition can seem intimidating, staying stagnant with an out-of-date Dealer Management System (DMS) is much, much worse. Slow systems, data held hostage, expensive add-ons, poor customer support? These are practically nightmares! Take a look at the steps outlined in the graphic below and discover five ways to make the switch—and what you’ll gain once you do!
Download the full eBook and get ready to Overcome the Fear of Technology Transition today.