Control Your Data with the Right DMS Partner

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

 

The New Rules of Data Access in Auto

Your dealership runs on technology. And technology runs on data. Mostly. Having access to the right data, at the right time, without problems like hidden fees or nightmare integration challenges, is extremely important. In the brave new world of “all things Big Data,” dealers need to know the three rules of Data Access.

Rule 1 – Data Must Work Well With Others

In one study1¹, dealers used an average of 6.8 third-party software integrations to run their dealership. That’s a lot of getting along and playing nice. While this sounds like a lot, the fact that your have the ability to pick and choose the systems that work together is quite remarkable. “(Dealertrack) doesn’t restrict us to just one particular product,” explains Ken Barczyszyn, CFO of Dwyane Lane’s Auto Family. “We can have other relationships with other vendors and products and Dealertrack is open to that.” See it in action.

Rule 2 – Data Cannot Cost an Arm and a Leg

With multiple software integrations, dealers face the real risk of being taken advantage of by unscrupulous vendors. Accessing your very own data can suddenly come at a cost—a cost that can add up to $42,000 per year². If that sounds unbelievable, consider that many of these fees often go unnoticed and simply add up over time. With as many as half a dozen vendors charging you to access what you already own, those data fees chipping away at your profits can start to feel unfair. See how it adds up.

Rule 3 – Data Must Not be Held Hostage

If you’re considering switching to a new technology like a state-of-the-art Dealer Management System (DMS), consider this: signing a contract should protect, not prohibit, the data that you own. Your data—customer names, personally identifiable information (PII), and records of your transactions—need to be protected. But that doesn’t give a vendor the right to hold them hostage from you. Learn why it matters.

Discover a truly open DMS and find out what your technology is costing you. Learn more.

Sources:

¹https://us.dealertrack.com/content/dealertrack/en/challenges/data-fees.html
²https://us.dealertrack.com/content/dealertrack/en/challenges/data-fees.html