An unified dealer system is invaluable to car dealerships as it combines various software tools into one platform. It enables them to keep track of everything from inventory and sales to customer service and accounting.
Although standalone systems work well for individual departments, they don’t provide the streamlined communication that teams need. Here are the benefits of integrated dealer systems:
Streamlined Operations
Keeping track of the data can be challenging if your company uses multiple dealer management systems. This can lead to duplicate customer entries, inaccuracies in marketing, and an inability to identify past repairs.
An integrated dealer system can eliminate these problems by linking your business’s sales, service, and accounting processes into one system. This will make accessing the data you need easier and ensure that your processes run smoothly.
A dealer management system integrated with your point of sale (POS) software can help you manage inventory and streamline sales and order processing. This will improve your business’s profitability and reduce your costs.
Additionally, it will enable you to export useful business reports with a single click quickly. This will enable you to identify areas where your dealership can improve its performance quickly. These reports will help you to identify potential sales opportunities, optimize inventory levels, and more. A dealer management system can improve your business’s performance and speed growth. You will also be able to increase your trust in your customers by providing them with timely and accurate information about their orders. This will result in a happier, more satisfied customer base. Additionally, you can reduce time spent on administrative tasks and paperwork.
Reduced Training Costs
Using different software programs for each department could be more efficient and often leaves room for human error. Integrated dealer systems create a streamlined workflow and provide dealership employees with a clear path to success. With only one comprehensive system to learn, training costs are reduced significantly. More productive employees will be able to concentrate on providing outstanding customer service.
Choosing an integrated dealer system will also help save money on data access and integration fees. A DMS with integrated accounting is often less expensive from a subscription standpoint, and it eliminates the need for duplicate data entry. Having your accounting information sync seamlessly between the two programs reduces the risk of costly mistakes.
The centralized calendars and automated reminders of an integrated dealer system can also help improve your team’s productivity by reducing the number of calls and emails to schedule appointments. The streamlined process helps your staff improve their first-time fix rates and technician performance.
A fully integrated dealer system can also help you manage your parts inventory more effectively by monitoring inventory levels in real time and preventing them from running low. The software will alert your parts team when it’s time to order a new item, which is much more efficient than waiting for an inventory report or calling to ask about a specific item.
Better Customer Service
Integrated dealer systems can reduce customer service issues that negatively impact a dealership’s bottom line. For example, a unified system with workflow automation can eliminate the need to copy information between programs that require double data entry. This time-consuming process carries a significant risk of error.
Moreover, an integrated dealer system can help reduce manual processes for improved employee productivity. For instance, a dealer management system with an auto CRM can help salespeople deliver a personalized customer experience and create lifelong customers for the dealership. This can boost sales and overall dealership revenue.
For manufacturers and OEMs that rely on a global network of dealers to sell and service equipment, providing each location with the same level of support can be challenging. However, an integrated dealer system can streamline and automate remote inventory management. It can also help identify parts needs for specific locations and report on field sales performance.
A flexible dealer management system will also enable dealerships to make more strategic decisions. They won’t need to call an accountant or wait for documentation to arrive because they can obtain financial data quickly. Having real-time, updated information puts dealers in a position to react quickly and escalate growth opportunities.
Increased Profits
Before dealer management systems, dealerships often ran multiple software tools independently. This meant that team members would need to log into each system separately to retrieve information and perform tasks. This inefficient process was time-consuming and prone to errors. It also led to important information falling through the cracks.
A dealer management system allows teams to easily communicate and complete daily work, reducing the need for manual processes and leading to a more efficient operation. In turn, this translates into lower costs and more profitability.
One of the best benefits of integrated dealer systems is that it enables dealers to track customer service needs. This includes recommending a trade-in solution that improves dealership sales and strengthens ongoing customer relationships. A streamlined dealer management system also ensures timely order fulfillment and decreases inventory holding costs.
Many manufacturing businesses need help establishing an end-to-end distribution journey between their sales teams, dealers/ distributors, and other stakeholders. A unified dealer management system and a CRM allow manufacturers to create a user-friendly platform where dealers can place orders directly. This improves the overall customer experience and helps manufacturers optimize inventory levels and avoid overproduction.
Integrated dealer systems provide dealerships with real-time financial information and reporting. This enables leadership to make fast, strategic decisions that escalate growth. Moreover, integrated accounting saves dealerships time by eliminating duplicate data entry as data syncs both ways; dealership staff and accountants don’t need to waste time re-entering data from their different programs.
