A dealer management system is a centralized application that collects customer and vehicle data. It can help dealers manage all aspects of the business from a single login platform. Previously, dealerships used to have separate software for each business area. It was inefficient and led to problems due to team members having to exit one software for another to retrieve information.
Inventory Management
A robust dealer management system software allows dealerships to monitor operations from a single interface, automate tasks, and track metrics for maximum efficiency. It minimizes the need for time-consuming manual processes and reduces the risk of issues falling through the cracks between departments. Dealerships can use their DMS to keep track of vehicle inventory and determine which vehicles they should buy based on market research and sales trends.
It helps decrease sales turnaround times and prevents the waste of resources by purchasing more than can be sold in a reasonable amount of time. The DMS is also an efficient way to manage a vehicle’s many parts and components. With the DMS, dealerships can easily locate and order needed parts. It allows them to avoid losing sales to competitors due to a lack of available features and improves customer satisfaction by delivering parts on time.
The DMS also assists with marketing by enabling dealers to collect customer data through various channels. This information is then used to create targeted advertisements that help increase brand visibility and sales. The DMS can even capture vehicle trip history data to understand driver-vehicle behavior and identify potential problems. It can aid in service bay management and reduce the number of costly repairs. It can also monitor supply chain issues to ensure quality materials and components.
Service Department Management
A good DMS will help a dealership keep track of all the moving parts across departments. Most systems have reporting functions allowing a birds-eye view of all dealership operations. Businesses wishing to compare their performance to comparable dealerships or enhance their existing performance may find it useful. It can also be beneficial for companies looking to expand to multiple locations. It is important to remember that anyone at the dealership can use a DMS. It includes everyone from salespeople to accountants to service managers. A DMS’s benefits come from bringing all these different departments together to share a platform that streamlines processes and allows for easy communication.
One of the biggest advantages a DMS can provide for a dealership is the ability to use Big Data. It can be especially helpful for a service department trying to anticipate when a customer must return for a vehicle repair or replacement. This type of predictive analytics can save dealerships time and money by preventing costly repairs or breakdowns. It can be done by analyzing various data, such as past service records, consumer behaviors, etc. This information can then be used to create a predictive model that will predict the future needs of a vehicle.
Financials
A dealer management system can help simplify business functions across locations with standardized records and processes if you have multiple dealerships. Dealership systems can automate many financial planning tasks, including inventory, vehicle pricing, part ordering, warranty claims, credit reporting, and administration. It can save your dealership time and money in the long run. A DMS will also allow you to see your entire business from one platform allowing you to streamline operations, make changes and automate business practices for increased profitability. It can also give you a better idea of where your profit drains are so that you can reduce costs and improve revenue.
DMS can also help with customer service by giving you tools to communicate instantly with customers, such as email, social media, and even text messages from a mobile app. Having these tools at your fingertips can result in improved customer service and faster turnaround times, which will help you retain customers. Finally, a DMS should include security controls to protect critical information from unauthorized access. It should also have a backup system automatically storing data offsite each evening. Additionally, the IT support offered by the vendor should be able to keep pace with your anticipated growth. Otherwise, your dealership may suffer from slow systems or unexpected data loss that could greatly impact your business.
Customer Relationship Management
A dealership that uses a DMS can improve each facet of the business by combining all daily transactions into one platform. Instead of logging into separate solutions to manage inventory, create point-of-sale invoices, and track customer service interactions, the DMS allows users to access all the tools they need from a single login. It saves time and resources for employees while improving efficiency and productivity.
Whether a dealer receives an internet lead from the website or a prospective buyer arrives in person, the DMS can easily record and assign the new prospect to a salesperson for follow-up. The system can also record each step in the car-buying process, including all documents signed and scanned for future reference.
Depending on the DMS used, customers can even view photos and videos of the vehicle they are interested in before entering the showroom. The core capabilities of most DMS systems include customer management, deal structuring, and contracting, buy pay here (BHPH) management with payment processing and extensive reporting tools. Dealerships can also extract information from their DMS to market to potential customers and better understand their current clientele. DMS systems often have robust security features that help protect sensitive customer and financial data against unauthorized access. These include multi-factor authentication, secure socket layer (SSL) technology, and encryption.
