What happens when technology disrupts tradition? The specialty vehicle industry is finding out as dealers begin to leverage dealer management system (DMS) technology to improve processes and streamline department functions. Whether you sell RVs, watercrafts, trailers, or powersports vehicles, learn how a DMS helps you stay ahead of the digital curve in every aspect of your operation:
Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
The Challenge
Dealers manage a lot of customer information on a daily basis. Whether it’s tracking new leads, handling follow-up requirements, recording service appointments, or all of the above, effective data management requires the right processes. Documenting information manually, like entering everything into a spreadsheet, leaves unwanted room for human error such as duplication, typos, or even accidental deletion.
How a DMS Helps
A DMS with a built-in, fully integrated CRM centralizes all your data, making it simple for all your employees (no matter which department they’re in) to access and input the information they need quickly. The system ensures consistency by maintaining accurate records and prevents your team from missing, forgetting, or erasing important information. The end-to-end integration also gives you complete visibility over the customer journey, enabling automated communication for seamless follow-up and engagement.
Deal Desking
The Challenge
Structuring your deals successfully is an essential step in the sales process. Deal desking is where you can drive substantial revenue and growth for your business. However, a disorganized desking experience may deter buyers from completing the transaction or doing future business with your dealership. You want this stage to be as smooth as possible — resulting in a lucrative sale and a loyal customer.
How a DMS Helps
Throughout the desking and F&I process, the right DMS helps you minimize missed opportunities, reduce negotiation time, and maximize deal potential. With the ability to sell multiple units and add parts and accessories on a single deal, you’ll increase efficiency for your entire operation. In addition, some systems offer seamless integration with trusted lending solution providers, increasing accuracy and speed across your workflows while enhancing the customer experience.
Parts and Service
The Challenge
Your parts and service employees oversee service scheduling and check-in, inventory counts, order status, and more. Although manually completing every task and keeping up-to-date records is time consuming and tedious, it’s still the way many dealers operate today.
How a DMS Helps
A DMS automates and digitizes responsibilities, ensuring your team can maintain maximum productivity. With electronic service scheduling and technician assignments, your team will always know who should be working on what and when. In addition, the system simplifies parts management, streamlining the order process and automatically notifying you of shipment arrivals.
Unit Inventory
The Challenge
Specialty dealers oversee a wide variety and large quantity of units, but your employees must be informed about everything on your lot to provide prompt answers to customers. That’s why they need instant access to unit details such as make, model, mileage, pricing, and more.
How a DMS Helps
Using a DMS, you can manage your floor plan, inventory levels, costs, and more. The right system functions on mobile devices, allowing you to operate anywhere (even out on the lot), so you can always access the information you need.
Rentals and Storage
The Challenge
Managing rental and storage information adds additional responsibility to your staff. They’ll be creating new contracts, overseeing billing, etc., while keeping track of available units, storage spaces, and various expenses.
How a DMS Helps
If you offer rentals or storage space, you need a system that can host additional customer data and help you monitor facility availability and usage. With some DMSs, you can streamline bookings and reservations through automated digital contracts and billing. Additionally, your team will have access to real-time information, keeping them informed of which units and spots your dealership has available and when.
Accounting
The Challenge
Disorganized or outdated accounting practices can leave your dealership vulnerable to compliance risks, costly errors, and financial blind spots. Streamlining your processes provides visibility into your performance, allowing you to identify inefficiencies, manage expenses, and improve profitability.
How a DMS Helps
By using a DMS with a fully integrated accounting system, you’ll be supporting every department with financial data that’s always accurate, up to date, and accessible. This helps you stay compliant, avoid duplication, and make smarter, faster financial decisions. In addition, the centralized platform makes it simple for your team to manage invoices, payments, billing information, and more.
Reports and Dashboards
The Challenge
It’s necessary to have an understanding of your dealership’s performance. Reports provide concise overviews of different subsections of your business, while dashboards allow you to visualize that data. These features let you identify areas of improvement quickly so you can strategize and allocate resources accordingly.
How a DMS Helps
A DMS can pull all the information you need and generate comprehensive reports and visual dashboards in a matter of seconds. With access to a full library of reports and the ability to create custom reports based on your needs, you won’t need to search for and compile data by hand. You’ll gain greater insights with less hassle, allowing you to make data-driven decisions efficiently. Additionally, dashboards update in real time, ensuring you always have the most recent and accurate information at your fingertips.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a highly connected solution that supports every area of your specialty operation, a dealer management system is just what you need. Before the specialty industry’s technological surge hits full speed, you can stay ahead of the curve and maximize the results for your dealership — preparing for long-term success.
