The Time is Right for Going High Tech – Or Is It?

Manufacturers require it, owners need it, and workers can’t live without it: Integrated Dealership Software.

So you’re thinking about buying a fully integrated software package for your dealership? You’ve realized that in order to be more profitable and efficient, you must invest in the future, and now is the time! Even your manufacturers are telling you that in a short period of time, they will require you to submit all your warranty claims over the internet; you see the need for change has arrived. But which system should you buy? I have personally worked with IDS, Galaxy, Peachtree, Adams & Adams, Grapevine, Reynolds & Reynolds, and QuickBooks just to name a few. Each system has its positives and negatives, but which is the right one for you? Well, we can’t tell you what you need to buy for your dealership. However, we can help you with your software purchase by posing a few questions that you need to answer. Let’s consider these five questions:

Question # 1: What do you need the software to do for your dealership? If you need something to organize the names of prospects for your dealership, you can buy a $100.00 or less product right off of the shelf at your local Office Depot store. If you’re looking for a prospecting system that will integrate with your accounting, sales, F&I, service, and parts departments, then you will need to step up to the plate and purchase a fully integrated software package that allows data to be shared. Do you care if your system is operated in DOS, or would you like it to be Windows driven? Do you need a system that comes with a training audio/video feature, or one that comes with a training manual? Now, the questions that I have asked of you are pretty basic, but it will surprise you how many dealers buy the wrong system. This happens because they have not decided beforehand what their dealership needed. I have walked into dealerships and heard complaints from owners that sound something like this: “I purchased this high-powered server, several $2,000 computers, a tape back-up system, and a fully integrated software package for my dealership and I HATE IT!” When I asked them why they hate it, they said, “because it does a poor job tracking service R.O.s and the system has a poor parts inventory module!” If the owner knew in advance that he/she required a software package that was exceptional for parts and service, why did he/she buy what they bought? The answer is simple, they purchased something that “sounded good” but was not good for them. It is much like a farmer going to a car dealer to buy a good truck for the farm and ending up with a convertible Mustang; the Mustang is beautiful but it is not what the farmer needed. So, what does your dealership need in order to improve your operation? Determine this, and then you can specifically communicate your needs to the software companies in these areas.