As dealers begin to grow they face new challenges, and one of the main ones is how to manage an ever–increasing amount of business data. These are some of the ways dealers address this issue:
Centralized, real-time information
Managing cashiers
As dealers grow, purchase volumes increase and administrative issues become more complex, especially when a dealer has several points of sale. Some dealer management systems allow centralized cashier management from the main store, so that the Administrative Manager can see information for all stores, arrange payments to suppliers, and make the necessary bank deposits and transfers.
Improved customer service
Without centralized parts inventory information, parts staff and service advisors have to call all stores to see if a part is in stock. Modern DMS systems can instantly show which stores have a certain part in stock. This allows for quicker and more professional service to customers, and also avoids ordering unnecessary parts from the manufacturer.
Analyze dead inventory
By managing all parts information from one central location, dealers can make decisions regarding pricing and parts purchases. For example, if a part hasn’t been selling at any store, they can decide to lower the price and also whether they want to continue ordering it.
Cross-referencing information from all stores
Sales by model
Sometimes sales teams can detect if a certain store has higher sales or more information requests for higher-end vehicles, and based on those reports they can decide which models to highlight in each show room and which ones to promote, based on regional demand.
Store-specific goals
By having precise data for all points-of-sale, managers can set realistic goals for each. For example, they can set different objectives for stores based on how many years they have been open. Dealers can also analyze at which points the competition is stronger, how many vehicles pass through different locations, and other regional variables.
Workshop occupancy
By seeing what technicians are doing and analyzing workshop occupancy in real time, service advisors can send vehicles to one or another workshop based on customer urgency.
Access information from anywhere
Prospect and customer information
As the customer base grows, salespeople spend more and more of their time outside the dealership. One way to help is with a CRM that can be accessed over the Internet from anywhere. This helps sales staff access customer and prospect information from wherever they may be.
Emergency telephone numbers for parts orders
Many dealers have emergency telephone numbers so that customers can place parts orders. With the right DMS system, dealership employees can quickly check to see if they have those parts in stock without having to physically go to the dealership. They can even program orders to suppliers from wherever they may be.
