In a recent Automotive News article, Cox Automotive stated that dealerships use, on average, about seven systems to complete a sales transaction and 18 vendors to run the stores. When I started in this business at fourteen, we had no technology. I did the tedious work to update the parts inventory on 3x5 cards. I … Continue reading Too Many Choices
Speeding up the F&I Process
If you have ever spent time with a toddler, you learned that asking them, "do you want an orange or apple" will get you a faster answer than asking “what do you want for a snack?” The same is true with your customers. Instead of presenting each F&I product and painfully going through the yes/no … Continue reading Speeding up the F&I Process
Nobody goes to Work to do a Bad Job
I doubt if any of your employees look in the mirror each morning and say “I can’t wait to get to work and mess things up and then get yelled at.” But it seems that our employees make so many mistakes. They forget to tell a technician that a part has arrived and then a … Continue reading Nobody goes to Work to do a Bad Job
Your DMS and Internet Services
A dealer recently sent me his monthly DMS billing for over $25,000 a month. Included in this price were items like toner, credit bureau fees and even a phone system. I had to wonder, “What is considered a DMS today?” Would you get Internet Service, order technician tools, or keep your bank accounts with your … Continue reading Your DMS and Internet Services
Turning Technology into Profit
A client emailed me that he had started using a tool to email sales commissions to the managers and sales people. He claimed, “This is an awesome tool!! It removes the tedious task of distributing commission calculations and ensures distribution is 100% accurate. I estimate it takes one and half minutes to email a commission … Continue reading Turning Technology into Profit
Technology Training
Digital Dealer - Technology Training By Sandi Jerome There are four primary learning styles: visual, auditory, read-write, and kinesthetic. A visual learner typically is a fast-talker who likes to interrupt and needs to see things visually – or hear things that brings up a visual image. An example of this would be a sales manager. This … Continue reading Technology Training
Getting More from your DMS DOC
Digital Dealer - Sandi Jerome “It can be frustrating to look at the expenses and deductions on your DOC because many of them don’t happen until the end of the month, but smaller variances will stand out on a daily basis.” The DOC – or Daily Operating Control is a DMS report that is rather … Continue reading Getting More from your DMS DOC
Your DMS and Recalls
Digital Dealer-Sandi Jerome “By completing the recall while the vehicle is still on the lot or in your shop means more profit.” Last year was a record year for recalls; over 50 million vehicles had recalls with over 900 different campaigns. This was the third year in a row that recalls topped 50 million vehicles. … Continue reading Your DMS and Recalls
What to do if Your DMS is Sold
Digital Dealer - Sandi Jerome “You need a backup DMS selected years before you might be forced into a difficult contract at the last moment.” Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu said, “If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.” For many dealerships on the Auto/Mate DMS, they are heading towards being … Continue reading What to do if Your DMS is Sold
Jumping Ship – DMS Changes
by Sandi Jerome "Do your employees use the DMS as an excuse of why things don’t get done or a disappointing month?” There is a saying, “Programmers get rich easily; one writes a virus, the other writes an anti-virus.” Over the past decades some DMS companies got rich because one DMS was sold and another … Continue reading Jumping Ship – DMS Changes
dealerstar.wordpress.com 