Too Many Choices

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 …

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 …

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.  …

Technology and Office CRM

Digital Dealer –Sandi Jerome “How can you use training and technology to improve customer service in your accounting office?” According to Harvey Mackay, “Southwest Airlines is successful because the company understands it's a customer service company. It also happens to be an airline.”  While almost every major U.S. airline has declared bankruptcy, Southwest Airlines has …

The Year End for your DMS

Digital Dealer Magazine - Sandi Jerome There is no reason why your office staff has to spend the first weeks or months of the year consumed with the year end or 13th month process. We spend the first part of every year consumed with the prior year.  There are the dreaded 13th month entries that …

What is an Open DMS?

Digital Dealer – Sandi Jerome “In real open source, you have the right to control your own destiny.” Linus Torvalds There has been a lot of discussion lately about whether or not a DMS is considered to be “open” or not.  To make the first clarification, there are a few types of “open” in our …

Your DMS and Gross Profit Metrics

Digital Dealer – Sandi Jerome “Doesn’t it make more sense to treat repair orders like car deals and measure the gross profit per repair order" Management thinker Peter Drucker is often quoted as saying that "you can't manage what you can't measure."  DMS systems are different than standard ERP or accounting software by the way …

DMS, CRM and Closing Ratios

Digital Dealer -  Sandi Jerome “What is your closing ratio and the real cost of lost sales?” According to successful businessman, Fred DeLuca, “Profit or perish... There are only two ways to make money: increase sales and decrease costs.” In the car business, we all know what it means to increase sales; but decreasing costs can …

DMS and Profit Accounting

Digital Dealer – Sandi Jerome “Office Managers and Controllers need to become part of the operational team and a true contributor to profit.” According to Warren Buffet, “Application and improvement of some modern accounting and financial techniques are fundamentally changing the company’s ability to make a profit.”  Can you consider your DMS a modern accounting …

Are you being Proactive with your DMS?

Digital Dealer – Sandi Jerome  “There are many ways your DMS can be proactive instead of reactive”   If you were standing in front of a house on fire and there was a hose and hydrant, everyone would say that the solution to the problem is to connect the hose and put out the fire.  What …