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 …

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 …

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.  …

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 …

Is your DMS going Paperless?

Digital Dealer - Sandi Jerome “Is your DMS system dooming you for disaster during an audit?” They say that the best description of a tax auditor is someone who arrives after the battle and shoots all the wounded.  I’ve been through some rough tax audits for my clients, but the worse was after a controller quit.  …

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 …

DMS Systems and Windows 10

Digital Dealer - Sandi Jerome “To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.”  Winston Churchill I was recently asked if a dealership should upgrade their computers to Windows 10.  When it comes to change, it is human nature to avoid change.  But a stronger motivation is the offer from Microsoft to …