If you own a dealership (powersports, marine, trailer, RV, OPE), then you know that there’s a lot that goes into keeping track of inventory, customers, sales, and more. That’s where dealership management software (DMS) comes in! A DMS is a type of software that helps streamline and automate many of the day-to-day tasks associated with running a dealership. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at what exactly a DMS is and how it can benefit your business.
What Does a Dealership Management Software Do?
A DMS typically includes a number of different modules that each address a specific need within a dealership. For example, one module might focus on managing inventory while another module might provide customer relationship management (CRM) functionality. Here are just some of the things that a DMS can help with:
Traditional DMS Helps You With …
- Tracking inventory levels and stock movements
- Maintaining detailed customer records
- Scheduling appointments and service repairs
- Generating sales reports
- Processing payments
- Accounting and financing
- The list goes on and on …
Additionally, some dealership management software systems are cloud-based and integrate with other technology around your dealership. This concept of integrations eliminates the problem of a system being “a jack of all trades but a master of none” because you’re choosing the best technology for each department to use.
Cloud-Based Management Software Helps You With …
- Everything above plus …
- Integrates with cloud-based accounting
- Integrates with CRMs
- Integrates with e-commerce
- Integrates with payment processors
- Integrates with website providers
Basically, if there’s something that you need to do in order to run your dealership effectively, chances are there’s a module for it in a DMS.
How Can Dealership Management Software Benefit My Business?
As we mentioned above, a DMS can help with just about every aspect of running your dealership. This means that you’ll be able to spend less time on administrative tasks and more time on generating sales and providing outstanding customer service. In addition, a good DMS will save you money by helping you to avoid mistakes that can cost your business both time and money. For example, if you’re manually tracking inventory levels and make a mistake, it could lead to overstocking or understocking an item—both of which could end up costing you money. However, the risk of human error is greatly minimized if you’re using a DMS to track inventory levels. All this adds up to increased efficiency and profitability for your business. Automation inserts consistency throughout all departments from accounting to sales and service, which pleases not only customers but shareholders as well!
How to Choose the Right Dealer Management Software
Choosing the right DMS for your business is an important decision that should not be taken lightly. To find the best DMS, it’s important to understand what your current needs are. As we stated earlier, some DMSs offer EVERYTHING needed to run a dealership; however, all those features can come with a significant cost. To avoid overpaying, outline your current processes and goals. This way you can focus on what you need the software to do, not what it can do. Not sure what questions to ask in a demo? We’ve got a few suggestions.
Remember when comparing DMSs, it’s important to compare apples to apples and make sure you find the dealership management software that will work best for your needs. For example, if you want a mobile solution that can be accessed from any device and connect with other platforms at your dealership, a traditional DMS might not be a great choice. A new dealership management software platform like Blackpurl could check all those boxes, but the best way to find out is to book a 30-minute demo.