The auto retail industry is made up of thousands of forward-thinking business people who have found success by adapting to changing environments. These industry leaders have endured downturns, adapted to imposing regulations, and evolved…
Drive to Success: Enhance Customer Loyalty
Customer loyalty that leads to repeat visits to sales and service departments is the goal of every dealership. But loyalty doesn’t come easy. It’s earned by developing a reputation for exceptional service and finding…
Dealertrack DMS Helps Heritage Ford Navigate Uncertain Waters of Auto Sales
After 20 years of service in the United States Navy, Bert Hodge, general manager at Heritage Ford in Southern Indiana, understands what it takes to manage complexity and risk. As a staff analyst commanding…
Drive to Success: Keeping an Efficient Service Lane
In an age of slimming profits and increased competition, having an efficient service lane is more important than ever. Whether competing with quick service shops or finding ways to synergize sales and service efforts,…
Make Every Out-Of-State Customer Count
Many dealers aren’t prepared to handle out-of-state registration and title transactions, and many dealers believe that the process is too complex and time-consuming to make it worth their while. And it’s understandable. Dealertrack Registration…
A Dealership’s Digital Ecosystem: Insight into Technology of the Modern Franchise Dealer
Did you know that the average car dealer needs 7 different technology solutions to run their dealership? The once simple and straightforward business of selling cars has transformed into a complex ecosystem of interconnected…
Drive to Success: Search Engine Optimization
Millions of people search the internet every day for car dealerships, hoping to find more information about a specific product or service. Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process by which search engines filter…
The Consultative Approach to Selling
by Mo Zahabi While digital retailing in automotive is on the rise, dealership staff still play an important role in customers’ car-buying experiences. Six in 10 consumers would still want help from dealership staff…
Fight Back Against Margin Compression
Margin compression is taking a toll on the auto retail industry. Dealerships across the country are reporting slimming margins, with some even experiencing negative overall gross profits. And the problem isn’t going away anytime…
Drive to Success: Improving Digital Retailing Processes
Nearly all consumers begin the car-buying process online. They come to the dealership having decided what they want and how much they’re going to pay. And, in many cases, the in-dealership experience is a…
Communicating Helps Soften Change
Successfully integrating new technology at a dealership is a daunting task. It’s more than just adopting new software. It involves operational changes, contemplation of compatibility issues, and buy-in from the entire dealership team. Although…
Drive to Success: Managing Change in the Dealership
From implementing new technology to adjusting company culture, managing change in the dealership is difficult. Because change is usually met with at least a little resistance from employees, it’s important to have a change…
