Our key advice when buying a DMS is to avoid compromise, and buy for tomorrows needs not just todays.
1. What are the key issues that dealers should consider when changing their DMS?
There are the needs of the dealer, the requirements of the manufacturer and the wishes of the customer. The interests of all three parties must be considered. Manufacturers will have minimum standards for their dealers however these will change and the system will need to be able to accommodate these changes without expensive upgrades.
Customers have a choice and an increasing emphasis must be placed on the attraction and retention of customers, the DMS plays a significant role in this from ease of doing business at the service desk, online interaction and ensuring complete customer satisfaction.
What can the DMS supplier offer you in terms of innovation and how will the system keep fresh, how often is the system updated with enhancements and will there be a cost. In today’s world mobile phones, PCs and even cars get regular software updates usually without charge.
2. What are the major pitfalls to avoid?
There is no point in simply replicating an old out of date system, a new DMS is an opportunity for a fresh start, dealers need to see the DMS as an enabler for their business rather than a must have back office system. A new DMS must bring something different not simply meet the minimum requirements at the cheapest cost.
3. What advice would you offer to dealers when changing their system?
Talk to and visit dealers who are using the systems you are considering, whilst this may be a time consuming exercise the real world experiences will be invaluable.
Our key advice when buying a DMS is to avoid compromise, and buy for tomorrows needs not just todays.
