With this DMS model of tomorrow, the responsibility shifts from the
dealership to the DMS provider. Routine DMS maintenance items like
installation of software upgrades, management of factory integration
points, and maintaining a secure environment for the server all become
duties that the DMS Provider takes care of, as opposed to the customer.
In addition, the SaaS model is considerably less expensive for the
dealership. The dealer only needs to lease space on the DMS Provider’s
server, rather than purchasing and maintaining an on-site server. By
reducing upfront server costs and ongoing maintenance costs, the
dealership can easily increase their bottom line by just switching to a
DMS using the SaaS model.

Roman Stanek, CEO and Founder of Good Data explains “Back in the old
good days of enterprise software, we did not need to worry about our
customers. We delivered bits on DVDs – it was up to the customers to
struggle with installation,
integration, management, customization and other aspects of software
operations. We collected all the cash up front, took another 25% in
annual maintenance. Throwing software over the wall: that’s how we did
it. Sometimes almost literally, I now live in the SaaS world. My
customers only pay us if we deliver a service level consistent with our
SLAs. We are responsible for deployment, security, upgrades and so on.
We operate software for our customers and we deliver it as service.”

Moreover, the ideal DMS model offers complete interdepartmental
integration. This means that the F&I, Parts, and Service Departments are
all integrated with the centralized Accounting Office. One customer
database, containing the customer’s contact information and all history
within the dealership, exists that is shared between departments. In
addition, one vehicle inventory database is shared between departments,
making it easy to create deals in the F&I Department, perform Service
and sell Parts to inventory vehicles. Rather than wasting time on double
entries, dealership personnel becomes more productive as information
only needs to be added to the DMS once.

The ideal DMS model has an “Open Architecture” structure
that not only facilitates, but encourages, third-party integrations.
Rather than assuming the DMS is the end-all solution for dealerships,
the ideal DMS recognizes that specialized companies provide unique
software solutions that the dealership can benefit from. As third-party
software vendors integrate with the DMS and data is shared, the
dealership becomes more efficient.

Advancing your DMS is the first step towards the becoming a dealership
of tomorrow, and SaaS technology is essential to that progression. An
increase in efficiency and productivity directly correlates with an
increase in profit. Finding a DMS solution that uses the ideal model
will help your dealership reach profitability, efficiency, and
productivity goals.

For more information, please see the following guides:

• LetterSelect – Print Correspondance Letters
• LetterSelect – Create Correspondance Letters

Please keep in mind that you can also generate individual letters through the Email Template functionality. Take option Send Email, choose the desired Template, and use the Merge function. You can then Print the email rather than sending it. As long as you use the Print tool from within the message, the Email header information will not print on the document.

It is best to use LetterSelect to print letter batches. The Send Email feature will only create individual letters.

This and other useful information can also be viewed on the DealerTrack DMS Support Wiki.

New salespeople can be assigned to customer records using the Sales Representatives Reassignment tool. New BDC Representatives can be assigned to customer records using the BDC Representative Reassignmenttool. These tools are accessible from the Customer Showroom Management Application Environment.

For more information, please see the following guides:

Sales Representatives Reassignment
BDC Representative Reassignment

All this information and much more can be found on the DealerTrack DMS Support Wiki
More Customer Relationship Management FAQs can be found here.

• Mail 4 Blank, Original copies of the form to:
  • DealerTrack DMS
  • Attention: Forms Department
  • 10757 S River Front Parkway Ste 400
  • South Jordan, UT 84095

• Fees
  • Form Programmed – $150
  • Rush Fee – $100 (plus the $150/programming fee)
    • Paying a Rush Fee ensures the Form will be programmed within 24 Hours of when it reaches the DMS Office
• Forms cannot be programmed off of a fax; you will need to mail in a copy

For more information about Forms, please contact the DMS Support Center at 877-357-8725 x 1.

Accounts are defined throughout the system. Since so many accounts are necessary to close a Repair Order, the DealerTrack DMs Training Department developed a guide to help you learn how to resolve G/L Errors without needing to call into the Support Center.

Please visit our guide on the DMS Wiki: https://www.arkona.com/website_09/support/wiki/index.php/Repair_Orders_-_G/L_Errors

You may need to pay a subscription fee to take advantage of the DealerTrack/DealerTrack DMS integration points. For more information about these Sales and F&I solutions, please contact DealerTrack at 1-888-600-8760. You can also view more information about the products by visiting DealerTrack’s website.

To review the Task List, use function Extended Detail Screen (74). The Task List will display. Review the tasks listed on the right side of the screen. If the task does not have the word “Completed” to the side, you will need to complete that task. Check to make sure you have entered the following information:

• To Accept a Deal
  • Assign Inventory
  • Enter Buyer Information
  • Enter Trade Information (if applicable_
  • Enter PDI Insurance (Proof of Insurance)
• To Cap a Deal
  • All Requirements to Accept a Deal must be met
  • The deal status must be “Accepted”

For a complete guide, please see the following article: https://www.arkona.com/website_09/support/wiki/index.php/Function_Extended_Detail_Screen/Task_List

If you would like to view the value of your Clean Cores, you can run the Counter Pad Report and send it to Microsoft Excel. Using Excel, you can create a formula that will show you the value of all of your Clean Cores. You will need to have a basic understanding of Microsoft Excel to work with this report.

To learn how to run a Clean Cores Report, take the following link: https://www.arkona.com/website_09/support/wiki/index.php/Clean_Cores_Report