Dealertrack, Author at Dealertrack: Page 32 of 36

Day Two: Showcasing our innovation and our appreciation at NADA 2015

If Day One was a celebration of our transformation into a new Dealertrack, then Day Two was about the difference we make to our clients and the spirit of innovation that drives the development of our products and services.

It certainly means that Dealertrack products and services make selling cars easier than ever – which is why our booth at NADA 2015 is so crowded.

Day One: Transforming automotive retail at NADA 2015

In a word: Wow.

As far as debuts go, this one was special. And by debuts, I mean us: Dealertrack. Here we are on the first day of NADA 2015, and it felt like it was the first time the new Dealertrack had been unveiled. Like a new model car, today we pulled back the curtain to show how we were transforming automotive retail, and people cheered.

Preparing for the Affordable Care Act with the help of your DMS

If your dealership management is feeling anxious about new federal mandates under the national Affordable Care Act (ACA), or “Obamacare,” you’re not alone. The ACA goes into effect in 2015 and requires employers to offer health coverage to all full-time employees. If they don’t, they could face fines of as much as $3,000 per employee.

The good news is that your payroll team doesn’t have to go it alone. We’re handling things on our end with our dealer management system (DMS) to make complying with the ACA a smoother and easier process.

Dealertrack CEO Mark O'Neil talks cars with Jim Cramer on CNBC's Mad Money

Dealertrack CEO Mark O’Neil’s recent appearance on CNBC’s Mad Money brought into sharp focus our mission: to lead the transformation of automotive retail into an online to in-store shopping journey.

3 Steps for a Smoother Annual Parts Inventory

It’s that time of year again, when your dealer principal or CPA requires a “firm” parts inventory count for tax and factory filing purposes. If you dread the event, you’re not alone. But it doesn’t have to be that hard. If you put several steps in place throughout the year to improve consistency and better secure your parts asset, you will minimize variances, risk of theft, and dread of the annual inventory. Industry consultant Mike Nicholes recommends every dealership put three steps in place to ensure a smoother annual parts inventory.

How to generate 25 percent website lead to sale ratio

Consumers not only spend more time online, but they want to do more of the major shopping steps before they visit the showroom. Until recently, dealers just did not have the retail-specific and dealer-controlled tools available that they needed to convert serious website shoppers into in-store buyers.

How to transition your reports from measured to meaningful

When I visit dealerships, the general manager wants to hear about the latest product enhancements, extra features, or how to increase productivity. I have never had a dealer approach me with excitement about reporting. I think of it in the same light as my college days when no one was eager to hear all about the math majors’ educational insights. Reporting might not be the sexiest DMS featur, but if you follow these three steps, you can master your dealership reports, while also saving time, cutting costs and boosting your income.

A view from the other side: Dealer practices that rile up plaintiffs' lawyers

In light of the ongoing increase in oversight activity, Dealertrack’s Compliance Counsel Randy Henrick recently conducted an interview with a very successful plaintiff’s attorney. And while she’s not an “enemy,” she represents a successful courtroom adversary, one who has won a number of $100,000+ settlements and judgments against automotive dealers in her home state. Her perspectives might have real value for your business.

CFPB goes on the offensive in auto finance. Or did they?

With several rulings and actions, the CFPB’s recently released Summer Supervisory Highlights and subsequent field hearing in September 2014 may seem to be yet another attack from the CFPB. But a closer look reveals that the release of the Summer Supervisory Highlights and subsequent field hearing may signal a softening of the agency’s harsh 2013 Auto Finance Guidance. Nevertheless, in the report, and at the hearing, the CFPB took five key steps that will most certainly impact automotive lending practices.

What do women want? Answering this age-old question for your service lane

What’s the best way to find out what women want when they go to have their vehicle serviced? Ask them. The answers can go a long way toward helping dealerships attract and retain more women in the service lane. That’s critical, because there are more women on the road today than men, and women increasingly call the shots when it comes to household purchases. Isn’t it in your best interest to cater to them?

Dealertrack sat down with Anne Fleming, president and chief executive officer of the women-focused dealer review website Women-Drivers.com, to share results of her company’s 2014 year-to-date survey results and tips for driving more women into your service lane.

Protect Your Dealership Data

Do you know who has access to your data? And, what they’re doing with it?

Needless to say, these are the questions on the minds of a lot of people lately. If you’re a dealer principal or a manager, it should be on your mind, as well – in terms of dealership data.

When it comes to valuable customer information and data, you need to take real steps to protect it. And, your dealer management system (DMS) is an often-overlooked asset in your quest to protect your data and profits.

Author: Dealertrack