The Essential Guide to Dealership CRM Software For Auto Sales
Cecily Giancaterino
Jun 27, 2023
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17 min read
CRM
The ability to manage customer relationships effectively is crucial to the success of any auto dealership. The competition is fierce, and the margins are razor-thin.
This is where dealership CRM software comes in. It helps sales teams work smarter, not harder, enabling them to deliver an exceptional customer experience that sets the dealership apart from its competitors.
In this article, we’ll cover the essential features of effective CRM software for auto sales companies and shed light on the top 10 choices in the market. Let’s dive in!
Key Takeaways
Ready for a knowledge boost? Here's what we'll cover:
- Effective use of CRM software can significantly enhance auto dealership operations, helping streamline processes, boost sales, and improve customer satisfaction.
- A CRM system that can be customized to meet specific dealership needs allows for enhanced efficiency and productivity. This, in turn, enables a dealership to serve its customers better and grow its business.
- The importance of having real-time reporting and analytics cannot be overstated. Such features provide valuable insights into business performance, allowing for informed decision-making and more successful marketing campaigns.
- Various auto sales CRM are available, each with its differentiating features.
- CRM tools play a crucial role in managing leads and engaging customers by facilitating timely follow-ups and personalized communications.
Table of Contents:
What is Dealership CRM Software?
By providing a centralized database for storing customer information, dealership CRM tools help sales teams track every detail of the buyer journey. At a glance, salespeople can identify where a lead is in the funnel, their interactions, and how they have responded to marketing efforts.
This information is invaluable when following up on potential customers. With dealership CRM software, sales teams can automate many critical sales processes, such as lead generation, sending out follow-up emails, and scheduling appointments.
How to Evaluate CRM Tools for Your Dealership Business
Choosing the right CRM for your dealership business is pivotal in fostering better customer relationships and improving your workflows. Here’s what you should consider when evaluating your tool of choice.
Customization and Flexibility
CRM software for auto sales must be adaptable to a dealership's specific needs and operational style. This customization may include adjusting workflows, adding custom fields, or modifying the user interface to better match the dealership's branding.
Make sure the following are customizable:
- Custom fields and workflows: The software should allow dealerships to define and adjust workflows based on their unique processes. Custom fields should be available to track specific data points necessary to the dealership's operations.
- Scalability: A CRM system should be able to grow with the dealership. As business needs evolve, the CRM should be flexible enough to accommodate changing needs without requiring a new system.
Integrations
Most dealerships use software tools for inventory management, accounting, marketing, etc. The CRM should be able to integrate seamlessly with these tools to streamline operations and eliminate data silos.
Look for features like data syncing between the CRM and other tools or API availability.
Reporting and Analytics Capabilities
Dealerships need powerful analytics to make data-driven decisions. A CRM should be able to provide comprehensive reports that give insights into sales, customer behavior, and more.
CRM should offer tools to analyze customer data and generate insights about buyer behavior, preferences, and patterns. This can inform sales strategies and help dealerships target marketing efforts effectively.
FiveCRM
Rating: 4.4/5 (G2)
Key Features:
- Telemarketing-focused: FiveCRM is specifically designed for outbound and lead generation teams, enhancing the efficiency of telemarketing strategies. It offers tools for tracking sales team performance and managing calls, leads, contacts, and closed deals, aiming to double call quotas.
- Native app builder: With FiveCRM’s native application builder, you can generate reports and keep your team informed and motivated. It's an efficient tool for managing and tracking your calls, leads, contacts, and deals, thus promoting transparency and accountability within the team.
- Quick calling: The CRM has a click-to-dial functionality, enabling telemarketers to contact more leads and close more deals efficiently. Its simplified call-back management and advanced lead scoring streamline call operations and help prioritize contacts.
- Analytics and reporting: The custom analytics tool provides integrated insights and automated reporting to power up your sales time and inform data-driven decisions.
FiveCRM is a highly customizable CRM tool specifically built for lead generation teams, notably those using telemarketing. It brings together a host of functionalities designed to boost productivity and efficiency in these high-paced environments.
With features like a native app builder for real-time reports, click-to-dial functionality, efficient email marketing tools, and customizable analytics for insightful reporting, FiveCRM aims to be the most adaptable solution for dealership businesses.
Testimonials from various businesses attest to its adaptability, wealth of features, and overall impressive service. With FiveCRM, dealership teams can expect a significant boost in their outbound sales processes and overall performance.
DealerSocket
Rating: 3.8/5 (G2)
Key Features:
- Customizable platform: DealerSocket allows for real-time access to data, driving sales performance and accountability, and provides meaningful insights all within the CRM system.
- Automated marketing: The software lets you engage customers and drive ROI with personalized, automated marketing that spans the customer and vehicle lifecycles.
- Streamlined workflows and automation: DealerSocket is designed to streamline workflows and automate repetitive tasks, freeing up your sales team to focus on selling. This ultimately enhances your operational efficiency.
DealerSocket is a CRM solution offering robust features that streamline dealership operations, consolidate customer intelligence, and increase sales and profitability.
Its unique selling point is its powerful integration, connecting sales, marketing, service, desking, data mining, website, and digital retailing capabilities into one cohesive system. DealerSocket offers tailored solutions for improved sales accountability, ROI, and service revenue for independent, single-point stores or large dealership groups.
VinSolutions
Rating: 4.2/5 (G2)
Key Features:
- Integrated sales processes: The CRM facilitates powerful lead automation and customizable processes, thereby streamlining the car-buying experience.
- Data-driven: With custom data visualizations, you can quickly review key CRM dealership metrics, making decision-making faster and more efficient.
- Automated marketing campaigns: VinSolutions can create automated, targeted marketing campaigns with Connect Campaigns, TargetPro, and TargetPro+.
- Data security and maintenance: The software includes a Document Library for reducing security risks associated with paperwork, and a feature called Data Appends, which automatically updates customer lead records with current contact information.
VinSolutions offers an all-inclusive platform called Connect CRM, which effectively integrates dealership tools and sales processes to provide a unified view of customers.
With a strong emphasis on automation, VinSolutions streamlines the car-buying experience, making it easier for dealerships to meet changing customer preferences. The software's capabilities extend to conforming with major automotive manufacturer guidelines, making it a compliant and reliable choice for automotive dealerships.
Elead
Rating: 4.4/5 (G2)
Key Features:
- Speedy buying process: The software is designed to keep deals moving quickly, providing a smoother buying experience for customers and more efficient operations for the dealership.
- Customized follow-up: Elead supports tailored follow-up processes that meet individual buyer needs, increasing customer satisfaction and retention.
Elead is an intuitive automotive CRM platform that helps dealerships manage and nurture customer relationships effectively. The software enables quick and efficient deal processing, ensuring a smooth buying experience for customers.
Its customized follow-up processes are tailored to individual buyer needs, supporting enhanced customer satisfaction and retention. This balance of speed, customization, and customer-focused features makes Elead a potent tool in the automotive dealership space.
AutoRaptor
Rating: N/A
Key Features:
- Integrated communication: The platform integrates inventory, customer notes, and communication records.
- Sales process automation: This feature allows customization of sales processes, daily work plan setup, and the creation of robust retention campaigns.
- Mobile app: AutoRaptor offers a mobile app for on-the-go access to CRM features, such as license and VIN number scanning and quick access to leads and sales logs.
AutoRaptor is a CRM solution for independent car dealers, aiming to convert more leads into sales, retain more customers, and successfully market inventory.
AutoRaptor's CRM provides a single, searchable platform for leads, helping to convert more leads into sales with customizable offers and detailed sales funnel tracking. Offering consolidated lead management, integrated communication, sales automation, and mobile app capabilities, AutoRaptor is a robust tool for streamlined dealership operations.
ProMax
Rating: 4.5/5 (G2)
Key Features:
- Desking: With ProMax, you can match the right vehicle with the right lender to maximize opportunities.
- Call tracking: This feature enables accurate monitoring of the effectiveness of every advertising source your dealership uses.
- Management reports: ProMax offers standard and customizable reports to inspect performance metrics across lead management, productivity, compliance, profit, and inventory.
ProMax has been an industry leader in automotive software for over 25 years, offering a suite of tools designed to optimize dealership operations.
From its all-in-one CRM and desking solution to call tracking and management reporting, ProMax streamlines processes to help dealerships sell more cars. ProMax helps dealerships increase efficiency and improve operations.
DealerTeam
Rating: N/A
Key Features:
- DMS & CRM integration: DealerTeam offers a cloud-based CRM and Dealership Management System (DMS) in one solution, allowing you to manage your operations and customer relationships simultaneously.
- Service and parts management: DealerTeam aids in increasing shop efficiency and managing service and parts inventory, creating a seamless workflow across your dealership.
- Inventory lifecycle management: From the first appraisal to service loyalty, DealerTeam helps manage your vehicle inventory lifecycle effectively.
DealerTeam is a cloud-based platform for dealership management built on Salesforce. It integrates CRM and DMS capabilities, providing a powerful tool that facilitates connectivity, simplicity, and security across dealership operations.
It offers improved engagement and efficiency across departments, allowing dealerships to manage vehicle inventory, service, parts, and the complete customer journey on a single platform.
DealersLink
Rating: 3/5 (G2)
Key Features:
- Smarter wholesale: The platform allows users to search hundreds of dealer auctions or purchase retail-ready vehicles from other dealers, avoiding auction fees.
- Automated advertising: DealersLink offers opportunities to engage target customers, generate leads, and promote your brand, thus enhancing your dealership's visibility and customer reach.
- New and used car management: Get market-driven strategies for stocking, pricing, and selling new and used vehicles to increase efficiency and profitability.
DealersLink is a leading auto dealership management software designed to solve inventory challenges for both new and used car dealerships.
As an innovative all-in-one solution, it eliminates manual processes replacing legacy systems with user-friendly software that offers reliable support resources.
Dominion Dealer Solutions
Rating: N/A
Key Features:
- Cloud-based: Built on Microsoft Azure Cloud for easy access from anywhere with an internet connection.
- Customizable DMS: With the $0 core fee model, Dominion offers dealerships the flexibility to customize their DMS.
- Security and continuous enhancements: Provides encrypted integration to any application and ongoing software enhancements for a secure and constantly improving DMS experience.
Dominion Dealer Solutions (VUE) offers an innovative dealership management system (DMS) that prioritizes savings, security, and flexibility for its users.
Built on Microsoft Azure Cloud, VUE eliminates the need for onsite servers and hardware, allowing dealership operations to run anywhere with internet access. The $0 core fee model is a game-changer in the industry, offering access to key modules while enabling dealerships to customize their DMS to increase productivity.
DataCar CRM
Rating: N/A
Key Features:
- Instant updates: Any changes made to interfaces, features, or pricing are updated centrally and visible to all vendors.
- Brand configurator: CRMAuto uses your own configurator for vehicle description, ensuring correct depiction, up-to-date prices, and special offers.
- Business activity reports: Provides daily activity reports, measuring and comparing the performance of your network at each sales stage.
CRMAuto by Imaweb is a customer relationship management software designed for the automotive industry. It allows manufacturers to customize the platform to their brand, providing a consistent customer experience across all dealership networks.
With its advanced features and customizability, CRMAuto enhances vehicle sales and customer service.
Revolutionize Your Auto Dealership with FiveCRM
In today's fast-paced automotive market, leveraging CRM solutions for dealership businesses is crucial. Not only do they help streamline processes, but they also drive sales, enhance customer satisfaction, and provide a unified, effective brand experience.
Whether you're a new dealership or an established business looking to boost productivity and sales, FiveCRM could be your next strategic step. Start a demo or book a consult to see how FiveCRM can transform your operations and drive your success.
FAQs: Dealership CRM Software
Q: What is dealership CRM software?
A: Dealership CRM software is a tool designed specifically for auto sales companies to manage customer relationships effectively. It provides a centralized database for storing customer information and enables sales teams to track leads, automate sales processes, and provide personalized customer experiences.
Q: How does dealership CRM software benefit auto sales companies?
A: Dealership CRM software helps streamline operations, boost sales, and improve customer satisfaction in auto sales companies. It allows sales teams to track leads, automate critical sales processes, and gain valuable insights into customer behavior. This enables more efficient follow-ups, personalized communications, and informed decision-making.
Q: What should I consider when evaluating CRM tools for my dealership business?
A: When evaluating CRM tools for your dealership business, consider customization and flexibility to adapt the software to your specific needs. Look for integrations with other tools used in your dealership, such as inventory management or accounting software. Also, prioritize CRM tools with robust reporting and analytics capabilities to gain insights into sales performance and customer behavior.
Q: What are the key features to look for in dealership CRM software?
A: Some key features to look for in dealership CRM software include customization and flexibility, integrations with other tools, reporting and analytics capabilities, lead management, and automation of sales processes. These features help tailor the software to your dealership's needs, streamline operations, and improve sales efficiency.
Q: What is FiveCRM?
A: FiveCRM is a highly customizable CRM tool specifically designed for lead generation and outbound sales teams, particularly those using telemarketing. It offers features such as native app building, quick calling functionality, analytics and reporting, and customization options. FiveCRM aims to enhance productivity and efficiency in dealership businesses, particularly in outbound sales processes.
Q: What are the key features of DealerSocket for auto sales?
A: DealerSocket is a CRM solution that provides a powerful integration of sales, marketing, service, desking, data mining, website, and digital retailing capabilities. Its key features include a customizable platform, automated marketing, and streamlined workflows and automation. DealerSocket aims to optimize dealership operations, increase sales performance, and improve profitability.
Q: What are the key features of VinSolutions for auto sales?
A: VinSolutions offers the Connect CRM, which integrates dealership tools and sales processes to provide a unified view of customers. Key features include integrated sales processes, data-driven analytics, and automated marketing campaigns. VinSolutions aims to streamline the car-buying experience, meet changing customer preferences, and ensure compliance with automotive manufacturer guidelines.
Q: What are the key features of Elead for auto sales?
A: Elead is an automotive CRM platform that helps dealerships manage and nurture customer relationships effectively. Its key features include a speedy buying process, customized follow-up processes, and efficient deal processing. Elead aims to provide a smooth buying experience for customers while increasing customer satisfaction and retention.
Q: What are the key features of AutoRaptor for auto sales?
A: AutoRaptor is a CRM solution designed for independent car dealerships. Its key features include integrated communication, sales process automation, and a mobile app for on-the-go access. AutoRaptor aims to convert more leads into sales, retain more customers, and effectively market inventory.
Q: What are the key features of ProMax for auto sales?
A: ProMax offers a suite of tools designed to optimize dealership operations. Its key features include desking for maximizing opportunities, call tracking for monitoring advertising effectiveness, and management reports for performance analysis. ProMax aims to help dealerships sell more cars and increase efficiency.
Q: What are the key features of DealerTeam for auto sales?
A: DealerTeam is a cloud-based platform built on Salesforce that integrates CRM and Dealership Management System (DMS) capabilities. Key features include DMS & CRM integration, service and parts management, and inventory lifecycle management. DealerTeam aims to provide connectivity, simplicity, and security across dealership operations.
Q: What are the key features of DealersLink for auto sales?
A: DealersLink is a dealership management software designed to solve inventory challenges for both new and used car dealerships. Key features include smarter wholesale purchasing, automated advertising, and new and used car management. DealersLink aims to optimize dealership operations, increase efficiency, and improve profitability.
Q: What are the key features of Dominion Dealer Solutions for auto sales?
A: Dominion Dealer Solutions offers an innovative dealership management system (DMS) built on Microsoft Azure Cloud. Key features include cloud-based accessibility, customizable DMS, and continuous security enhancements. Dominion aims to provide a secure and flexible DMS experience for dealerships.
Q: What are the key features of DataCar CRM for auto sales?
A: DataCar CRM, known as CRMAuto, is a customer relationship management software designed for the automotive industry. Key features include instant updates, brand configurator, and business activity reports. CRMAuto aims to enhance vehicle sales and customer service through its advanced features and customization options.
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“Each client, and each of their campaigns, has its own unique specifications. We essentially needed to set up mini CRMs on one platform to meet those requirements.”
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