DMS Systems, Data, Security, I.T.

Royce Dennis seeks input on Frazer DMS software for an independent used car dealer opening a new lot, prompting responses from current and former users about the platform's strengths and weaknesses. Users consistently praise Frazer for its affordability ($600/year), excellent customer service, straightforward functionality, and suitability for independent and buy-here-pay-here dealers, though some note limitations like basic CRM features and difficulty importing historical sales data. The consensus is that Frazer is a reliable, no-frills solution ideal for smaller independent dealers with simple needs, though dealers requiring advanced features or easier data migration might prefer alternatives like AutoManager or Finance Express.

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A dealership discovered they were being overcharged by CDK for their DMS system, with invoices showing charges for both EVO and NXT despite only using EVO. The overcharge had been occurring for an extended period and went unnoticed due to vague invoice descriptions, though a CDK sales rep acknowledged the billing error and indicated he would escalate the issue to his manager.

Don Franklin Auto Group seeks used VinCamera devices to handle their high-volume photo uploads (1,000+ weekly images across 21 stores) faster than Vinsolutions' current app allows. While community members suggest third-party photography services like FlickFusion and SpinCar, the dealership group prefers to keep costs down by maintaining internal staff, ultimately deciding to explore the Homenet app as a faster alternative to their current uploading solution.

A dealer administrator shares confusion about a mandatory G Suite Data Processing Amendment (DPA) 2.0 update related to GDPR compliance, uncertain whether it applies to their business and what happens if they don't act. The post highlights a common pain point for dealership IT decision-makers: unclear communication about regulatory requirements and the practical implications of compliance obligations for automotive businesses.

CDK Global charges third-party vendors substantial fees to access dealership data—including application fees, integration fees ($10,000-$40,000+), and recurring monthly charges ($200+/rooftop)—which vendors typically pass on to dealers. Forum members argue these high barriers create an unfair marketplace, limit vendor competition, and favor CDK's own solutions, prompting some to pursue integrations with competitors like Dealertrack that offer more open and affordable APIs. The thread suggests dealers should scrutinize what third-party access fees their vendors are absorbing and consider whether alternative DMS platforms provide better value and ecosystem openness.

Dealers criticize both the Chevrolet Impala's weak market appeal and GM's restrictive marketing policies that prevent dealerships from differentiating their sales approaches. The core complaint centers on OEM-imposed standardization (identical websites, messaging, incentives, and inventory) that undermines dealers' ability to market creatively and compete effectively, with participants suggesting this reflects a lack of retail experience at the manufacturer level and may be part of a broader strategy to diminish franchisee autonomy.

John Bergquist solicits feedback from Dealertrack users about adding paper scanning and automation capabilities to their DMS, proposing to offset implementation costs through an Accounts Payable Automation & Rebate program. He's specifically targeting dealership owners, CFOs, controllers, and accounting staff to prioritize which back-office paper processes they'd most want to eliminate. The thread appears to be a product research/feedback request rather than a concluded discussion.

CDK Global's acquisition of AutoMate, a competitor in the DMS space, is announced and discussed among dealership professionals. The thread appears to be primarily informational, sharing industry news about consolidation in the dealer management systems market. Key insight for dealers: this acquisition represents continued consolidation among major DMS providers, potentially affecting system options and integration strategies for dealerships using either platform.

A competing third-party EVR (electronic vehicle registration) company has filed an antitrust lawsuit against CDK and Reynolds, alleging they're using their joint venture to unfairly restrict access to DMS data. Forum members react with a mix of vindication ("about damn time") and surprise at how long such action took, with references suggesting this is part of a broader pattern of legal challenges against these dominant players.

Ryan5680 reports difficulty downloading repair orders (ROs) from CDK to the Chrysler website after closing warranty claims, while experiencing no issues with other manufacturers. He indicates that other dealers have encountered the same problem and resorted to manual claim entry as a workaround. The thread appears to be in early stages with no solutions offered yet, only a moderator attempt to attract relevant Chrysler dealer expertise.

A dealer evaluating DMS providers (DealerTrack, R&R, and ADP) seeks peer advice on switching from Quorum, and respondents emphasize that the best evaluation approach is speaking directly with current users in each system rather than relying on vendor demos, while noting that all systems have tradeoffs and no "bulletproof" solution exists. Key recommendations include involving all department heads in the evaluation, testing support response times during demos, and considering contract terms carefully. The thread suggests DealerTrack may ultimately emerge as the most cost-effective choice for dealers coming from similar systems, though the final decision should account for the dealership's specific needs, IT capabilities, and long-term cost tolerance.

A dealer planning to migrate from Reynolds to DealerTrack seeks advice on exporting data from Reynolds' IDM application, noting that IDM differs significantly from EDM with limited available guidance. Another user asks if the original poster succeeded in the conversion, but no solution is provided—Dave Brooks confirms he's still troubleshooting with only the IDM client viewer as an available export option. The thread ends without resolution, suggesting this may be a known pain point in Reynolds-to-DealerTrack migrations.

BillH, a new e-commerce director, seeks feedback on ROI-Bot, a centralized marketing dashboard tool, after receiving mixed information from the vendor's sales team. Respondents who have used the product report satisfaction with its ability to consolidate multi-vendor data, build automated scorecard alerts, and streamline ROI reporting across digital channels, though one user notes it doesn't completely replace individual vendor logins. The thread also surfaces alternative solutions like Clarivoy and positions ROI-Bot as potentially valuable for dealer groups looking to efficiently track marketing performance in one place.

A dealer using ADP's DMS seeks alternatives to Dealer Vault for extracting and analyzing service RO data to create targeted ad-hoc marketing campaigns. After community members diagnose the issue as user error and clarify that Dealer Vault can support this functionality, the original poster resolves the problem but later struggles with tech support responsiveness until a Dealer Vault representative offers direct assistance. The key insight is that Dealer Vault's capabilities often meet dealer needs, but success depends on proper implementation knowledge and adequate support access.

A CDK user reports connectivity issues with scanner guns when attempting to migrate from telnet to SSH connections, noting that devices connect successfully via telnet but fail when switched to SSH. The post suggests CDK may be dropping telnet port access, creating a barrier to upgrading security protocols. The thread appears to address a technical compatibility problem between legacy devices and CDK's system updates.

A Ford dealer struggles with ADP's Drive DMS system, which cannot produce digital archives of financial statements required by Ford's new FBMI submission process, revealing a significant capability gap despite ADP's market position. The thread evolves into a broader critique of ADP and CDK systems as outdated and bloated, with multiple users criticizing their archaic interfaces, security issues, and aggressive contracting practices that lock dealers in. Several respondents recommend smaller alternatives like Autosoft, ADAM, and AutoMate as better value options, suggesting dealer frustration with the incumbents has created openings for newer competitors.

A dealer asks whether Key Vault's standard reports can be customized or modified, noting that the vendor (R&R) claims customization isn't possible. The post identifies that Key Vault runs on Apache Tomcat and seeks advice from other users on workarounds like running scripts to achieve custom reporting.

Forum members discuss essential DMS features for car dealerships, with recommendations including open third-party integrations, manufacturer integrations, mobile/browser compatibility, Excel reporting, dedicated support, and real-time operational visibility. A key tension emerges when one member questions whether a vendor's DMS solution (Excellon) is actually suited for automotive dealerships, suggesting that DMS requirements vary significantly by industry. The thread highlights that dealership-specific functionality and seamless integration capabilities are critical priorities for professionals in the field.

D.J. Novotniak introduces AutoSoft DMS as a cost-effective alternative for smaller dealerships, highlighting it as the industry's third-largest system serving over 1,850 dealerships. The thread includes customer inquiries about Mac/OS compatibility and parts inventory management, with AutoSoft representatives providing responsive support and contact information. A peer endorsement from Alexander Lau reinforces that AutoSoft offers good value, particularly for dealerships seeking to reduce DMS expenses.

BradyFerron shared an AutoNews article about Reynolds and Reynolds' business developments or product innovations, inviting community discussion on the topic. The thread appears to be a prompt for DMS professionals to discuss and share their perspectives on Reynolds' strategic moves or announcements covered in the automotive trade publication.

A dealer inquires about DealerBuilt DMS as a potential alternative to Reynolds or CDK, prompting positive endorsements from users who praise its robust functionality, strong accounting features, and responsive support team led by dealer-focused staff. One respondent raises a concern about an alleged data breach reported on ZDNet, questioning its credibility since it wasn't picked up by major automotive publications and noting the source was a CDK employee share, potentially suggesting misinformation.

A user troubleshoots an issue where ERAccess (Reynolds DMS software) closes immediately after launching over a VPN connection, despite successfully pinging the Reynolds server. After consulting with both the dealership and Reynolds support, the problem is ultimately traced to improper VPN configuration by the dealer's third-party IT team rather than a Reynolds or software issue.