I disagree. Isn't that what bloated software is? A one sized fits all platform is the wrong way to go, IMHO. There's no reason why my website can't talk to my inventory, my DMS, my service CRM, and my OEM incentives. All separate products, all different companies. When you try to be good at everything, you're good at nothing. I get the vertical integration part, not the "unified" part. Those types of projects are usually a disaster...
Chis,
This is wayyy out of character for me, but I am going to vote for the single vendor solution.
Think about it... no, really think about it. In the end, we're talking about WHO IS RESPONSIBLE for the entire system. In your scenario, working with multiple vendors, you've put ALL of the responsibility on the dealers shoulders.
Digital Systems is a TEAM SPORT.
Look at all the moving parts under the dealers rooftop. The DMS talks to the Inventory Management System that takes input (in the field) from the Inventory Management team. That data is joined and uploaded to the Dealer's website(s), to classified sites (paid and free) and to ebay, CL, etc...
Ahhh.. then onto the CRM, an animal of epic scope, it connects every player under the dealers' roof(s) AND it writes records back to the DMS. The CRM is tied to desking, that talks back to the DMS, that updates the website when the unit is sold (or a dep is taken).
Then, there are the merchandising & marketing tasks needed to communicate factory incentives and wrap those inside the Dealers advertising "theme of the month". Look at 100 car dealer websites and 99 of them look the same, 24/7/365. None of them have a fresh look that embraces the "sale that's going on right now!"
Oh no you don't there's more... LOTS MORE!
Let's slip in
- email marketing (a cluster f* all by itself),
- Pay Per Click (the single greatest overlooked opp),
- F&I (desking and merchandising),
- service systems (scheduling, communications, coupons),
- coupons (all other coupons)
- chat,
- SEO, Organic
- SEO, Local
- Microsites,
- Inventory comment generating,
- Dealer Reputation Management,
- Social Media,
- CRM campaign management,
- digital remarketing,
- Video (production, hosting, distribution),
- mobile site(s),
- Keep all the content fresh (Value ads, sale themes, staff pages, etc)
- Digital Inventory Audits (is it all working?? often it's NOT!)
Oh... and when a new hire arrives, we gotta train them.
Chris, This is a super complicated game plan with a LOT of moving parts. There is software acquisition, maintenance and let's not forget the always enjoyable cross-platform troubleshooting. You're asking the Dealer to have staff on board that has ALL the skills needed to "make it all operate as planned". Hell, planning alone is a multi-month time suck. think about the enormous task of finding who is "best of class"! ..and that's the EASY PART! ...and then COORDINATE all the systems into a cohesive unified front.
This is what I do every day. In my case, I have been blessed with a few decades of self-employment so I bring a business mentality to the decision making process.
Every single aspect of business, any business, all of it is all about LEADERSHIP. Where can our Dealer find the TECHNOLOGY LEADER with all the assets needed to make it all run like a finely tuned machine?
We're talking about CHOICE.
#1). Dealer creates it's TECHNOLOGY LEADER
#2). Dealer buys it's TECHNOLOGY LEADER.
99.9% of dealers will smartly opt for #2 (#1 can leave without warning!)
If I am a dealer/manager, I will contract with a single vendor who's responsibility is to eat, breath and live technology that will free me to SELL MORE CARS.
AutoTrader Buys VINSolutions Dealer CRM and Services | DealerRefresh
My comment:
The way I see it, if Chip Perry can get all his teams, his team leaders
and his players lined up, there will be no more important asset a dealer
could own than a VINsolutions web site.
In the end, it's ALL about the man at the top, a Dealer picks the leader they think has built the best team.
As of May 2011, for a one call solution, a Dealer has to pick Chip Perry vs Mark O'Neil (isn't it funny how reyrey didn't make the cut
Game, Set, Match.
____
____
My favorite vendor ...
