VinSolutions issues

[Alex Snyder]

Lastly, plugging in solutions is not a solution. It's a "Bandaid". Diagnose the issue and solve it with what's available.

Good point on Tekion, but I have to take issue with "plugging solutions is not a solution." It most certainly is a solution! In many cases, features of a specific product are not as robust as its main competencies.

Take AI follow-up as an example. I might be spending around $2,500/mo. for VinSolutions. If I wanted to fund a BDC to handle all my internet leads, I'd be looking at an additional $15,000/mo. + benefits and management overhead to staff it (assuming 3 people are enough). Or I can supplement my CRM and sales team with something like Hammer or Impel for around $1,500-$3,000/mo.

Yes, DriveCentric offers AI follow-up, but from some bills I've seen, that's a lot more money than stitching things together as provided in the example. Granted, that is a smart option if it is in the budget.

Or, take CDPs. CRMs should be doing that work, but none do.

Equity Mining... CRMs try to do it, but they don't do it well, and you get better solutions like AutomotiveMastermind. And damn, do dealers pay a lot for that one

I can go on and on and on. I do recognize that your job is to sell DriveCentric CRM, but it should be stated that each system has its strengths and its weaknesses need to be supplemented where the dealer feels strongly about those weaknesses.

 

[Steve Roessler]

Good point on Tekion, but I have to take issue with "plugging solutions is not a solution." It most certainly is a solution! In many cases, features of a specific product are not as robust as its main competencies.

Take AI follow-up as an example. I might be spending around $2,500/mo. for VinSolutions. If I wanted to fund a BDC to handle all my internet leads, I'd be looking at an additional $15,000/mo. + benefits and management overhead to staff it (assuming 3 people are enough). Or I can supplement my CRM and sales team with something like Hammer or Impel for around $1,500-$3,000/mo.

Yes, DriveCentric offers AI follow-up, but from some bills I've seen, that's a lot more money than stitching things together as provided in the example. Granted, that is a smart option if it is in the budget.

Or, take CDPs. CRMs should be doing that work, but none do.

Equity Mining... CRMs try to do it, but they don't do it well, and you get better solutions like AutomotiveMastermind. And damn, do dealers pay a lot for that one

I can go on and on and on. I do recognize that your job is to sell DriveCentric CRM, but it should be stated that each system has its strengths and its weaknesses need to be supplemented where the dealer feels strongly about those weaknesses.

Totally agree Alex and actually, you are supporting the message I am saying. LOL. You just gave 2 examples that add up to $5K/mth. There are other products that dealers can consolidate. So Bolt on all the products and if dealers spend 13K-15K but it's all "A la Carte" and DriveCentric is 10K, that's a winner for the store. Not sure if you saw the DCG podcast but this may help you if you check this out from our CEO, Matt Leone.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BO9Gpzt0VQ
.

Absolutely on CDP and we are almost ready to launch this.

I love to educate and keep the industry up-to-date with the technology and how it works. We look at the bloated tech stacks that dealers leverage today and centralize into one platform. That is helping with efficiencies and cost savings. Yes, I sell too but technology is moving sooooo fast that dealerships need a "Tech Partner". Know what I mean?

 

[Alex Snyder]

Totally agree Alex and actually, you are supporting the message I am saying. LOL. You just gave 2 examples that add up to $5K/mth. There are other products that dealers can consolidate. So Bolt on all the products and if dealers spend 13K-15K but it's all "A la Carte" and DriveCentric is 10K, that's a winner for the store.

We agree on most things, Steve. I certainly agree that you're a good salesman

Regarding our back-and-forth in this thread, I think you're adjusting my statement to fit your worldview. I'll distill it into something simpler: no solution fits every need.

If you have the expertise, stitch together solutions that make you more powerful. If you don't have the expertise, buy the bundle.