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Need a Sales Boost? Here are some advantages of Dealership CRM Applications

By Anna Benzaquen
Published: 3/8/23

In the competitive world of automotive retail, customer relationship management (CRM) is a critical factor for success. Dealerships need to not only attract new customers but also retain existing ones to maintain long-term profitability. This is where dealership CRM software comes in.

By using a CRM system, dealerships can improve their sales performance, increase customer retention, and streamline operations. However, with so many dealership CRM software options available, it can take time to choose the right one for your dealership.

This article will explore the critical features of dealership CRM software and discuss how it can benefit your dealership. We will also provide tips for selecting the right CRM system.

What is a dealership CRM?

A dealership CRM system is a software tool designed specifically for automotive dealerships to manage their interactions with customers and prospects. It helps dealerships organize, automate, and synchronize their sales, marketing, customer service, and support activities.

Dealership CRM systems provide a centralized database for customer information, allowing dealerships to easily access and manage customer data, such as:

  • Contact information
  • Vehicle preferences
  • Purchase history
  • Service records

This helps dealerships to better understand their customers, anticipate their needs, and deliver personalized experiences that build stronger relationships.

In addition to customer data management, dealership CRM systems can automate routine tasks such as follow-up calls, appointment scheduling, and email campaigns, freeing up dealership staff to focus on more high-value activities such as customer engagement and sales.

Overall, dealership CRM systems are essential for automotive dealerships to improve their customer relationships, increase sales, and streamline their operations.

What are the benefits of a dealership CRM?

Dealership CRM systems have become essential tools for automotive dealerships looking to improve customer relationships and boost sales. From streamlining operations to providing valuable customer insights, these systems offer a range of benefits that can help dealerships succeed in today's competitive marketplace.

Here are some of the critical benefits of dealership CRM:

  • Enhanced customer interactions
  • Increased sales efficiency
  • Improved marketing efficiency
  • Better inventory management
  • Enhanced reporting and analytics

By analyzing this data, dealerships can identify trends, track progress toward goals, and make data-driven decisions that drive growth and profitability.

What are the key features of CRMs for dealerships?

Dealership CRM software offers a wide range of benefits for automotive retailers. From improving sales performance to increasing customer satisfaction, the advantages of a dealership CRM system are numerous:

Lead management

Capture, manage, and track leads from various sources, such as website forms, social media, and advertising campaigns, and track the status of each lead through the sales process.

Customer management

Track and manage customer information, communication history, and purchase history, allowing your dealership to provide personalized and targeted communications and offers.

Inventory management

Manage inventory of vehicles, including tracking details such as model, make, color, and feature to optimize your inventory levels, reduce carrying costs, and increase turnover.

Sales management

Manage your entire sales process, from lead qualification to deal closing, providing sales teams with real-time visibility into customer data, enabling them to prioritize their efforts and focus on high-value opportunities.

Marketing automation

Automate marketing campaigns, including email campaigns, social media, and advertising, enabling dealerships to create targeted and personalized marketing messages based on customer data and behavior.

Service management

Manage after-sales service, including tracking service history, scheduling appointments, and managing customer inquiries and complaints, to provide excellent customer service and increase customer loyalty.

Reporting and analytics

Track and measure key performance metrics, such as lead conversion rates, sales trends, and customer satisfaction. Access real-time visibility into your performance to make data-driven decisions.

What are the top 10 dealership CRM platforms?

There are countless dealership CRM systems available on the market. When you select your CRM system, you want to make sure that you understand your company needs, have a good sense of the current state of your customer journey and know what you would like to develop further in your processes.

Once you have taken some time to sit with your teams, analyze your sales cycle, and identify your targets for customer communication, consider any of the below top 10 dealership CRM platforms. They are specifically designed with functionalities to help dealerships thrive in a competitive market.

Zoho CRM

AutoRaptor CRM

For all companies For all companies

Paid version from €14.00 /month

Free versionFree trialFree demo

Pricing on request

Free versionFree trialFree demo
Learn more about Zoho CRM Learn more about AutoRaptor CRM

DealerSocket

DealerSocket is designed to help automotive dealerships streamline their operations and improve customer satisfaction. With this automotive CRM, you can better understand all the trends and anticipate the needs of your customers.

Key features

  • Centralized customer management
  • Configurable user interface.
  • Seamless integrations with OEMs and industry platforms.

Pricing

Starts at $750 per month

Zoho CRM

Zoho is a powerful cloud-based CRM that features comprehensive capabilities for automotive dealerships. It empowers OEMs, dealerships, and garages to offer a seamless customer experience that covers the entire process from test drives to scheduling and dispatching jobs punctually.

Key features

  • Single-system omni-channel communication
  • Social media management tools
  • AI-enhanced lead and deal management
  • 360-degree customer view
  • Real-time notification system for customer interactions
  • Dealership and inventory management
  • Sales order and purchasing order generation
  • Billing and payments

Pricing

  • Standard: €14/user/month billed annually
  • Professional: €23/user/month billed annually
  • Enterprise: €40/user/month billed annually
  • Ultimate: €52/user/month billed annually
Zoho CRM

+200 reviews

The Smart and Efficient Solution for your Sales Team
Learn more about Zoho CRM

Elead

Elead is a CRM designed for automotive dealerships of all sizes, from small independent dealers to large multi-location dealer groups. Elead's automotive business roots allow for a deep understanding of dealers' challenges, leading to a sophisticated yet service-oriented CRM operation.

Key features

  • Shopping intelligence
  • Direct mailing
  • Service drive technology
  • Dealer resources
  • Easy to step up integrations

Pricing

Pricing available upon request.

AutoRaptor

AutoRaptorCRM is designed specifically for the automotive industry, particularly for independent dealerships and small dealer groups. AutoRaptor is great for franchised and independent dealerships ready to improve via results-driven sales process automation.

Key features

  • Contact database
  • Website integration
  • Buy Here, Pay Here
  • For new and used car dealers
  • Text messaging
  • Scheduling and automation
  • Email campaigns
  • Full site web app

Pricing

Pricing available upon request.

AutoRaptor CRM

+200 reviews

Lead Generation Software
Learn more about AutoRaptor CRM

Dominion Dealer Solutions

Dominion's CRM software is designed to help dealerships manage their operations. It is known for its customizable features and user-friendly interface. It offers car dealers a unique web-based CRM solution that boosts efficiency and productivity unlike other softwares. Dominion's extensive technology and service solutions enhance business development and inventory effectiveness.

Key features

  • Reputation and social media management
  • Responsive websites
  • Digital advertising,
  • Multi-channel marketing
  • Custom market reports.

Pricing

Pricing available upon request.

VinSolutions

VinSolutions CRM is known for its intuitive and user-friendly interface and offers integrations with popular third-party software. VinSolutions CRM consolidates dealership tools and sales processes to offer a single view of customers across departments and touchpoints. Customizable processes and automated lead management streamline the car-buying process, enabling dealers to deliver optimal shopping experiences for customers.

Key features

  • Connect anytime
  • Data-driven decision-making tools
  • Safeguard sensitive information
  • OEM program

Pricing

Pricing available upon request.

Izmocars

Izmocars is a cloud-based software platform designed for the automotive industry, providing solutions for digital marketing, sales, and customer relationship management. With Izmocars you can enjoy a 360 view of all customer activity, understand the current trends in the market, and anticipate the needs of future leads.

Key features

  • Customizable dashboards
  • Intelligent web design
  • Wired to show up in search results
  • izmoEmporio 3D interactive content
  • Cloud-based Advanced web analytics

Pricing

Pricing available upon request.

Autosoft DMS

Serving over 2,000 dealerships in North America, Autosoft CRM is customizable and easy to use. It features cutting-edge functionalities and helps you serve as an authority in the dealership industry by educating your clients about their buying power and through top customer service.

Key features

  • Lease tracking
  • Financial management
  • 200+ integrations
  • All-in-one platform
  • Cross-departmental chats
  • Available on desktop, tablet, and iPhone for you to meet your customer where they are.

Pricing

Light, Pro, and Enterprise packages with evolving functionalities. Pricing available upon request.

Dealerpeak CRM

A leader in the industry, Dealerpeak CRM features a fully customizable platform to easily manage your dealership. DealerPeak is a comprehensive automotive CRM platform designed to provide fingertip access to all the information needed for dealerships to succeed. With robust features like deal desking, proactive alerts, trade appraisals, credit pulls, equity mining, and inventory management, it is customizable to match existing workflows and seamlessly integrates with favorite tools.

Key features

  • Marketing campaigns
  • Toggle features for multi-view
  • Single customer records
  • Data warehouse integration
  • Full customer lifecycle management

Pricing

Starts at $995 per month.

EASI’R

EASI'R is a dealership CRM that uses ​​artificial intelligence and machine learning to help automotive dealerships manage their customer relationships. It is one of the only Sales Enablement Platforms specifically designed for the automotive industry to improve the execution of your sales cycle, motivate your customers to become recurrent, and to understand what it takes to bring your business to the next level.

Key features

  • Task automation
  • Insights and reports
  • Integrations
  • Conversations
  • Sales strategy development

Pricing

Pricing available upon request.

Things to remember about dealership CRM platforms

Dealership CRM systems are crucial for automotive dealerships to improve their customer relationships, increase sales, and streamline their operations. A well-designed CRM system can help dealerships capture and store customer information, track customer interactions, and automate many routine tasks.

Through the use of dealership CRM, dealerships can more effectively manage their customer interactions, and provide a better customer experience overall. Dealerships can also gain valuable insights into customer behavior and preferences, enabling them to tailor their marketing and sales strategies to better meet the needs of their customers.

While many different dealership CRM systems are available on the market, it is important to choose one tailored to your dealership's specific needs. Whether you are looking for a simple CRM solution or a more robust system with advanced features, there is a CRM system out there that can help your dealership succeed.

Ultimately, a well-implemented dealership CRM system can be a powerful tool for automotive dealerships, helping them increase their efficiency, improve their customer relationships, and drive more sales.

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