Dealers: Page 122

Get Things Done

What are the most important feature and functionality offerings that dealers should expect from their dealership-management system? UCS Executive Vice President Dan Agan: The first is full integration throughout the system as well as complete interfaces with the dealerships' manufacturers. This improves the dealership's efficiency and productivity by providing a free flow of information between departments,

By Wayne Fortier • April 1, 2006

Suburban D.C. Auto Dealers Face Another Squeeze Play

Auto dealers, who successfully relocated from Washington D.C. to the outskirts three decades ago, may be forced to move again to make way for a new transit line and suburban redevelopment in a growing community. An elevated Metro line is planned along Leesburg Pike within in five years, potentially affecting many of the 12 dealership complexes clustered within 80 acres of Tysons Corner, VA. We'd like

April 1, 2006

Explore the Trendline➔

Artificial Intelligence

Automakers and dealers alike are increasingly seeing the use case for AI within their operations. Explore some use cases in this trendline.

By WardsAuto staff

Looking for the Right Systems

Technology columnist Wayne Fortier, in the following pages, concludes his two-part series examining the industry's top dealership-management system providers. Fortier, a consultant with Dixon Hughes dealership accounting firm, interviews senior executives of major DMS companies to find out what's new and what they think on a range of topics, from data ownership to easy-to-understand billing invoices.

April 1, 2006

Keep On Teaching

What are the most important features dealers should expect from their dealership-management system (DMS)? ARKONA President Richard Holland: An efficient toolset, which enables them to run their businesses day-to-day. The solution should meld into their business practices not the other way around. Many dealers claim they use approximately 50% of their system's capabilities. Holland: System usage consists

By Wayne Fortier • April 1, 2006

ADP Bolsters Website Efforts By Buying BZ

Automatic Data Processing Inc. increases its presence in the world of dealership websites by acquiring BZ Results, a digital marketing and consulting company. The acquisition is the latest in a series of moves showing that ADP is putting teeth into its dealership Web initiatives. BZ founder Sean Wolfington will remain as part of ADP's digital marketing management team. Based in Coventry, RI, 10-year-old

By Cliff Banks • April 1, 2006

Dealers Join Search Party

Just about every Internet-related company in the automotive retail market is on the bandwagon as a way to get high recognition on search websites for dealership clients. There is a shift in how dealers are spending their money in online advertising, says Mitch Golub, president of Cars.com, an Internet firm with a formidable used-car site. Dealers are spending less on lead generation and more on building

By Cliff Banks • April 1, 2006

Dodge Caliber Ad Campaign Has Dual Role

The Caliber’s marketing budget is larger than that of any other Dodge product.

By Eric Mayne • March 24, 2006

ADP Acquires BZ Results

ADP’s web strategy set to take off with acquisition of digital marketing firm.

By Cliff Banks • March 17, 2006

Biggest and the Baddest

Of the 8,992 vehicles the Earnhardt Auto Centers sold online in 2005, 2,333 were out of the special-finance department, dubbed “Mr. Ed.” “We think we may be the biggest in the country,” Kevin Murphy, special finance director for the Arizona-based dealer group, says of his operation. One reason for the large number of sales in the subprime category is that many Arizona residents fall into it. As many

By Cliff Banks • March 14, 2006

Dealer Group Grapples With Surprise Resignation

Despite a well-publicized controversy surrounding the creation of a new political action committee, American International Automobile Dealers Assn. President Marianne McInerney’s abrupt resignation this week to pursue other opportunities caught the group’s board members off guard. “We were surprised,” Don Hicks, chairman of the association, tells Ward’s, disputing speculation McInerney was fired.

By Cliff Banks • March 10, 2006

Autobytel Gets New CEO

Autobytel Inc. put to rest rumors about a potential sale as it names James Riesenbach president and CEO this week.   The company, which provides online marketing services to dealers and auto makers, also announces it is no longer on the market but will continue to explore possible strategic acquisitions and other partnership opportunities.  Riesenbach, who starts March 20, will replace Rick Post,

By Cliff Banks • March 3, 2006

GM Names Hummer Marketing Director

General Motors Corp. names Megan Stooke, former Chevrolet director-advertising and sales promotions, as marketing director for its Hummer luxury brand, effective immediately. Stooke, who joined the auto maker’s Australian unit, GM Holden Ltd., in 1995, will report to Martin Walsh, Hummer’s divisional general manager. She succeeds Liz Vanzura, who was named in January to the post of global marketing

By Ward's Staff • March 1, 2006

E-mail Marketing E-xplodes

As U.S. dealers continue to grapple with declining profitability this year, following the trend begun in 2005, cutting expenses will become a top priority. For many dealers, advertising is the first area that will be slashed. The fear is that reduced advertising means fewer customers, which only compounds the problem. Part of the solution may be e-mail marketing. E-mail marketing by dealers exploded

By Cliff Banks • March 1, 2006

Grind It Out

What are the most important feature/functionality offerings that dealers should expect from their DMS? Given the turnover at dealerships it's very important that a product is simple, easy to train on and adapts to that reality. We are a dealer services company. At the end of the day our focus is to help dealers become more profitable. We want to become part of the fabric of their business so that

By Wayne Fortier • March 1, 2006

Dealer Edition e-newsletter

Editor's note: This story is part of the WardsAuto digital archive, which may include content that was first published in print, or in different web layouts. Sign up today to start receiving a weekly update of new content posted to WardsAuto.com, as selected by our editors. We'll send you hot ne...

Feb. 6, 2006

GM Marketing Chief: No Need to Shed Brands

NEW YORK General Motors Corp. marketing chief Mark LaNeve tells Ward's he is comfortable with the current portfolio of brands and sees no need to shed any divisions. Responding to suggestions from analysts and Kirk Kerkorian advisor Jerome B. York that GM should sell off some of its brands, LaNeve says he is confident each of the auto maker's marques can operate profitably. LaNeve stopped here amidst

By Herb Shuldiner • Feb. 1, 2006

Dealer Group Back from Thailand

An American International Automobile Dealers Assn. delegation is back from Thailand where it traveled last month for a sixth round of negotiations on a proposed free-trade agreement between that country and the U.S. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative invited the delegation to Thailand where it is attempting to increase awareness among Thais of the role international nameplate auto dealers

Feb. 1, 2006

Let’s Ask the Service Technicians

The vehicle sales process extends to the service department at some dealerships, as more and more new cars are being by technicians, service advisors and fixed operations managers. Some customers simply don't trust showroom staffers to give them the straight scoop. Others prefer to base buying decisions on a prospective dealership's service department capabilities and accessibilities. Here is an example:

By Jim Leman • Feb. 1, 2006

Lights, Cameras, Auction

Of the many ways to participate in an auto auction, Manheim Auctions' 180-seat bidding theater is among the most unusual and comfortable. Participants sit in cushy armchairs, view off-site auction vehicles on jumbo screens and use individual bidding terminals. There are lots of ways to buy and sell a car, says Hal Logan, Manheim's senior vice president of strategic planning. The cinema-style theater,

By Steve Finlay • Feb. 1, 2006

Make DMS Parts-Perfect

I'd like to discuss two modifications that users of the Reynolds & Reynolds Era Dealer Management System (DMS) can make, which can affect parts department performance, productivity and profitability. The first modification is a setting change. The one I'm referring to affects the on-hand quantity of a phased-in part, and if left to the default setting could actually prevent a part from being ordered,

By GARY NAPLES • Feb. 1, 2006

World’s No. 1 Ford Retailer Heads Calif.’s Dealer Assn.

Bert Boeckmann is the 2006 chairman of the California Motor Car Dealers Assn. Boeckmann is president of Galpin Ford and several other dealerships in the San Fernando Valley. Galpin Ford has been the No. 1 seller of Ford cars and trucks in the world for 15 years. Other Galpin franchises are Jaguar (No. 1 in U.S. sales), Lincoln, Mercury, Saturn, Mazda, Volvo and Aston Martin. There are a lot of important

Feb. 1, 2006

Mix and Match In Parts Department

Lista International Corp.'s automotive parts issue counter configured with modular cabinets and shelves combine important parts department functions, says the dealership equipment manufacturer. The drawer and shelf cabinets provide storage and quick retrieval of fast-moving parts such as oil filters, nuts, bolts and air filters. The counter tops in butcher-block, steel or plastic laminate styles provide

Feb. 1, 2006

The Great Internet Lead Debate

Do dealerships need better leads or better lead management? Depends on whom you ask. Dealership Internet managers say they want better leads. According to 62% of surveyed Internet managers, better lead quality will strongly enhance their dealership's Internet initiatives. In the same survey, 69% of the Internet managers want auto makers to provide more support for dealers in the areas of pre-qualifying

By Cliff Banks • Feb. 1, 2006

The Key-Chain Caper

Under the heading, Things Dealerships Should Do to Get Investigated, put charging a couple of thousand dollars for a key chain. A California dealership finance and insurance manager tried that key-chain con, first giving a customer the presumably free trinket, then listing it as a $2,295 purchased item in a lease agreement. Busted! The customer went to the authorities. Los Angeles deputy district

By Steve Finlay • Feb. 1, 2006

Delphi Growing

Delphi Corp.'s Indian subsidiary is looking to increase capacity as it bulks up operations. Despite the U.S. parent's Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, Delphi Automotive Systems Ltd. in New Delhi continues to make investments, expand its business and increase revenues in order to keep pace with the growth of the Indian components industry. Delphi India has four plants, a 52% joint venture with Lucas TVS

Jan. 1, 2006