The 3 Must Do’s” to use service scheduling tools effectively”

I was on the road again last week, attending the United Equipment Dealers Association convention.  Once again, this meeting provided a great opportunity to talk to existing customers and learn more about current industry trends. I gained insight on problems dealers are experiencing that we can address through our technology.

Embrace Change, Manage Stress: Reflections from the AETA Conference

I attend a great deal of conventions in the equipment dealer industry, and it is rare when they have speakers that talk about de-stressing your life.  That’s why it was a pleasant surprise when Richard Flint spoke at breakfast during the recent Joint Annual Convention last week.   Richard has written several books and speaks all around the world. He is known for his colorful shirts (as you can see from his… Read more »

Does Your Dealership Management System Vendor Make the Grade?

Charter Software President/CEO Anne Salemo offers industry insights. In the last several weeks, we’ve heard from companies whose dealership management system vendor changed their pricing structure resulting in their monthly fees being doubled (in some cases more). These dealerships said their current system wasn’t “worth” that much.  It got me thinking, should it really take… Read more »

Reflections from the Precision Farming Dealer Summit

Last week, I attended the Precision Farming Dealer Summit in Louisville, KY. I attended this event last year and, once again, it was an incredible two days of Precision Ag specialists discussing changes in the marketplace and how to improve their services.

Three Keys to Successful Agriculture Dealership Change Management

As a business owner for the last twenty years, I’ve learned to handle big changes from a business management perspective. Implementing a new business management system can be a challenge, but there are multiple things, controllable and uncontrollable, that can create dealership change management in an organization.

New Services Mean New Risk Management

As you grow as an equipment dealer, it’s important to manage potential risks. In his article, “Changes in Industry and Dealership Business Model Create Risks for Dealers,”  attorney Lance Formwalt, of Seigreid Bingham, P.C., tells dealers of the new risks they may expose themselves to by adding new or enhanced services in attempting to meet their growing customers’ needs…. Read more »

Why Dealership CRM Software is More Important Than Ever

According to business intelligence experts, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) plays a significant role in any business. More business decisions are being made based on customer data than ever before. That is why it’s important for your business to have a tool that is integrated with your business system. An integrated dealership CRM software provides dealers unique insight… Read more »

CRM and the Savvy Service Manager

A Service Manager’s role includes much more than just mechanical knowledge. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) skills, the ability to up-sell, and the effective use of technology are additional—and critical—components to a successful service manager’s qualifications.

You Need a Dealer Business System that Tracks Data in Real-Time

In a world where we’ve gotten quite used to knowing about and responding to an event almost immediately as it occurs, it only makes sense to use the same approach when using a dealer business system to track and respond to information related to your business.

Your Dealership Needs a Records Retention Schedule. Here’s Why.

Many business owners wonder how long they need to retain certain documents or records. A comprehensive records retention schedule captures all the types of documents created and used by a company in the course of its business and indicates how long these records are required to be retained. The Iowa-Nebraska Equipment Dealers Association regularly publishes… Read more »