What is Dealer Management System?
A Dealer Management System (DMS) is a digital platform designed to streamline and centralize the operations of automotive dealerships. It helps manage key dealership tasks and functions such as inventory, sales, service, finance, and customer relationships in one integrated system. By improving workflow efficiency and data visibility, a DMS allows dealerships to enhance customer service, reduce operational costs, and make more informed business decisions.
Importance
A DMS helps dealerships run more efficiently by bringing inventory, customer management, sales tracking, and accounting into one integrated platform. This type of platform helps reduce errors from manual entry, improve communication between departments, and speed up daily operations. With repetitive tasks and time-consuming managerial tasks automated, teams can focus on growing the business and improving customer service.
A good DMS also provides managers with real-time access to performance data, enabling them to make informed decisions quickly. It supports compliance with industry standards and Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) requirements while improving transparency across the business. Dealer management systems also improve the customer experience by enabling faster service, personalized communication, and accurate vehicle tracking, helping dealerships build loyalty and drive long term success.
Key Features
Choosing the right DMS for an organization can be a difficult task. This is why it’s best to understand the key features and ensure that whichever option you choose, it has the features you need. Here’s a quick look at the most important features you’ll need:
Inventory management tools
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tools
Sales tracking capabilities
Offline-ready service and repair management
Accounting and financial reporting
Parts management
Reporting and analytics
How to Choose the Right Dealer Management System
Below is a quick breakdown of all the options mentioned above to make it easier for teams to find the right DMS for their needs.
Dealer Management System | Free Version | Paid Plan | Mobile App |
SafetyCulture | Yes | $24/seat/month* | Yes |
PBS Systems | None | Contact vendor for pricing | Yes |
DealerSocket | None | Contact vendor for pricing | Yes |
DealerBuilt | None | Contact vendor for pricing | None |
Nextlane | None | Contact vendor for pricing | Yes |
incadea | No | Contact vendor for pricing | None |
BiT | None | $238/user/month* | None |
* billed annually
