How long has it been since you last evaluated the customer relationship management (CRM) software your auto dealership uses? Maybe it’s been years – perhaps you’ve never really thought about it at all.

All would be completely understandable. However, it would also leave you without the kinds of tools that could literally boost your sales overnight. To help you understand why, let’s look at a few of the ways having the wrong CRM can take money out of your dealership again and again.

Incomplete Notes Leave Your Sales Team Scrambling

When someone arrives at your dealership you should be able to know exactly when their last visit was, whom they met with, and which follow-up actions were taken. Without the proper information available, you and your sales team could waste time – or worse, miss out on an opportunity because you didn’t know the customer’s needs.

Bad Scheduling Can Leave Customers Frustrated

This is a significant (and underappreciated) issue with the kinds of CRM systems most auto dealers use. If your customer schedules a service appointment, for example, or a meeting with your finance manager, then the details matter. If they’re booked for the wrong timeslot, or on a day when the right personnel will be unavailable, they’re unlikely to return.

Department-Specific Databases Are Incomplete

This is another big issue with a lot of CRM setups. Your sales team should be able to see notes from a service technician or finance manager. Likewise, your service department at one location should be able to share details with their colleagues at another location in real time. When your CRM won’t allow for those sorts of updates, you make it easy for revenue to fall through the cracks.

Without the Right Reports You Can Miss the Bigger Picture

Having the right CRM is not only about sales and service appointments, but also keeping an eye on key information. Unless you have the right custom reports available for your management team, it will be complicated to spot opportunities for improvement. In fact, auto dealers are in particular danger of “missing the forest for the trees” because they tend to get so occupied with the day-to-day challenges of running a fast-paced business.

Isn’t It Time to Look at a Better Solution?

You probably have a demanding schedule when managing your business; responsibilities like hiring, scheduling, and monitoring inventory probably take priority. You may feel overwhelmed with payroll and marketing. The point is that evaluating different CRM options might not have been an urgent concern until recently. But now that you know there are better options out there, you shouldn’t miss your chance to give your team the tools they need.

You don’t have to research all the different features of Salesforce for auto dealerships on your own. Let our team of programming and auto sales experts help you find the answers. To get started simply contact us and schedule a free consultation. We’ll be able to show you why the software could be a game-changer for your business with real-life examples.