OEMs aren’t just trying to make the best vehicles anymore. They’re competing to give customers the best experience, run their businesses as smoothly as possible, and be ready for anything the digital world throws at them. Things like selling cars online, letting customers pick and choose exactly what they want, and cars that connect to the internet have really changed what everyone expects from both car dealerships and the companies that make the cars.
That’s where dealer software comes in. Think of it as the brain of the operation, connecting all the important parts of a dealership (sales, inventory, customer communication, and service) into one easy-to-use system. This lets OEMs run things better and make sure everything is working the way it should.
For OEMs, getting on board with these tech changes isn’t really a choice anymore; it’s just how they need to do business. This kind of program helps them run all their dealerships, no matter where they are. It also gives them the information they need to make smart choices. Basically, dealer software is now a key part of how OEMs plan for the future and stay ahead of automotive industry trends.
Why Car Dealer Software Matters to OEMs
1. Running Dealerships Smoothly
If an OEM has dealerships all over the place, it can be hard to keep everything running the same way at each location. Dealer software helps by:
- Keeping track of all the cars in stock and making sure they go where they’re needed.
- Helping salespeople keep up with potential customers and follow up with them.
- Scheduling car repairs and keeping the service department organised.
By taking away a lot of the manual work, OEMs can make sure things are done right, cut down on errors, and keep all their dealerships running at a high standard.
2. Making Smart Decisions with Data
The latest dealer software includes tools that give OEMs important information, like:
- How well each dealership is selling cars and managing inventory in real-time.
- What customers like and what they’re buying.
- Which dealerships are doing well and which ones need help.
With this information, OEMs can see what’s going on and make smart decisions to stay ahead of automotive trends and automotive market trends.
3. Keeping Customers Happy
These days, customers want everything to be easy and convenient. Dealer software helps OEMs:
- Send customers reminders when their car needs service.
- Offer deals and discounts that are specific to each customer.
- Keep track of a customer’s car repair history and any time they’ve contacted the dealership.
When customers have a good experience, they’re more likely to come back, stay loyal to the brand, and tell others about it. That’s super important in today’s car market.
What’s New with Dealer Software?
The dealer software market is changing quickly, driven by some big technology trends in the automotive industry and current trends in the automotive industry.
AI and Machine Learning
Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are changing how dealerships do things. For OEMs, this means:
- Predicting what cars to have in stock: AI looks at past sales, local trends, and seasonal changes to figure out what cars each dealership will need.
- Talking to customers automatically: AI can send personalised messages and reminders to customers, which helps turn them into buyers.
- Selling more cars: AI can find opportunities to sell additional products or services and figure out the best prices for cars.
Studies show that using AI in dealer software can increase sales by as much as 20% and make service scheduling 15–18% more efficient.
Cloud-Based Software
Dealer software that lives in the cloud is becoming essential. This gives OEMs:
- The ability to grow easily: They can add new dealerships without having to worry about complicated IT setups.
- Better teamwork: Sales, service, and finance teams can all access the same information at the same time.
- Lower costs: Cloud software means they don’t have to spend as much on servers and IT support.
Cloud-based dealer software also works well with things that are becoming more common, like online car sales, cars that share data, and managing dealerships from a distance.
About 35% more OEMs in North America and Europe are using cloud-based dealer software compared to five years ago, a clear sign of how automotive future trends are shaping operations.
Mobile-Friendly Software
Everyone is on the move, and that includes dealership staff. Mobile-friendly dealer software lets them:
- Approve deals and update inventory from their phones or tablets.
- Keep track of service appointments and communicate with customers easily.
- Check on how dealerships are doing from anywhere.
This makes everyone more responsive and productive, which is important in today’s fast-paced car market and fits perfectly with technology trends in the automotive industry.
Better Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
Customers expect more than ever before. CRM features in dealer software help OEMs:
- Send automatic follow-up messages and service reminders.
- Create personalised marketing campaigns.
- Learn about what customers want and how they behave.
Dealer software with good CRM is now the norm, showing that the focus is shifting to putting customers first, a sign of evolving automotive market trends.
Why Should OEMs Invest in Dealer Software?
The dealer management system market is expected to keep growing by over 10% each year from 2023 to 2030. This isn’t just a tool for running dealerships; it’s also a smart investment for OEMs.
Here are some reasons why:
- More and more dealerships are using it, and they’re realising how much more efficient they can be.
- New markets are opening up, car sales are growing in places like Southeast Asia and Latin America, which means there’s a lot of potential for dealer software.
- It creates new ways to make money. OEMs can earn from software licenses, cloud subscriptions, and add-on analytics packages through DMS marketing solutions.
- It works with connected cars that connect to the internet, and smart workshops can feed real-time data into dealer software, which helps with things like predicting when a car will need maintenance.
What Are the Challenges of Using Dealer Software?
Even though there are many benefits, OEMs can face some problems when using dealer software:
- It can be expensive at first: Setting up the software and training people can cost a lot. Using cloud-based software can help reduce these initial costs.
- There are cybersecurity risks: Connecting everything to the internet can expose sensitive data to hackers. Using strong encryption, requiring multiple forms of authentication, and keeping the software updated can help reduce these risks.
- It needs to work with older systems:It’s important to choose software that can integrate easily with the systems that dealerships already have in place.
By planning ahead and addressing these issues, OEMs can take full advantage of what dealer software has to offer and keep up with automotive industry trends.
Why Choose Netflows360?
Netflows360 is a modern dealer software option that’s designed to meet the specific needs of OEMs:
- AI-powered and ready for the future: It secures the workflow across all departments. It improves operations while protecting data.
- Efficient operations: It secures the workflow across all departments. It improves operations while protecting data.
- Increased sales and ROI: AI information reduces sales times by 60% and increases ROI by 40% while keeping data safe.
- Customizable, scalable, and secure: It can support automotive cybersecurity compliance for many dealerships.
- Made in India: It supports local firms and international companies with certified modules to meet cybersecurity standards.
Netflows360 helps OEMs tap into DMS marketing solutions, keep up with automotive future trends, and stay ahead in the dealer management system market.
In Conclusion
The car industry is entering a time when being ready for the digital world is key to success. Dealer software gives OEMs the tools they need to manage their dealerships, keep customers happy, and use AI to make smart decisions.
In this competitive, digital-first market, Netflows360 makes sure OEMs stay flexible, creative, and prepared for the future of the car business, staying aligned with automotive trends and future automotive trends.
In today’s digital-first world, Netflows360 ensures OEMs remain innovative, resilient, and prepared for the future of automotive business.
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s a whole platform that handles sales, inventory, customer interaction, and service tasks.
It streamlines operations, boosts efficiency, cuts down on mistakes, and makes the customer experience better.
AI analytics, cloud platforms, mobile interfaces, and advanced CRM systems are all part of current trends in the automotive industry.
Yes, because more people are using digital tools, car sales are growing worldwide, and there are constant tech innovations shaping automotive industry tre
With strong encryption, multi-factor authentication, regular updates, and compliance with industry standards.