Strategic Partnership to Provide Dealers an Improved F&I Platform for an Engaging, Intuitive Customer Experience
November 18, 2021, Westlake, TX – Auto/Mate, LLC, a subsidiary of DealerSocket, LLC, and member of the Solera Group of companies, today announced Vision Dealer Solutions as its preferred Finance and Insurance (F&I) provider. This strategic partnership allows Auto/Mate to deliver higher value to dealerships in terms of more modern, engaging, and intuitive F&I presentations that build trust and transparency with car buyers.
“Together with Vision Dealer Solutions, Auto/Mate is delivering a more engaging sales experience equipped with the remote tools designed to provide car buyers the convenience, flexibility, and modernization they’ve come to expect,” said Rebecca McGraw, VP of Product for North American Retail Solutions, Solera.
Auto/Mate now offers an improved F&I solution that creates meaningful relationships between sales teams and their clients – helping build the process and experience they want – whether car buyers are purchasing their vehicle at the dealership or from the comfort of their homes. For more product details, please see the attached overview video.
Vision Dealer Solutions’ platform includes a traditional customizable F&I menu (VisionMenu), mobile presentations (VisionTouch), digital signature capture (vSignature), and more than 35 F&I reports used to evaluate and improve upon F&I performance (VisionReport).
“We are pleased to partner with DealerSocket to bring an extraordinary customer experience to our mutual customers. Our tight integration with the Auto/Mate DMS allows users to seamlessly transition to their F&I Menu and signing experience,” said Ron Martin, President, Vision Dealer Solutions.
VisionTouch Sales, Customer, and Finance modes, with Remote F&I and vSignature lead customers through the entire F&I buying process no matter where they are. Using Remote F&I and vSignature, customers can eSign any form digitally on a tablet, or remotely on their smart device.
About DealerSocket
DealerSocket serves over 9,000 automotive dealerships with best-in-class solutions for customer relationship management, digital retailing/marketing, websites, inventory management and analytics solutions, as well as leading enterprise-level dealership management systems. DealerSocket solutions transform the automotive experience with innovations and unparalleled, award-winning customer service. For more information, visit www.dealersocket.com.
About Vision Dealer Solutions
Vision Dealer Solutions provides companies, dealers, and agents with technologically advanced tools to expedite customer service, create meaningful and profitable relationships, and shape the Finance & Insurance (F&I) industry. Vision Dealer Solutions products allow finance managers to quickly complete a deal using cutting-edge rating and contracting features and easy-to-use electronic sales tools. Products also help dealers simplify the selling process and increase profitability with eSign, secure document storage, and customizable progress tracking. Discover more about Vision Dealer Solutions at visiondealersolutions.com.
Contact:
Priti Sharma
Solera Communications
Acquisitions of Omnitracs, DealerSocket and eDriving Position Solera as the Global Data Intelligence and Technology Leader in Vehicle Lifecycle Management
Westlake, TX, June 7, 2021 – Solera Holdings, Inc. (“Solera”) announced that it has completed its acquisitions of Omnitracs, DealerSocket and eDriving. Omnitracs is a leading fleet management platform, DealerSocket is a best-in-class SaaS provider to the automotive industry and eDriving is the digital driver risk management partner for many of the world’s largest commercial fleets.
Solera’s expansion through these transactions is transformative for both customers and the industry. Customers around the world will benefit from lower complexity and reduced friction at all touchpoints in the vehicle lifecycle with fully-integrated, intelligent technology platforms. With operations in more than 90 countries, Solera continues to expand its position as the preeminent global data intelligence and technology leader, serving all constituents engaged in vehicle lifecycle management.
“We are excited to continue transforming the industry with the additions of Omnitracs, DealerSocket and eDriving. These acquisitions enable Solera to further enhance our end-to-end vehicle lifecycle solutions for customers and bridge the gap between vehicle and driver performance on a global scale,” said Darko Dejanovic, Chief Executive Officer of Solera. “Solera is uniquely positioned to lead the industry through innovation, geographic expansion and additional strategic acquisitions.”
About Solera
Solera is the preeminent global data intelligence and technology leader serving all constituents engaged in vehicle lifecycle management. Solera’s data-driven intelligence is unmatched, with more than one billion transactions annually, and delivers mission-critical solutions to minimize complexity and reduce friction at all touch points in the vehicle lifecycle. Solera’s solutions empower smarter decision-making through software, enriched data, proprietary algorithms, and machine learning that come together to deliver insights to our customers and accelerate business outcomes. Solera serves over 235,000 global customers and partners in more than 90 countries across six continents. By drawing on its market-leading solutions, Solera provides unsurpassed scale and strength with superior performance while delivering innovation to drive the industry forward. For more information, visit www.solera.com.
About Omnitracs
Omnitracs offers the only complete fleet intelligence software platform. Serving the largest for-hire and private fleets in the transportation and distribution industries, Omnitracs’s best-in-class solutions accelerate business success, improve efficiency, and enhance the driver experience for nearly 15,000 customers who collectively travel 250 million miles per week. Omnitracs pioneered digital transformation in trucking more than 30 years ago, and today offers a one-stop shop for enterprise-grade, data-driven solutions across compliance, telematics, workflow, routing, and video safety in over 50 countries across the globe. For more information, visit www.omnitracs.com.
About DealerSocket
DealerSocket serves over 9,000 automotive dealerships with best-in-class solutions for customer relationship management, digital retailing/marketing, websites, inventory management and analytics solutions, as well as leading enterprise-level dealership management systems. DealerSocket solutions transform the automotive experience with innovations and unparalleled, award-winning customer service. For more information, visit www.dealersocket.com.
About eDriving
eDriving helps organizations around the world improve safety, reduce injuries, license violations, carbon emissions, and total cost of fleet ownership through its patented digital driver risk management programs. These include the Mentor by eDrivingSM smartphone app with FICO® Safe Driving Score; the patented, five-stage Crash-Free Culture® risk reduction program; and the Virtual Risk Manager® platform, all designed to work in an integrated fashion within a privacy-first, data-secure environment that supports drivers and their managers every step of the way. eDriving is the digital driver risk management partner of choice for many of the world’s largest organizations, supporting over 1,200,000 drivers in 125 countries. Over the past 25 years, eDriving’s research-validated programs have been recognized with over 100 awards around the world. For more information, visit www.edriving.com.
Cautions Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements about: the expected financial, operational and strategic benefits of Solera’s acquisitions of Omnitracs, DealerSocket and eDriving (together, the “Acquisitions”); the expected benefits and value of current and future products and services to Solera’s, Omnitracs’s, DealerSocket’s and eDriving’s customers, either alone or in conjunction with the products and services of other Solera group companies; and operational efficiencies that may be achieved by the combined companies as a result of the Acquisitions. These statements are based on Solera’s current expectations, estimates and assumptions and are subject to many risks, uncertainties and unknown future events that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements. Solera is under no obligation to (and specifically disclaims any such obligation to) update or alter its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
WESTLAKE, T.X. — May 17, 2021 — Solera Holdings, Inc. (“Solera”) today announced that it will acquire Omnitracs, a complete fleet management platform, and DealerSocket, a leading SaaS provider to the automotive industry. These acquisitions will extend Solera’s position as the preeminent global data intelligence and technology leader serving all constituents engaged in vehicle lifecycle management.
Global Leadership in Vehicle Lifecycle Management
With operations in more than 90 countries, Solera is the global technology leader operating in a highly complex vehicle lifecycle management ecosystem. Solera’s software and unique data assets power the value-chain of a vehicle from purchase to claims, repair and resale. These acquisitions will build upon Solera’s strategy to minimize complexity and reduce friction at all touchpoints in the vehicle lifecycle with fully integrated intelligent technology platforms.
“Solera is the driving force behind the rapid digitization of the vehicle lifecycle, delivering intelligent, data-driven, mission-critical solutions for our customers,” said Darko Dejanovic, Chief Executive Officer of Solera. “These highly strategic acquisitions will enable us to expand into adjacent verticals and capitalize on emerging trends in our industry. Solera’s unique position in a large and growing market allows us to transform the industry through innovation, proprietary data assets, unmatched scale and deep customer relationships.”
With Omnitracs, Solera will offer a unified platform that encompasses safety, productivity and maintenance solutions for commercial fleets.
“By joining Solera, Omnitracs will be able to further extend our converged solutions, both in and on the vehicle, into fleet lifecycle management services while also extending our access to new markets,” said Ray Greer, Chief Executive Officer of Omnitracs.
The addition of DealerSocket’s cutting-edge platform completes an end-to-end suite of solutions for automotive dealerships, combining customer acquisition and retention solutions, inventory management, dealership management systems, e-titling and a unique service and maintenance platform.
“The combination of DealerSocket with Solera allows us to offer dealerships a fully unified platform to simplify workflows and enables us to become the digital backbone across all areas of a connected dealership, simplifying and improving the retail experience. We are thrilled to join the Solera team,” said Sejal Pietrzak, Chief Executive Officer of DealerSocket.
The acquisitions are expected to close during the second quarter of calendar year 2021, subject to definitive agreements that will include customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Kirkland & Ellis LLP is advising Solera on the acquisition. Greenberg Traurig, LLP is serving as legal counsel to Omnitracs and Ropes & Gray LLP is serving as legal counsel to DealerSocket.
About Solera
Solera is a global leader in risk and asset management data and software, empowering companies across the automotive and insurance ecosystem with trusted solutions to support connectivity across the vehicle value chain. Solera’s solutions bring together customers, insurers, and suppliers, empowering smarter decision-making through service, software, enriched data, proprietary algorithms, and machine learning that come together to deliver insight and are designed to ensure customers’ vehicles and property are optimally maintained and expertly repaired. Solera serves over 235,000 customers and partners in more than 90 countries across six continents. By drawing on the market-leading solution capabilities and business process best practices from its technologies around the world, Solera provides unsurpassed scale and strength with superior performance while delivering innovation to move the industry forward.
About Omnitracs
Omnitracs offers the only complete fleet intelligence software platform. Serving the largest for-hire and private fleets in the transportation and distribution industries, Omnitracs’s best-in-class solutions accelerate business success, improve efficiency, and enhance the driver experience for nearly 15,000 customers who collectively travel 250 million miles per week. Omnitracs pioneered digital transformation in trucking more than 30 years ago, and today offers a one-stop shop for enterprise-grade, data-driven solutions across compliance, telematics, workflow, routing, and video safety in over 50 countries across the globe. For more information, visit www.omnitracs.com.
About DealerSocket
DealerSocket serves over 9,000 automotive dealerships with best-in-class solutions for customer relationship management, digital retailing/marketing, websites, inventory management and analytics solutions, as well as leading enterprise-level dealership management systems. DealerSocket solutions transform the automotive experience with innovations and unparalleled, award-winning customer service. For more information, visit www.dealersocket.com.
Cautions Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements about: the expected execution of definitive agreements relating to, and expected consummation of, Solera’s acquisitions of Omnitracs and DealerSocket (together, the “Acquisitions”); the expected financial, operational and strategic benefits of the Acquisitions; the expected benefits and value of current and future products and services to Solera’s, Omnitracs’s and DealerSocket’s customers, either alone or in conjunction with the products and services of other Solera group companies; and operational efficiencies that may be achieved by the combined companies as a result of the Acquisitions. These statements are based on Solera’s current expectations, estimates and assumptions and are subject to many risks, uncertainties and unknown future events that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements. Solera is under no obligation to (and specifically disclaims any such obligation to) update or alter its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Contacts
Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher
Jed Repko / Ed Trissel
212-355-4449
[email protected]
SOURCE Solera Holdings, Inc.
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ALBANY, N.Y. — February 15, 2021 — Auto/Mate, a business unit of DealerSocket, Inc., today announced approval from Volvo Car USA, LLC, as a certified Dealership Management System provider to the luxury carmaker’s network of approximately 280 U.S.-based retailers, who can now transmit data directly to Volvo’s Dealership Communications System (DCS) from Auto/Mate’s DMS as a result of a new, two-way integration.
Finalizing the Volvo certification is one of several projects DealerSocket kicked off last year after acquiring Auto/Mate in February 2020 to streamline workflows within each major area of the DMS, including accounting, service and parts, inventory management, and sales and F&I. The expansion of Auto/Mate’s OEM certifications represents a critical piece of these investment initiatives.
“We have not opened certification to a new DMS provider in years, so today’s announcement is significant. And it’s really about giving our retailers more choice and flexibility,” said Adam Clarke, vice president of retail network development at Volvo Car USA. “We have enjoyed working with Auto/Mate to this point, and they have committed to providing our retailer partners with good choices and great customer support.”
Today’s announcement covers the following integration points between Volvo’s DCS and Auto/Mate’s DMS:
- Parts Ordering
- Parts Return
- Warranty Claim Submission
- Warranty Claim Responses
- Financial Statements
- Volvo Managed Inventory
“Reaching 100% OEM coverage for Auto/Mate’s DMS has been a top priority for DealerSocket since last year’s acquisition, with Volvo representing one of the last steps toward reaching that goal,” said Tony Graham, executive vice president and general manager of Auto/Mate for DealerSocket. “Today’s announcement also is a direct result of key investments in DMS technology that DealerSocket has made in Auto/Mate, and we are excited to begin engaging Volvo retailers as a newly certified DMS option for them — one capable of offering more value, great technology, and best-in-class support from a team of experienced car people at Auto/Mate.”
Auto/Mate is offering a special incentive to Volvo retailers and groups with a Volvo franchise that sign by Aug. 31, 2021. For details, call 877-340-2677.
Gleason brings more than three decades of automotive experience and leadership to the Board
DALLAS, February 8, 2021 — DealerSocket, Inc., a leading SaaS provider to the automotive industry, today announced the appointment of John Gleason, current Chief Sales Officer at Ryder System, Inc., and former Chief Sales Officer at ADP and CDK Global (formerly ADP Dealer Services), to its Board of Directors.
“I am pleased to welcome John to DealerSocket’s Board, and I look forward to working closely with him as an advisor to our company,” said DealerSocket CEO Sejal Pietrzak. “John brings a deep understanding of the automotive industry as a transformative sales leader for the past 30 years, and we look forward to leveraging his valuable perspectives and insights as we launch our unified solution that seamlessly integrates our Auto/Mate DMS with our CRM and Inventory+ products.”
As Chief Sales Officer at Ryder for the past 12 years, Gleason has dramatically transformed the logistics and transportation company’s sales organization, spearheaded the creation of an inside sales channel, and was instrumental in driving Ryder’s revenue growth and market share.
Prior to joining Ryder, Gleason spent 30 years with ADP and CDK Global (formerly ADP Dealer Services). As Chief Sales Officer for worldwide sales, he led 5,500 sales associates worldwide and drove accelerated growth through talent development and channel optimization while also improving market share.
“I look forward to offering my experience and guidance to DealerSocket’s executive leadership team, which has done an incredible job building a strong dealer-first culture and integrating Auto/Mate into the company over the past year,” Gleason said. “DealerSocket is investing deeply in its products and its customer support to offer dealers a connected platform across its suite of solutions. This is the right strategy to disrupt the DMS market and offer dealers seamless and frictionless workflows at every step of the consumer journey. I believe this will also lead to significant market share growth for DealerSocket. This is an exciting time to join the company and its Board of Directors.”
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Unified and seamless data flow among DealerSocket’s Auto/Mate DMS, CRM, and Inventory+ solutions deliver a deeply integrated user experience for improved accuracy, efficiency, and productivity
DALLAS, February 8, 2021 — DealerSocket, Inc., a leading SaaS provider to the automotive industry, took another step toward unifying its Auto/Mate DMS, CRM, and Inventory+ products with today’s release of a series of real-time integrations. Designed to improve accuracy by eliminating data rekeying and streamlining the submission of inventory, deal, and customer data into the DMS, these new, seamless integrations deliver a deeply connected experience for users across DealerSocket’s products.
The integrations are the result of significant investments DealerSocket directed toward streamlining workflows between its Auto/Mate DMS, CRM, and Inventory+ solutions to help dealers reduce transaction times, improve CSI and deal profitability, and further optimize their inventory strategies in what’s expected to be another strong year for the used-vehicle market.
“Our focus since acquiring Auto/Mate last year is on unifying our entire platform, so our solutions interact in a very unique way that blurs the lines of where one product stops and the next product starts,” said DealerSocket Chief Product and Technology Officer Alok Tyagi. “We now launch into NADA 2021 as a unified solution for all dealers in terms of data flow, our ability to serve as the digital backbone of a connected dealership, the way we can improve productivity through frictionless workflows, and how we guide the customer journey from online to the showroom. This unified experience also extends to how we service and support our customers.”
Working with customers, DealerSocket identified key data points users wanted shared between DealerSocket’s CRM and Auto/Mate DMS products, including customer details such as contact information and communication preferences. This contact integration also auto-syncs each time a customer record is saved, so a change made to a customer’s phone number in service through Auto/Mate’s DMS is immediately reflected in the CRM as well.
Not having to confirm customer emails, phone numbers, and addresses in two systems had an immediate impact on time spent preparing sales and service campaigns for Jim Sigel Automotive, which utilizes both DealerSocket’s Auto/Mate DMS and CRM solutions. Jessie Sigel-Dean, the group’s CRM coordinator, estimated she now saves anywhere from 10 to 25 minutes a day on her customer outreach efforts.
“This seamless, real-time integration has been super helpful in keeping customer information up to date without having to go into two systems. That’s huge for the service department, where having up-to-date phone numbers is essential,” Sigel said. “We’ve been with Auto/Mate for eight years and on DealerSocket’s CRM for six years, and we were super excited about the two companies coming together. Based on what we’ve experienced so far, we’re really excited to see DealerSocket take this integration even further. It’s already made my life easier.”
Like the CRM, key data points for managing inventory were identified for the real-time integration between DealerSocket’s Auto/Mate DMS and Inventory+, including retail price, advertised price, mileage, and certified and title flag. The result is reduced double entry, increasing the accuracy of the data shared between the two solutions by removing the opportunity for human error.
DealerSocket will also demonstrate during the 2021 Virtual NADA Show a key integration that will unlock critical new features and functionality slated for 2021. Dubbed Unified Users, the integration allows for a single sign-on experience across DealerSocket’s entire platform of integrated solutions.
“Unified Users represents a crucial part of DealerSocket’s infrastructure capability, enabling new admin controls so administrators at a dealership or across a dealer group can change access rights or disable users across the platform,” Tyagi said. “It also means enterprise analytics that allows dealers to access data from multiple solutions on a single screen across our products, which then unlocks other capabilities like applying machine learning to those analytics to make the data and insights more predictive.”
DealerSocket’s all-new Mobile CRM is designed to save users valuable time, increase closing ratios, and keep managers connected with anywhere-at-anytime access to critical data
DALLAS, February 3, 2021 — DealerSocket, Inc., a leading SaaS provider to the automotive industry, today announced the launch of its next-generation Mobile CRM app, which sports a modern, easy-to-navigate user interface, and streamlined workflows for an ultra-efficient, tap-and-go experience designed to save users valuable time and make accountability management easier with anywhere-at-anytime access to critical data.
Completely redesigned to accommodate the unique processes and preferences of sales, BDC, internet, and management teams, DealerSocket’s Mobile CRM is available on iOS and Android and works seamlessly across any device to ensure accurate information across platforms. Dealers should experience an increase in closing ratios with the mobile app’s tap-and-type email and sales opportunity editing, an updated task interface with advanced filtering options and scheduling features, and enhanced customer and inventory search capabilities.
“When car shoppers submit an inquiry, they want instant gratification. When they’re on the lot and want to know what else is in inventory, they expect immediate answers. COVID-19 only accelerated the need for dealers to meet that demand via digital accessibility,” said Darren Harris, executive vice president and general manager of retail solutions at DealerSocket. “Eliminating barriers to the sale and ultimately improving the customer experience by making the CRM accessible anytime from anywhere, our new Mobile CRM provides users with — as we like to say — the best of socket right in their pocket.”
The tool’s sleek new interface is apparent the moment users click onto the Mobile CRM’s home screen, which features more simplified workflows for accessing important menus and locations within the CRM. An updated opportunities widget provides users with an immediate view of the last 20 recently accessed customers, along with filter options that mirror DealerSocket’s desktop CRM, and a global search feature that allows salespeople to look up opportunities by name and phone number.
The updated tasks interface hybridizes workflows from the Mobile CRM’s prior version and the desktop CRM. Additionally, the mobile tool’s updated inventory look-up feature provides a new search bar offering search-by-feature functionality.
The mobile app’s driver’s license scanner workflow also gets a new look and a more condensed click path for onboarding customers into the CRM, while the tool’s VIN scanner makes it easy to add a trade to a sales opportunity. Salespeople can also use the VIN scanner to search inventory. The new Mobile CRM also allows users to edit notification settings and switch between dealerships if part of a dealer group.
“COVID-19 confirmed what we always believed — that the CRM needs to be the central hub of a dealer’s retail strategy,” said DealerSocket Chief Product and Technology Officer Alok Tyagi. “That’s why our focus when it comes to our award-winning solution is on streamlining workflows and allowing sales teams to do more from one system. The launch of our new Mobile CRM is an extension of that, freeing managers and sales teams to operate within the CRM anytime and from anywhere.”
Zanchin Automotive Group implemented DealerSocket’s new Mobile CRM at four of its 30 rooftops. The impact was immediate. BDC Director Angie Terzic said lead-response times at those locations are down to 10 minutes or less, with team members even using the app to enter new opportunities into the CRM after store hours. Terzic likes it because she can address potential issues before they become problems.
“I use it all the time, even when I have access to my desktop. I don’t even take my laptop home with me anymore because I have everything I need on my phone,” she said. “Now, more than ever, customers don’t want to come into the store. They can do everything online from their phone. Now, so can we.”
ALBANY, N.Y., and NORTH HILLS, N.Y., January 11, 2021 — Auto/Mate, a business unit of DealerSocket, and F&I solutions provider Dealertrack today announce a new integration that connects Auto/Mate’s award-winning Dealership Management System (DMS) to Dealertrack’s Digital Contracting. The real-time data exchange is designed to streamline and automate a dealer’s digital contracting process, resulting in seamless contract submission, reduced errors from manual data entry, and faster deal funding.
Auto/Mate users simply log into Dealertrack Digital Contracting and enter the deal number to import the contract information from the DMS and populate the required data fields. All that is left is contract validation, having the customer sign electronically, and submission to the finance source for funding.
“Since the acquisition of Auto/Mate, we have directed significant investments toward streamlining workflows, reducing keystrokes, and addressing what matters most to dealers when it comes to their F&I operations: faster funding and reduced contracts in transit,” said DealerSocket Chief Product and Technology Officer Alok Tyagi. “Today’s announced integration with Dealertrack Digital Contracting accomplishes all three while giving our customers access to one of the industry’s leading providers of digital contracting.”
Recent Dealertrack user studies1 reveal that 60% of dealership F&I staff who have not yet adopted an eContracting solution feel DMS integration is the most important capability they lack.
“We view the DMS as the core of a dealer’s business and an enabler of everything they do. That’s why this integration with Dealertrack is so important, as digital contracting and eContracting represent a critical step toward delivering a digital car-buying experience,” said Tony Graham, executive vice president and general manager of Auto/Mate. “Enabling a seamless flow of data while preserving data integrity is equally critical for dealership employees operating in a fast-paced, results-oriented environment, and the elimination of unnecessary paper-pushing and user errors often results in steadier cash flow for the dealer.”
Cheryl Miller, vice president of operations for Dealertrack F&I Solutions, added: “With the addition of the Auto/Mate DMS integration, we advance our goal to have as many dealerships as possible benefitting from the ease of use of the completely digital contracting workflow that Dealertrack Digital Contracting can provide.”
Auto/Mate DMS customers must be on Dealertrack uniFI and signed up for the platform’s digital contracting enhancement to take advantage of the new integration.
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1 Source: 2019 eContracting/Digital Contracting Research Study; (size=84)
The launch of DealerSocket’s all-new Service Scheduler inside its award-winning CRM creates one location for managing all customer interactions and sets the stage for a full roadmap of innovations in 2021
DALLAS, January 4, 2020 — DealerSocket, Inc., a leading SaaS provider to the automotive industry, today announced the launch of an all-new Service Scheduler seamlessly integrated within its award-winning CRM. Sporting a modern and intuitive user interface, DealerSocket’s new scheduling tool is designed to unify dealership sales and service departments in a shared mission to acquire, convert, and retain lifelong customers.
DealerSocket CRM’s new Service Scheduler creates a single, comprehensive view of a customer’s lifetime experience with the dealership while allowing service managers, advisors, and BDC personnel to manage customer interactions from one location. The result is better coordination between departments and a more connected customer experience that helps dealers avoid overlap in marketing campaigns and sales outreach.
“With the pandemic further surfacing the need for increased efficiency and optimizing spend, DealerSocket’s Service Scheduler enables dealers to consolidate costs typically dispersed across multiple vendors and eliminates the errors and extra admin work that comes with it,” said Darren Harris, executive vice president and general manager of retail solutions at DealerSocket. “Service managers and advisors get the ease of use, flexibility, and configuration they need to effectively merchandise service work, while the dealership’s BDC gets a simplified user experience with minimal clicks.”
DealerSocket’s Service Scheduler enables service staff to configure recommended service packages for any year, make, or model, view and resell previously declined service work, and evenly distribute work based on each appointment slot’s availability. This end-to-end solution also allows dealerships to upsell service work on their websites using a fully configurable, opportunity code-based shopping cart, which comes equipped with an image uploader and YouTube integration.
DealerSocket’s upgraded Service Scheduler tool also creates a mobile-friendly, self-service customer portal that lives on a dealership’s website and allows service customers to schedule appointments by time, advisor, and transportation type, as well as select services, view service recommendations and previously declined work, and track maintenance history anytime. Once scheduled, the appointment and all associated information — date, time, advisor, customer and vehicle info, and op codes — are pushed from the CRM to the DMS. The Service Scheduler also takes advantage of the CRM’s appointment-management capabilities, including automated email and text confirmations and reminders.
“DealerSocket’s Service Scheduler addresses real and current challenges for franchised dealers by unifying staff across the entire dealership, so they can manage business volume while creating convenient, personalized customer experiences,” said DealerSocket Chief Product and Technology Officer Alok Tyagi.“Its launch also embodies our do-more-from-one-system drive for our award-winning CRM and marks the start of a full roadmap of innovation that we have slated for the service drive in 2021.”
DealerSocket’s CEO is among the industry publication’s prestigious list, which it has published every five years since 2000
DALLAS, December 21, 2020 — DealerSocket, Inc., a leading SaaS provider to the automotive industry, today announced the naming of CEO Sejal Pietrzak to Automotive News’ 2020 Class of 100 Leading Women in the North American Auto Industry. Pietrzak and her co-honorees appeared in a special section of the publication’s Nov. 9 issue and were recognized during an exclusive virtual celebration sponsored by Automotive News and Deloitte.
The 100 Leading Women in the North American Auto Industry recognizes women leaders in the automotive field — individuals who make major decisions and significantly influence their companies. Automotive News has published the list of the industry’s top female executives every five years since 2000. This year’s honorees consists of CEOs, COOs, CIOs, engineers, plant managers, and dealer principals representing 72 companies.
“I’m extremely honored to have been selected to be among this incredible group of leaders in this year’s class of 100 Leading Women,” said Pietrzak. “The award that highlights Leading Women and the related conference event have played an instrumental role in the industry’s focus on diversity and inclusion, shining a well-deserved light on the women who are leading their organizations and are making significant positive impacts in the automotive industry.”
The recognition marked the second in less than a month for Pietrzak, who was also named a Women in Retail honoree by auto industry publication Auto Remarketing on Oct. 12. Pietrzak also ranked at No. 7 on The Software Report‘s Top 50 SaaS CEOs list in 2019, a year in which Pietrzak was also named a 2019 Women in Technology award recipient by the Dallas Business Journal.
Pietrzak joined DealerSocket in 2017 with a focus on delivering exceptional customer service and award-winning software solutions to the company’s valued auto dealer clients. In 2020, she spearheaded the acquisition of Auto/Mate and its award-winning dealership management system (DMS) to offer dealers an integrated portfolio of products across DealerSocket’s software suite. The company now supports more than 9,000 dealerships in North American and Australia.
Before joining DealerSocket, Pietrzak spent 12 years in executive and leadership roles at enterprise software company ACTIVE Network, including chief administrative officer, general manager, and senior vice president of international. She also held leadership and strategic growth roles at Wells Fargo and served as executive director of the U.S.-India Busines Council in the international division of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Earlier in her career, Pietrzak was a strategy consultant with the Boston Consulting Group.
Pietrzak earned an MBA from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s degree with honors from the College of William & Mary. She is currently a member of C200, a powerful community that includes some of the most successful women in business.
When Pietrzak joined DealerSocket, she instituted paid maternity and paternity leave policies at the company, which did not exist. This year, she recently sponsored the formation of SocketWomen, an employee resource group to bring together women team members and focus on education, empowerment, mentorship, and connections. Earlier this year, Pietrzak also launched an initiative to promote diversity and inclusion across DealerSocket’s organization of more than 1,200 employees, with five unity groups and several events promoting diversity, and inclusion across the company.
“A comparison of the 2020 and 2015 Automotive News lists of 100 Leading Women in the North American Auto Industry confirms that the status of women in the industry continues to improve. There are 13 CEOs of automakers and suppliers on the list this time, up from six in 2015 and two in 2010,” said Mary Beth Vander Schaaf, Automotive News managing editor and leader of the project.
The 2020 class of Automotive News‘ 100 Leading Women in the North American Auto Industry emerged from a months-long nomination and judging process that attracted hundreds of entries from the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
“Our selection committee made many difficult decisions,” said Vander Schaaf. “The talented, powerful executives on this list are at the forefront of thousands of successful women in the auto industry.”
Since 1925, Automotive News has been the primary source for news happening among automotive retailers, suppliers, and manufacturers. Distinct from other publications in the field, Automotive News remains a fully subscriber-paid publication, a testament to the value it delivers to the reader. The award-winning weekly print edition, robust website, email newsletters, and video broadcasts are backed by a global team of more than 65 editors and reporters.
McDuffee brings more than two decades of auto industry innovation and helping dealers leverage data and digital technologies in their sales, marketing, and service strategies.
DALLAS, December 21, 2020 — DealerSocket, Inc., a leading SaaS provider to the automotive industry, today announced the appointment of Byron McDuffee as chief operating officer (COO). The 22-year automotive industry veteran will oversee DealerSocket’s operations, customer success and support, corporate development, strategy, vendor management, and analytics teams.
“Byron is an accomplished auto industry leader, and we are excited to welcome him to DealerSocket and our executive team,” said DealerSocket CEO Sejal Pietrzak. “Byron has strong experience in leading global teams, creating successful growth strategies, optimizing processes, and driving analytics. He has a dealer-first customer service approach and a keen focus on building a strong company culture and positive employee engagement, all of which aligns with DealerSocket’s priorities. I am thrilled that he has joined us, and he is already making a significant positive impact to our company.”
McDuffee previously served as senior vice president and general manager of Automotive Services at Equifax, where he led and managed all aspects of the automotive business. McDuffee also served in a variety of leadership roles at CDK Global, including general management responsibilities and as the head of the company’s global strategy and corporate ventures group.
“I’m excited to join DealerSocket, an organization whose goals are so closely aligned with my experience and passion for this great industry,” said McDuffee. “DealerSocket has made significant strides in helping dealers leverage data and product innovation to define the customer journey, increase buyer satisfaction, and maximize dealership profit potential. The acquisition of Auto/Mate elevates the company’s market position even more, giving dealers a much-needed new choice in the full platform-provider space.”
McDuffee, who will relocate from Illinois to DealerSocket’s Dallas headquarters in 2021, officially joined DealerSocket in November.
Credit Union industry’s largest auto lending platform expands DMS/CRM integration to include DealerSocket, streamlining the application process for dealers and customers
Irvine, Calif. November 5, 2020 — CU Direct, the nation’s leading developer of lending software technology for the credit union industry, has announced a new integration with DealerSocket’s award-winning CRM.
As a result of the collaboration, CU Direct has expanded its CUDL auto lending platform’s DMS/CRM integration solution to include DealerSocket, a leading SaaS provider to the automotive industry. The system integration with the CUDL platform minimizes the need for dealers to double enter data, better simplifying and streamlining the entire application process, while allowing more opportunities for quicker financing solutions.
“The new integration not only allows dealers to tap into CUDL’s credit union network — which, collectively, represents one of the industry’s top auto finance sources — it creates a seamless workflow within DealerSocket’s CRM that streamlines the credit application process for dealers and ultimately improves the experience for their customers,” said Darren Harris, executive vice president and general manager of retail solutions at DealerSocket. “Having that access also means keeping those opportunities in one place, making it easier for sales teams to take advantage of the CRM’s marketing engine for follow-up and ownership lifecycle campaigns.”
The new system integration with DealerSocket’s CRM provides a number of key advantages for dealerships, including:
- Improved transaction times and streamlined workflows with centralized and secured management of all customer opportunities.
- Pushing deals from DealerSocket directly into CUDL system
- Improved CSI with less customer time in the F&I office
- Improved capture of customer financing with access to the nation’s largest credit union network.
- Elimination of double-entry with a direct push of customer credit and vehicle of interest details to the CUDL platform.
The nation’s largest credit union auto lending network, CUDL connects lenders to 15,000 auto dealers nationwide.Collectively, the 1,100 credit union partners on the CUDL platform have been the nation’s leading auto financing source since 2017.
“As the lending landscape and consumer expectations continue to evolve, we recognize the value and need for delivering a simplified, streamlined application process for dealers and their customers,” said Marty Simons, CUDL Product Director. “As a result, we’re excited to partner with DealerSocket to provide dealers with a faster, enhanced application process, paving the way for an improved customer experience.”