DALLAS, February 10, 2020 – DealerSocket, Inc., a leading provider of automotive software solutions, announced today the completion of its acquisition of Auto/Mate, a leader in Dealer Management Systems (DMS) for automotive dealerships. The closing of this acquisition brings together two customer-service focused companies and offers dealers a comprehensive new choice for an all-in-one, intelligent software platform for their dealerships.
“The combination of DealerSocket and Auto/Mate gives dealers a long-awaited and much-needed alternative for an integrated, connected platform of mission-critical software for dealerships,” said Sejal Pietrzak, CEO and President of DealerSocket. “Auto/Mate has built a reputation as a transformative, fast-growing DMS with an unmatched commitment to customer service. As we look at our combined company, there are tremendous opportunities for innovation, while we maintain our strong focus on support. I am excited about this acquisition and what it represents for us, dealers, and the broader market.”
Integrating Auto/Mate’s DMS with DealerSocket’s current suite of software products for franchise dealers, including DealerSocket’s CRM, Inventory Management, Digital Retail, Equity Mining, and Digital Marketing / Websites, will offer franchise dealers a complete platform of industry-leading and innovative software solutions. DealerSocket will now offer independent dealers two DMS options: DealerSocket’s iDMS and Auto/Mate DMS, both best-in-class software solutions supporting the needs of the independent and buy-here-pay-here markets.
“Auto/Mate is thrilled to become part of DealerSocket. We have a shared mission of serving dealers with great software and customer service, and that makes this a winning combination for our customers, partners, and team members,” said Mike Esposito, President & CEO of Auto/Mate. “Our combined company will be a powerhouse in the market, offering dealers industry-leading service and software, and most importantly, continuing to be dedicated to our “By Car People, For Car People” motto. We are excited about this new chapter for Auto/Mate and the industry.”
The combined company now supports more than 9,000 dealerships and well over 300,000 active users across its products. DealerSocket plans to invest significantly in seamless integrations with Auto/Mate. The roadmap includes important and valuable technology developments including artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), and continuous improvements to user interfaces with a focus on making all aspects of the combined company’s software products even easier to learn and use, ultimately helping dealers sell more vehicles and increase profitability.
“Offering a full platform to the automotive industry has been DealerSocket’s vision for several years,” said Jonathan Ord, co-founder of DealerSocket. “Both DealerSocket and Auto/Mate share similar core values, and both have dedicated teams who have always cared deeply about dealership customers.”
“After years in the making, it is terrific to finally see the combination of these two companies that are so focused on the needs of the dealer,” said Brad Perry, co-founder of DealerSocket. “I believe we will look back years from now and realize that bringing together DealerSocket and Auto/Mate was one of the most impactful and game-changing combinations for dealers and the automotive software industry,” shared Pietrzak.
DealerSocket and Auto/Mate will formally launch and celebrate their merger at the NADA 2020 show from Feb 15-17. To learn more about the acquisition and combined company’s plans, visit both DealerSocket and Auto/Mate’s booths inside the Las Vegas Convention Center’s Central Hall.
Presidio Technology Partners served as the exclusive financial advisor to Auto/Mate.
About DealerSocket
DealerSocket is a leading provider of software for the automotive industry, with a suite of seamlessly integrated products to help dealers sell and service vehicles more profitably, while improving their customers’ experience. DealerSocket’s suite of products includes advanced Customer Relationship Management (CRM), data focused Equity Mining, innovative Digital Retail, Marketing and Websites, robust Vehicle Inventory Management, insightful Analytics Reporting, and solutions to streamline dealer operations such as Desking, Credit Reporting, Compliance, and an independent-geared Dealer Management System (DMS) for dealers of all sizes. DealerSocket serves over 8,000 dealerships, and its software has helped customers sell more than 100 million vehicles throughout its 18-year history. For more information, visit DealerSocket.com, or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
About Auto/Mate
Auto/Mate Dealership Systems is a leading provider of dealership management system software to retail automotive dealerships, typically saving dealers thousands of dollars per month from their current provider. AMPS® is a user-friendly, feature-rich DMS in use by more than 1,500 auto dealers nationwide. Auto/Mate has received multiple consecutive DrivingSales Dealer Satisfaction Awards. Auto/Mate’s employees have more than 1,500 years of combined experience working in franchised auto dealerships, the foundation of its By Car People, For Car People™ slogan. Auto/Mate is committed to winning its customers’ business each and every month with no long-term contracts and free software upgrades.
Contact:
Patrick Mendoza
469-828-6325
Mike Esposito, President & CEO
Larry Colson, Chairman
Auto/Mate
DALLAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–DealerSocket, Inc., a leading provider of automotive software solutions, announced today that the company has signed a definitive
agreement to acquire Auto/Mate, a leading Dealer Management System (DMS) software provider for automotive dealerships. By bringing together Auto/Mate’s comprehensive DMS technology with DealerSocket’s suite of products, including its award-winning CRM, digital retail and websites, inventory management, and independent-focused DMS software solutions, the combined company will offer dealers an all-in-one, unique platform where innovative software is combined with best-in-class service.
“Bringing together DealerSocket and Auto/Mate will be a game changer for our customers, our companies, and the entire industry. For a long time, DealerSocket has believed that combining our companies could offer dealers a much needed new choice for a full platform solution,” said Sejal Pietrzak, CEO of DealerSocket. “Both Auto/Mate’s and DealerSocket’s industry-leading software and award-winning customer service help DealerSocket to Acquire Leading DMS Provider Auto/Mate Bringing together these two companies will offer dealers an innovative, all-in-one software platform with industry-leading customer service to improve profitability and processes for dealerships, and as a combined company, there are tremendous opportunities for innovation, while maintaining our strong focus on customer service.”
“Auto/Mate and DealerSocket have been partners for many years, and we have many joint customers. We could not have found a better home for our technology, employees, and customers than DealerSocket,” said Auto/Mate CEO Mike Esposito. “With the scale this deal brings and the investment we will receive being part of DealerSocket, we will be able to offer our customers and the broader market a seamless platform that will further advance what is possible for dealerships.”
Upon close, the combined company will support more than 9,000 dealerships and well over 300,000 active users. This acquisition is another step in DealerSocket’s commitment to provide automotive dealerships with integrated and innovative software solutions that help dealers sell more vehicles profitably while saving them time and creating efficiencies across the entire vehicle and consumer lifecycles.
“Auto/Mate has deep and long-standing relationships with their customers as well as impressive customer win rates from the industry’s largest DMS providers. Auto/Mate’s success is indicative of the strength of its innovative technology and the commitment of its employees who deliver an excellent customer experience to dealerships,” continued Pietrzak. “I am excited to welcome Auto/Mate’s team to DealerSocket, and we look forward to investing further in our joint products and our teams as we continue to deliver for our customers.”
DealerSocket and Auto/Mate will continue to operate separately until an official close has
been announced.
DealerSocket is a leading provider of software for the automotive industry with a suite of seamlessly integrated products to help dealers sell and service vehicles more profitably, while improving their customers’ experience. DealerSocket’s suite of products includes advanced Customer Relationship Management (CRM), innovative Digital Retail, Marketing and Websites, robust Vehicle Inventory Management, insightful Analytics Reporting, and solutions to streamline dealer operations such as Desking, Credit Reporting, Compliance, and an independent-geared Dealer Management System (DMS) for dealers of all sizes. DealerSocket’s software has helped customers sell more than 100 million vehicles throughout its 18-year history. For more information, visit DealerSocket.com, or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
Auto/Mate Dealership Systems is a leading provider of dealership management system software to retail automotive dealerships, typically saving dealers thousands of dollars per month from their current provider. AMPS® is a user-friendly, feature-rich DMS in use by more than 1,500 auto dealers nationwide. Auto/Mate has received multiple consecutive DrivingSales Dealer Satisfaction Awards.
Auto/Mate’s employees have more than 1,500 years of combined experience working in franchised auto dealerships, the foundation of its By Car People, For Car People™ slogan. Auto/Mate is committed to winning its customers’ business each and every month with no long-term contracts and free software upgrades.
Patrick Mendoza
Mike Esposito, President
Larry Colson, Chairman
Tweets by @DealerSocket
Steckler brings nearly twenty years of experience in automotive retail and digital software
DealerSocket Inc. announces the hiring of Max Steckler as General Manager (GM) of DealerFire, DealerSocket’s digital business unit. Steckler spent over sixteen years in the automotive digital industry in key digital leadership roles at Cobalt, ADP Dealer Services, and CDK Global.
Steckler brings extensive SaaS technology and vertical domain expertise in automotive retail websites, digital advertising and marketing, agency services, and digital retailing. Throughout his career, he has developed deep relationships with OEMs, dealership groups, and automotive industry leaders.
“DealerSocket is proud to welcome Max to our leadership team,” said DealerSocket President and CEO Sejal Pietrzak. “He brings a wealth of knowledge, relationships, new ideas, and insights that will drive even greater growth for our DealerFire business unit. More importantly, his relentless focus on innovation and connecting the industry will grow sales, maximize profit, and achieve increased efficiency in our customer’s evolving operations.”
Most recently, Steckler was Chief Product Officer at AutoChoice, a start-up created to redefine the digital retailing experience. Before AutoChoice, he held several leadership roles in product management, business development, and operations. In his new role, Steckler leads DealerSocket’s DealerFire digital business unit with responsibility for strategy, product direction, go-to-market execution, operations, and P&L management.
“I’m excited to join DealerSocket because of our shared commitment to innovation and superior customer service for dealers, OEMs, and our industry partners,” said Steckler. “I’m looking forward to leading DealerFire’s truly outstanding team.”
RevenueRadar’s new Strategic Growth Managers help dealerships re-engage and retain customers
DealerSocket, Inc. is announcing a significant offering for its RevenueRadar tool with the launch of a team of Strategic Growth Managers dedicated to supporting and servicing dealers utilizing RevenueRadar. RevenueRadar is integrated into the company’s Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software and is a predictive marketing tool that enables and promotes customer retention.
“Acquiring new customers is significantly more expensive than retaining existing ones,” said Darren Harris, general manager of DealerSocket’s CRM product suite. “We realize most dealers are not using their customer data to its full potential. RevenueRadar now offers a team of dedicated Strategic Growth Managers who will partner with our dealerships to help drive more cost-effective retention strategies.”
DealerSocket’s team of Strategic Growth Managers are experts in the auto industry. With an average of more than 21 years of automotive and in-house experience, including an average tenure of eight years at DealerSocket, many hold multiple OEM certifications and will offer consulting recommendations to the RevenueRadar opportunities generated by the software. The Strategic Growth Managers will consult with dealers on best practices to utilize within RevenueRadar, and they will share ideas on how to best approach customers. They will work with dealers to develop and implement processes, train staff, and create marketing strategies with campaign tracking, as well as provide analysis for retention opportunities. The Strategic Growth Managers are an additional consultative service DealerSocket is now offering. The new offering is in addition to DealerSocket’s award-winning service the company’s Customer Success Manager provides.
DealerSocket’s new Strategic Growth Managers are available now. For more information on how to access the new consultative feature, or to get a demo, visit www.dealersocket.com/revenueradar.
DealerFire’s website and digital retailing platforms are now available to Hyundai’s more than 840 U.S. dealers through the automaker’s Dealer Certified Website Program
DealerSocket Inc., a leading software provider to the automotive industry, today announced that its DealerFire website and digital retail platform, named Precise Price, have earned acceptance to Hyundai Motor America’s Dealer Certified Website Program (DCWP). The new integrations were on display at DealerSocket’s User Summit 2019.
Hyundai’s digital certification program provides its more than 840 U.S.-based dealers with the opportunity to now partner with DealerFire, considered one of the industry’s best website providers. DealerFire was put through a robust selection process to ensure they provide best-in-class services, a national reach, and extensive automotive industry expertise. DealerFire is now a part of the certified programs for 18 OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers).
“Cutting-edge design and performance are part of the Hyundai philosophy, which makes us the perfect partner for Hyundai dealers,” said Cavan Robinson, director of product marketing for DealerSocket’s DealerFire line. “Today’s announcement continues what has been an exciting year for DealerFire. We’ve added four new OEM certifications, earned our ninth straight Automotive Website Award, and we’re not done yet, with new product innovations and partnership announcements coming in the latter part of the year.”
Hyundai dealers now have access to DealerFire’s Engine6, the first website platform built specifically for the automotive retail industry and future-proofed to the same load speed standards held by other retail verticals. DealerFire Engine6 was honored earlier this year during the annual Automotive Website Awards in the best “U.S. Websites” category.
The platform also features an industry-first, in-line editing system that connects dealers to more than 75 inventory and incentives integrated modules to create stunning, multidevice-optimized websites and vehicle details pages (VDP) that inform shoppers and increase conversion rates.
Among its many innovations is DealerFire’s proprietary normalization algorithm, which standardizes vehicle colors and vehicle criteria into commonly used search terms. This data normalization powers Engine 6’s shop-by-feature module, a key consumer shopping tool given Google’s recent note that vehicle feature searches have grown 67% in recent years. Consumers can also shop by budget and payment, among other capabilities.
Also available through the Hyundai’s certification program is DealerSocket’s Precise Price, the first digital retailing platform to come equipped with integrated desking software. This allows the platform to deliver dynamic price quotes with rebates, incentives, and all applicable taxes and fees factored into the platform’s deal calculations. Last month, DealerSocket announced a new integration between Precise Price and F&I Express’ network of 160 F&I product providers. The connection means Precise Price can now display VIN-specific F&I product rates and content.
Precise Price empowers dealers to deliver a true omnichannel experience online, thanks to its “Save & Finish Later” functionality. The feature allows shoppers to engage Precise Price’s self-desking capabilities, save their deal, and pull it up on any device at a later time. It is this same functionality that allows BDC staffers and showroom salespeople to guide phone-in and walk-in shoppers through the Precise Price buying process.
DealerSocket’s DealerFire was founded in 1999. It specializes in dealer websites and digital retailing and houses a full-service digital marketing agency that provides custom-written ads and marketing content, inventory and data targeting, marketing design, and transparent ROI reporting.
“The car-buying journey has evolved. Every online interaction is magnified, and consumers are demanding a seamless path to purchase,” Robinson said. “DealerSocket’s DealerFire brings years of experience and a powerful platform which allows us to leverage data to provide the most seamless car-shopping experience available on the market today, making DealerSocket’s DealerFire websites and our digital retail platform Precise Price the clear No. 1 choice for Hyundai dealers.”
Partnership reflects investment in providing digital content that is accessible to all.
DealerSocket, a leading software provider to the automotive industry, is pleased to announce its partnership with AudioEye, Inc. (NASDAQ: AEYE), a leading provider of digital-accessibility solutions that deliver barrier-free website access for individuals with disabilities. DealerSocket will be displaying the new partnership and the company’s User Summit, August 21—23 in Anaheim, Calif.
With this partnership, the more than 8,000 dealerships DealerSocket has in its portfolio will now have the option to include AudioEye’s Ally Managed Service Solution on their individual websites. Ally Managed Service is an end-to-end web-accessibility solution that audits, monitors, and remediates issues of web accessibility. Its unique approach utilizes a combination of automated and manual testing, but also dynamically remediates issues through both automation and manual processes. The AudioEye solution also sets clients on the most efficient path to compliance with requirements set forth by the Americans With Disabilities Act, as well as provides a trusted and secure solution that achieves and sustains conformance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1.
“Enabling every user to be able to access digital content without hinderance is of paramount importance for DealerSocket. We believe everyone should have access to information,” said Cavan Robinson, director of product marketing for DealerSocket’s DealerFire digital solutions. “That is what makes our partnership with AudioEye a natural fit. Coupled with its best-in-class technology, we are able to deliver DealerSocket’s award-winning digital platform to everyone.”
Sean Bradley, AudioEye co-founder, president, and chief strategy officer, added: “It’s incredibly exciting when a company like DealerSocket makes a commitment to a web-accessibility solution, recognizing the importance of creating a barrier-free site platform for the customers in its portfolio. The AudioEye solution offers a practical and affordable path to achieving a holistic, trusted and sustainable web accessibility strategy, and this partnership will undoubtedly impact the lives of thousands of end users who will be able to more seamlessly navigate digital content. For that, we are incredibly proud of this relationship and our shared commitment to equal access for all.”
DealerSocket, Inc., a leading provider of software to the automotive industry, announced several key innovations at its annual user summit last week. Headlining the list of upgrades are a new integration with a leading F&I software, robust process automation, and enhanced data collection capabilities for its Dealership Management System for independent dealers (iDMS). These enhancements reaffirm the company’s deep commitment to the used car market, focus on simplifying workflows, and open API integrations with software tools that support independent dealers.
DealerSocket’s iDMS now integrates with Vision Dealer Solutions’ VisionMenu, a customizable web-based F&I menu capable of electronically rating and contracting protections from more than 100 F&I product providers. Created by F&I trainer Ron Martin, the F&I selling system also electronically signs disclosures and product contracts, as well as offers F&I performance reporting.
Commenting on DealerSocket’s new partnership with Vision Dealer Solutions, Steve Meeker, General Manager of DealerSocket’s iDMS, noted that the API integration between iDMS and VisionMenu means an F&I manager can easily pull deal data to save time. “As the F&I market evolves to online retailing, presentation styles must be dynamic to create an engaging customer experience,” said Meeker. “The DealerSocket/VisionMenu partnership enables F&I managers to easily present a customizable menu to sell and eContract F&I products. This integration also opens up new opportunities for dealers to sell more aftermarket products faster and easier than ever before.”
Separate from this partnership, additional improvements to iDMS include secure data sharing, as DealerSocket has now made it possible for iDMS users to supply needed data files to third-party software vendors. Dealers can deliver standard or custom reports to an FTP server’s IP address or URL location, allowing them to manage the process without relying on outside service providers.
DealerSocket has also improved the user experience when originating retail and wholesale deals within iDMS, which is an enhancement designed to produce a more efficient deal workflow. iDMS users can now evaluate worksheets side by side, allowing them to identify critical pieces of information that might drive better decisions when it comes to optimal deal structure.
“All of these new enhancements to iDMS are designed to improve the user experience, automate key processes, and provide additional opportunities for users to generate new revenue streams,” said DealerSocket Chief Product Officer Brad Perry. “These updates show DealerSocket’s commitment to open integration by providing our iDMS customers with greater control and customization.”
DealerSocket has made it possible to track up to 150 user-defined data fields — from bankruptcy filings and repossession dates, to the date of a condition report, time of disposition, and much more. This functionality affords iDMS users greater flexibility when it comes to their data collection activities.
Enhancements to the bi-directional integration between DealerSocket’s iDMS and Omnique, a provider of service shop management software, were also rolled out with this upgrade. In addition to pushing and receiving vehicle details and service tickets between the two systems, iDMS users can now automatically post service-related general ledger transactions directly from Omnique to QuickBooks via a new Omnique Accounting Link, thus saving time and reducing keystroke errors.