“We’ve seen what happens when OEMs wall off their data, and dealers rely on outdated DMS platforms,” said Jacobs. “It frustrates customers and slows down support. With Flyntlok, the data flows freely. We plan to tightly integrate STS Flyntlok DMS with Utility Trailers Telematics to capture critical trailer data in real time. That means better service, smarter diagnostics, and more trust.” -- Nick Jacobs, Sr. Director of Finance & Operations, STS
STS Truck & Utility Trailer Sales of New York (“STS”) is a family-owned company founded in 1949, serving fleet operators across Upstate New York and Pennsylvania (operating in Pennsylvania as STS Trailer, Truck, and Equipment) with full-service trailer and truck solutions. With locations in Syracuse, Buffalo, Rochester, Albany, and Selinsgrove, STS has built a reputation as a one-stop-shop for new and used trailer sales, rentals, leasing, truck equipment, yard trucks, and aftermarket support. They carry premium brands including Utility (in New York only), MAC, Landoll, and Pitts Trailers; Kalmar Ottawa Terminal Tractors; and Morgan, Reading, and Stellar Truck Bodies, and provide quick, reliable service through their well-stocked parts department and in-house fabrication teams.
As an authorized Utility Trailer dealer, STS plays a key role in delivering some of the industry’s most trusted and innovative reefer and dry van solutions to fleets. Utility’s market leadership—especially in refrigerated trailers—aligns with STS’s commitment to offering customers cutting-edge technology, including integrated telematics, smart diagnostics, and advanced uptime tracking. By pairing Utility’s trailblazing equipment with STS’s deep service infrastructure and open-system philosophy, the company is helping fleets embrace smarter, more efficient operations for the long haul.
We sat down with Nick Jacobs, Sr. Director of Finance & Operations at STS, to talk about the company’s strategy, Utility’s powerful new smart trailer platform, and why open data, AI, and intelligent managed trailer care might be the key to winning the future.
Jacobs started by outlining Utility’s joint venture with Schmitz Cargobull, a collaboration that has produced one of the most advanced integrated telematics systems in the industry.
“This system isn’t just about sensors,” Jacobs explained. “It’s about full visibility—fleet data, uptime tracking, preventive maintenance. It gives customers tools they’ve never had before, and that transforms how they run their operations.”
A key theme throughout our conversation was openness. STS is a strong advocate for open architecture platforms, like Flyntlok, which allow for seamless API integrations and better data access via a Google cloud delivery model .
“We’ve seen what happens when OEMs wall off their data, and dealers rely on outdated DMS platforms,” said Jacobs. “It frustrates customers and slows down support. With Flyntlok, the data flows freely. We plan to tightly integrate STS Flyntlok DMS with Utility Trailers Telematics to capture critical trailer data in real time. That means better service, smarter diagnostics, and more trust.” -- Nick Jacobs, Sr. Director of Finance & Operations, STS
As STS prepares to launch these next-generation trailers, it’s also considering a new offering: Intelligent Managed Care Contracts. These service plan could give customers peace of mind and a more predictable ownership experience.
“This isn’t something most of our competitors offer,” Jacobs noted. “It could really set us apart, especially if we pair it with the right technology support. For example, by monitoring service hours we will be able to pro-actively alerted when upcoming maintenance is due on a trailer and reach out to a customer to schedule their maintenance.”
When asked about competitors like Carrier and Thermo King, Jacobs acknowledged the challenge but saw opportunity. “We’re not trying to play their game. We’re offering something different. Our technology, our DMS, our support model—it all adds up to a more complete customer experience.”
STS is also integrating the new Utility/Cargobull state-of-the-art transport refrigeration platform into every reefer quote, reinforcing their commitment to delivering value upfront.
STS isn’t limiting its telematics strategy to reefer trailers. Jacobs confirmed they’re actively working on expanding diagnostics and sensor capabilities to other types of units, from tire pressure monitoring to system fault alerts.
“Fleet managers want to know everything, not just what’s going on in the reefer. Utility is building tools that give them that visibility and we could not be more excited to bring these powerful platforms to our markets to serve our customers.”
Flyntlok, the Dealer Management System (DMS) powering STS’s operations, came up multiple times. Jacobs praised its open structure, and the ease of integration compared to other platforms.
“Most of the legacy software solutions dealers rely on are based on an architecture that was developed decades ago. Even though they may be hosted in a data-center and marketed as cloud they are not and require VPNs or other factors that limit connectivity and interoperability.” Jacobs stated.
“We had been running on CDK and it was a fine platform for where our dealership had been operating but we needed more to compete in the marketplace.”
Jacobs detailed how critical an integrated true cloud based DMS was to support not just accounting but all aspects of the STS ecosystem, especially the customer. “Being delivered on the Google cloud and truly built from the ground up by the Flyntlok team was critical in our selection process. We had run across some other platforms that ran on a Microsoft or Salesforce platform and we felt that was limiting.” noted Jacobs “We had tried in the past bolt-on capabilities for CRM and other functions, but the integration cost and lack of functionality did not deliver the ROI we were looking for. Flyntlok offers us a truly integrated platform. We especially appreciated the fact that on day one through the Flyntlok Spark’s portal our customers have self-service access to request parts, view invoices, see equipment availability, functionality we couldn’t come close to delivering without Flyntlok.”
When asked what comes next, Jacobs was candid: there’s still work to do on forecasting and finalizing the prepaid service model. But the goal is clear—grow parts and service revenue while helping customers operate smarter, safer fleets.
“This isn’t just about trailers. It’s about the entire lifecycle—data, service, uptime, value. That’s where the future is headed.”
Nick Jacobs left us with this reflection:
“Fleets are investing significant capital into technologies and platforms that give them actionable data to manage their fleets. Dealers and fleets need to stop thinking about trailers as dumb assets. These are rolling computers now. And the ones who figure that out fastest will win. Innovators in the market are realizing that their DMS expands beyond accounting and operations and is a critical component of customers success and revenue growth.”
At STS, it’s clear they’re already a few steps ahead. Download the full case study <<STS Flyntlok Case Study>>
Hosted by Farm-Equipment.com / Lessiter Media in late July (Iowa City), we left with clear trends and practical takeaways.
It’s accelerating across dealer and OEM networks. Customer engagement is shifting beyond phone and email toward online self-service, AI-driven workflows, and more precise, targeted advertising.
AI has moved from theory to action. Dealers in construction, agriculture, outdoor power, and commercial vehicles are seeing measurable gains. At the same time, investments and mergers are hastening the end of outdated, siloed systems.
In 2025, the question shifted from “What is AI?” to “How can it fix this?”
Dealers now arrive with specific use cases—addressing technician shortages, improving digital customer engagement, and reconciling inventory with AI. More importantly, AI is helping close the labor gap as dealers recruit less-experienced staff. From completing technician notes to recommending parts, AI provides capabilities that once relied on years of on-the-job experience.
The industry is evolving quickly, and recent moves confirm it:
For Flyntlok customers, Baker Tilly’s acquisition of Sockeye—our long-time implementation partner—brings scale, resources, and deeper ERP expertise, particularly in Sage Intacct deployments.
“Our team is proud to join Baker Tilly — a firm that shares our commitment to innovation, people-first values, and delivering results. This combination enables us to bring our specialized expertise to a broader stage, helping clients around the world implement and optimize the technology they need to grow with confidence.” — Nick Brorson, CEO, Sockeye (read more here)
These moves underscore the demand for modern, cloud-native dealer systems that integrate seamlessly with AI and analytics.
Vista’s acquisition didn’t make the same headlines as Google’s $32B Wiz buyout, but for dealers and mid-market ERP customers it’s just as significant. It signals the end of “good enough” legacy systems and cements cloud-native platforms as the new standard for scalability, security, and innovation.
As analyst Mark Vigoroso put it: “We’re witnessing the great digital transformation reckoning of 2025, where mid-market companies are finally ditching their Frankenstein-esque combinations of QuickBooks, Excel spreadsheets, and prayer circles for actual integrated business management platforms.” Read more on Mark's great analysis on the Cloud ERP Shake-UP.
We see this daily: dealers patch together outdated tools—SMS add-ons, rental apps, spreadsheets, disconnected CRMs—that create silos, confusion, and cost.
As Vigoroso notes, API-first architecture is essential to future-proof ERP investments. Modern integrations improve efficiency, reduce maintenance, and unlock AI and automation.
Flyntlok embraces this approach. We integrate with best-in-class providers for finance, SMS, AI, advanced tax, and real-time analytics. While competitors rely on bolt-ons for basic messaging, Flyntlok has offered native SMS from day one—now extending the same seamless approach to AI via Google Cloud.
Many “cloud” tools are simply legacy systems hosted remotely—fresh UI, old cores. They lack the scalability, integration, and performance true SaaS delivers. With platforms like Flyntlok + Sage Intacct built for dealer and construction workflows, the moat around legacy DMS vendors is disappearing.
From day one, our focus has been on dealer operations, not reinventing the general ledger. We partner with top accounting and AI providers:
Legacy vendors often fail at balancing finance and operations. Flyntlok integrates with market leaders in both.
A month after the Association of Equipment Dealers (AED) conference, it's the perfect time to reflect on key themes and valuable insights gained. I had the opportunity to collaborate with John Cruthers and Liz McCabe of AED on an education session led by Flyntlok CEO and Dealer Principal, Sean McLaughlin. I also connected with Christine Book of Lessiter Media, who shared insights from sessions I couldn’t attend, and had an engaging discussion with Jim Henderson of Exemplary Group and George Russell on technology trends helping heavy equipment dealers transition from legacy DMS platforms to modern solutions like Flyntlok."
In the August 2024 edition of AED article 'Investing in Technical Education: A Strategic Imperative For Equipment Dealers', Chairman John Shearer emphasized the importance of recruiting technology-enabled employees across dealerships. Running a modern business relies on data, yet many dealer management platforms (DMS) currently in use are outdated, hindering effective data collection and decision-making.
Lessons from other industries have shown that placing reporting and data warehouse tools over enterprise resource planning (ERP) platforms lacking built-in workflows does not work. Simply put, you cannot patch a bad DMS with a data warehouse or an external CRM and expect sustainable success.
While some manufacturers, such as STIHL and John Deere, already operate with relatively modern tech stacks, others are now moving in that direction.
During the AED panel discussion, "Major Line OEM Panel Insights on Dealer Relations," industry leaders highlighted top priorities for equipment dealers:
✅ Profitability – Improving margins through strategic investments
✅ Enhanced Customer Experience – Leveraging technology to streamline operations
✅ Technology Adoption – Upgrading heavy equipment dealer management systems (DMS) for efficiency
Alex Woods, SVP of Sales Operations and Supply Chain, emphasized the need for dealers to evolve alongside the market:
"That's exactly what a dealer has to do—it has to grow and evolve. It's important for a dealer as a business owner to look for those opportunities for continuous improvement."
To help dealers measure and improve performance, Woods introduced the Kaizen Excellence Program. This initiative consolidates key dealership metrics at state, regional, and national levels, allowing dealers to compare performance, identify weaknesses, and implement data-driven improvements.
Brian Weaver, Director of Network Development at CASE IH North America, tackled one of the industry's biggest challenges: the shortage of skilled service technicians. He stressed the urgency of:
🔹 Investing in workplace infrastructure to attract talent
🔹 Implementing technician recruitment programs for local schools
🔹 Focusing on retention rather than struggling to replace retiring employees
"Everybody's needing them, fighting for them. Make sure you have a recruiting program and inform local middle schools and high schools of the opportunities. Develop that talent within the dealerships and retain them as much as you can."
At Flyntlok, we are working closely with OEMs and dealers to tackle these pressing challenges. A major issue in the industry is that legacy DMS platforms rely on outdated third-party data warehouse tools to try and create meaningful reports or rely on financial data alone which is important but tells the story after it has happened. This approach is inefficient and often fails to provide meaningful real-time reporting.
❌ Slow & Outdated – Legacy platforms struggle to process real-time data
❌ ETL Inefficiencies – Extracting, transforming, and loading (ETL) data wastes time
❌ Lack of Integration – Data silos prevent seamless operations
At Flyntlok, we built our cloud-native Heavy Equipment DMS on Google Cloud, eliminating these issues. Our platform provides:
✔ Real-time data accessibility with no need for clumsy ETL processes
✔ Agile, Cloud-powered performance build meaningful reports and dashboards directly in Flyntlok
✔ Seamless integration across all dealership operations (Parts, Service, Rental, Sales)
Recruiting and retaining skilled technicians remains a key challenge, but a common misconception is that technicians don’t need access to modern digital tools and can still work efficiently with paper-based processes.
From my own experience, I’ve encountered this myth firsthand. During a recent visit to a customer, I witnessed a service writer tell an older technician:
"Don't worry, I’ll create the work order and print it out for you."
To my surprise, the technician immediately pushed back, saying:
"Dude, I’m more technical than you are. I want access to the system—it will make me more efficient!"
This exchange highlights an important industry shift—modern technicians expect real-time digital tools to do their jobs more effectively. With Flyntlok’s cloud-based DMS, dealerships can:
✅ Empower technicians with intuitive, mobile-friendly job tracking
✅ Reduce paperwork and improve workflow efficiency
✅ Enhance service speed and customer satisfaction
By adopting modern dealer management software, dealerships can attract, retain, and empower skilled technicians while streamlining operations for long-term success.
Heavy equipment dealers face two primary challenges when attempting to modernize their operations with a new tech stack:
Sean emphasized the importance of hiring Rapid Eye Movement (REM) Employees—individuals who seek constant challenges and career progression. His recruitment pitch highlights that employees at Craig Taylor Equipment (CTE) gain access to cutting-edge, cloud-based technology via Flyntlok instead of being constrained by outdated, inefficient DMS platforms.
While employee retention is a priority at CTE, turnover is sometimes inevitable. To address this, Sean shared tech-enabled strategies for managing transitions:
Customer satisfaction was a cornerstone of CTE’s growth strategy and a key driver in Flyntlok’s development. The following fundamental design principles were implemented to enhance dealer operations:
Sean highlighted the distinction between true Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions and "Fake Cloud" DMS platforms. Many legacy DMS providers claim cloud capabilities but merely host outdated software on virtual servers. In contrast, a true SaaS platform like Flyntlok offers:
Emerging technologies such as AI and connected machines introduce exciting new possibilities for dealers. However, Sean emphasized that many dealers are still struggling with the fundamental requirement of a reliable, user-friendly DMS—akin to fulfilling the physiological needs (breathing, food, and water) in Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.
Craig Taylor Equipment’s growth continues to be driven by motivated employees and satisfied customers, made possible through modern and evolving technology—primarily Flyntlok. Sean firmly believes that as the industry becomes increasingly data-driven, dealers reliant on "Fake Cloud" and legacy Heavy Equipment DMS platforms will fall behind. Adopting a true cloud-based heavy equipment business system is no longer optional—it is essential for dealers to remain competitive in an evolving market.
Maximizing Website ROI: 4 Critical Questions for Dealers
Recently, I watched Sara Hey from Bob Clements share invaluable insights in her video, “4 Critical Questions to Ask Before Investing Another Dollar in Your Website.” As always, Sara’s advice was spot-on, particularly around contract negotiations with service or software providers. This discussion got me thinking: what additional benefits could dealers recognizing integrating a modern cloud-based DMS like Flyntlok with a robust website.
Her top recommendation? Ensure that dealers own their data. Her second point was equally critical: avoid long-term contracts with high termination fees. Many DMS providers push for three- to five-year contracts—terms even the federal government would balk at. If the government won’t commit to more than a year contract with a software provider, why should dealers?
As inventory levels grow and floor plan interest rates eat into profitability, dealers must optimize their online presence to generate leads and move inventory faster. We are seeing more dealers improving DMS and Website Integration to deliver new benefits to their business. To dive deeper, I spoke with two industry experts: Joseph Howell, owner of Crosby Lawn & Power and an IT veteran, and Jason Henderson, CEO of True Radius Marketing. Here’s what I learned.
Joseph Howell has been pioneering creative ways to improve customer interaction and streamline operations. Here are three initiatives he’s implementing:
To gain a broader perspective, I spoke with Jason Henderson, CEO of True Radius Marketing. Jason’s firm specializes in helping dealers optimize their websites and paid ad campaigns for higher conversion rates. He shared three critical steps dealers must follow to maximize their investment:
“If a customer sees a promotion like 0% financing or a rebate while browsing, they’ll gravitate toward the dealer that highlights it prominently alongside inventory pricing and availability,” Jason explained. Dealers that fail to do so risk losing out—even if they offer the same promotion.
“Some dealers clutter their pages with every model in inventory, making it visually unappealing and hard to follow,” Jason noted. A clean, intuitive interface reflects tech-savvy professionalism, which matters to today’s consumers.
“Many dealers juggle leads from Google, OEM emails, and website chats, only to spend hours manually compiling them into Excel or outdated systems,” he said. By consolidating all leads into a cloud-based CRM that’s integrated with their DMS, dealers can respond promptly and efficiently—maximizing ROI on their paid ad investments.
Sara Hey’s advice to focus on data ownership and fair contracts is vital, but as these conversations show, web based sales matter and having a modern cloud-based DMS like Flyntlok keeping inventory updated accurately on your dealer website is key. Dealers like Joseph Howell at Crosby Lawn & Power and firms like True Radius Marketing highlight how a strategic, customer-focused online presence can drive sales, improve lead generation, and enhance customer loyalty.
Whether through SEO, user-friendly inventory updates, or modern CRM systems, the message is clear: the future of dealership success starts with a smarter, more dynamic website.
Customers in the Landscape, Construction, or Agricultural industries are increasingly turning to online tools like Google search, Facebook, and other social media platforms to research equipment and equipment dealerships. To stay competitive, dealers need a robust CRM for equipment dealerships to compete in today's digital marketplace.
However, many equipment dealers are still running dealer management systems (DMS) developed when the internet was in its infancy and email was cutting edge. So what steps can a dealer take to investigate transitioning to a more modern, cloud-based DMS, and what features should they be looking for in their CRM?
In this blog, we will highlight the features and functionality that are most important when considering transitioning to a modern DMS and CRM, such as:
Regardless of whether you decide to move forward with a CRM, there is a set of critical data and reports that you, as a dealer, need to understand to gauge your performance with customers and prospects.
1. Can you quickly generate a report of your top paying customers?
While attracting new customers is critical to a growing business, being able to quickly identify a customer's history and performance with your dealership is critical. Any modern DMS should be able to quickly identify a customer by revenue rank, what parts they frequently purchase, and detail what brands that particular customer prefers in your dealership.
2. Can you view how your customers have performed year over year or quarter over quarter?
Being able to quickly analyze a customer’s business with you year-over-year or quarter-over-quarter can also be important. Can you identify a chance customer vs a key recurring customer? Can you identify a single large purchase of many parts and units made last year that is unlikely to occur again, vs smaller frequent purchases of items and parts that need more active inventory management?
3. Are you able to track all communication with a customer across your DMS and CRM?
The majority of the DMS platforms in the market offer minimal communication with a customer. Many dealers have to purchase a separate third-party communication platform to provide SMS/text messaging with a customer. This often creates a scenario where there is no single platform to capture all communications a dealership has had with a customer over time. A modern cloud DMS should ensure all communication with a customer is captured, including new leads though the CRM. Customers also love to receive real-time communications when their machine is being worked on, when work is completed, or when a part or machine is ready to be picked up. Make sure your DMS can send out email and text alerts on an automated basis to keep your customers informed and reduce phone calls to your dealership asking for status updates.
The primary role of the CRM is to ensure you can easily capture and track all the various methods a customer may be inquiring about parts, service, rentals, or equipment and turn these into leads. This reduces the shuffling a dealer principal and his/her staff need to perform, jumping across multiple systems to track and manually add leads. These are the 3 most important methods to capture customer leads critical for any CRM to address:
The role of the CRM is to allow your sales team or dealership staff to easily receive and respond to customer inquiries. If a customer is actively looking for a machine, part, service, or rental and you can’t view that in your CRM, that is significantly impairing your ability to quickly service the customer’s interest. Not only should you be able to view active inventory, you should be able to create a quote or estimate for the customer and deliver it via email or SMS. If you are looking at a CRM for an Equipment Dealer and it doesn’t have this capability, or you are forced to jump across multiple platforms, then you are not maximizing the value of your investment, and most likely are wasting time and possibly dropping valuable leads through the cracks.
Often a prospective or existing customer may be doing research on a new purchase or for future service. Your DMS should be able to relate tasks to your lead and assign them to a salesperson for future follow-up. It’s no good to have a great lead for future business if you can’t remember to follow up with them!
A dealer should be able to look up a customer and see all of the past and current communications, leads, work completed, purchase history, etc. A stand- alone or “bolt-on” CRM that contains only a subset of the information means you are missing the 360 view of the customer. If you look up a customer in the CRM, you will see what they might want to purchase, but you are missing all of the rest of the context of that customer. If you look up a customer in the DMS, you will see all the past and current work and purchases, but you’ll miss out on their future potential business. Ideally, a dealer has an all-in-one CRM and DMS system.
Another great advantage of sharing customer data across your DMS and CRM is the ability to create campaigns based on date or time targets or other promotions tied to customers’ purchases, warranty expirations, or maintenance schedules. By tying customer assets to these time based campaigns, your CRM is generating revenue across your customer base. The amount of time and cost to market to and win prospective customers is much greater than growing business from your existing customers. Leverage a unified DMS and CRM to mine your existing customers and increase their spend with you, whom they already know and trust!
6. Integrate with Social Media and Customer Experience Tools
Your dealership’s marketing doesn’t end with a website and email campaigns. You have a Facebook page and you have a Google company page. Your customers and prospects post reviews on those sites. You need to ensure that your CRM links directly into those pages so that you can more actively see and manage your reviews and your responses to those reviews.
Oh, and did you just have a great experience with a customer? You should be able to send them a Review Request right out of the CRM or DMS!
As a dealer, you always want to know how your customers felt about their experience and how you might improve your service. This is especially important to do before they post a review if they had a negative experience. The CRM or DMS supporting your equipment dealership should be able to automatically send out a survey that the customer can respond to at their leisure. It’s another great way to build (or rebuild) that relationship.
There are some very basic pitfalls to avoid when selecting a CRM to support your equipment dealership. When looking for a CRM, be sure to:
Oftentimes, equipment dealers will look at one of those larger established CRM platforms (e.g. Salesforce) whose popularity grew supporting technology companies or call centers. This is a very different business then selling equipment and services. While those well known CRMs offer thousands of features, integrations, and an extensive partner ecosystem, they are not simple to use or deploy and you probably don’t need 90% of what they offer. Purchasing one of these, plus getting it to integrate to your DMS, will probably cost more than your DMS itself!
2. Understand the software company with whom you are partnering with.
The equipment dealer business is based on service and relationships. Your customers buy from you because they know they have a local presence they can rely on for service and advice. You should demand no less from your CRM and DMS software providers. Think carefully when entering into a relationship with a conglomerate that has off-shored their support and rely on revenue based on mass market presence over top-notch support and innovation.
When a software vendor is proposing a bolt-on CRM to your 25-year-old DMS and claims “It’s integrated”, that’s a bit of a red flag. There is just too much data that has to move between a DMS and CRM for an integration to be effective across two legacy, or completely different, technologies.
A software vendor asking for a 12-month contract is standard and within market. In a true SAAS environment, it can take 3–4 months to break even on the cloud computing cost. However, anything over 12 months must be thoroughly vetted and anything beyond 24 months is just not reasonable for a CRM package for an equipment dealership.
True modern cloud-based applications are architected so that the software provider can push out frequent releases to any or all of their clients with the push of a button. Many of these modern cloud-based products push out new features on a daily basis and you never have to worry about getting an upgrade and the interruptions that might mean for your business (or even worse, only getting an upgrade every year or two). Some CRMs (and DMS’s) claim to be “modern cloud-based applications”, but they are really just stand-alone products that are hosted in the cloud. Those software providers simply moved their 1980’s or 1990’s software product from your back closet into Google or Amazon. But you are still stuck with receiving only rare upgrades and the system now probably runs even slower!
Our team consists of professionals who have extensive experience building and running dealerships as well as software businesses. We have built a modern cloud based DMS and The Best CRM for Equipment Dealerships, Outdoor Power Equipment Providers, and Commercial and Heavy Duty Truck providers, and more. Please reach out to me directly mwassy@flyntlok.com or fill out our ‘Contact’ form for more information.
Flyntlok was fortunate to partner with Bob and Sarah Clements on a webinar discussing 5 steps dealers can take to improve their sales and revenue using Flyntlok's Cloud-Based Equipment Dealer CRM on 8/31/2024. https://bobclements.wistia.com/medias/rec8w7mclm
Many of the dealers I have spoken with realize they need to do something to stay in contact with existing customers and target new ones. However, many of them are hesitant to send outbound emails or make calls, worried about filling up customer inboxes and phone lines with spam.
Bob and Sarah are very experienced in working with dealers and manufacturers, and they discussed five suggestions that align strongly with Flyntlok’s cloud-based Equipment Dealer CRM and DMS to increase revenue, margin, and customer satisfaction.
While our team at Flyntlok has a great deal of experience building software platforms, the most important lesson we have learned is that our customers and partners come up with the best ideas for software functionality. Our opportunity is to listen and incorporate those great ideas into the product, which we do on a bi-weekly basis. Fortunately, when we were building our CRM, we had great advice from partners like Bob and Sarah Clements, as well as input from many of our existing customers.
Here’s how Flyntlok’s cloud-based Dealer CRM can help our customers implement the five steps recommended by Sarah and Bob Clements:
If you are using one of the many legacy Dealer Management Systems available in the market and believe it may be time to consider moving to a modern and more capable DMS, please contact us using this link.
Flyntlok Continues to Lead the DMS Industry With Rapid Integration Deployment For Bobcat, Volvo, Samsara, Hitachi, and More
Recently, I was speaking with an OEM about the integration requirements for Flyntlok. The conversation was typical until we started discussing the number of integration points required. When our team explained to the API lead at this OEM that Flyntlok only required one endpoint to service our entire customer base, there was an extended pause.
He then restated our position of a single integration point with some disbelief. When we explained that Flyntlok is a true multi-tenant cloud solution and that once we release an integration or new capabilities, all our customers have access immediately, the lightbulb went off.
You see, this individual, like many OEM integration teams we work with, is accustomed to supporting the very dated DMS platforms in the market built on traditional client-server technology operating in pseudo-cloud environments. These legacy systems are hosted by the provider but still operate in a single-tenant environment, each requiring its own management and unique integration per customer. Alternatively, some DMS platforms claim to be cloud-based but require customers to launch a remote access window into their server.
This results in the DMS provider still maintaining many stove-piped environments, each requiring unique administration and integrations. Not only is this challenging for the DMS provider and customer, but it also requires the OEM to provide an endless amount of integration points, resulting in complex security configurations, and lengthy, costly, and in-frequent roll-out and upgrade processes.
Bobcat recently released a new integration for its Online Parts Catalog, now supported via API. (You can read more about this in Flyntlok’s June 19th release notes). I believe it took our engineering team less than a week to complete, test, and release this integration, as it utilizes a modern API integration.
Flyntlok has also quickly introduced integrations for other major platforms such as Samsara Telematics, Hitachi Telematics, and Volvo Care Track Telematics.
By delivering the most modern platform in the Dealer and Equipment vertical, Flyntlok provides significant customer advantages, in addition to the industry-leading user experience. These include rapid integration releases, bi-weekly updates, and significant cost savings. For example, Flyntlok doesn’t charge for loading pricing files as our architecture provides one pricing update for all customers.
Flyntlok: Revolutionizing the DMS Industry
The DMS landscape is ripe for disruption. Legacy systems, mired in complexity and inefficiency, are a bottleneck for both OEMs and dealers. Flyntlok's modern, cloud-based platform offers a refreshing alternative.
With its single integration point, rapid development cycles, and unparalleled user experience, Flyntlok is not just keeping pace with the industry—it's defining it. By prioritizing innovation and customer satisfaction, Flyntlok is setting a new standard for DMS solutions.
Are you ready to experience the Flyntlok difference? Book a free demo. https://www.flyntlok.com/contact/
Stop Paying for Outdated Software. Modernize Your Dealership with Flyntlok
In today's competitive equipment dealership landscape, having the right tools at your disposal is no longer a luxury, it's a necessity. While Legacy DMS (Dealer Management Systems) might seem familiar, they can often hold your business back.
These outdated platforms often prioritize profit margins over innovation, leaving dealerships burdened with:
These limitations can leave your dealership lagging behind competitors who have embraced Modern DMS solutions.
Flyntlok: A Modern DMS Built for the Future of Equipment Sales
Flyntlok DMS is a powerful and innovative platform designed to empower equipment dealerships to thrive in the digital age. Here's how Flyntlok breaks free from the constraints of Legacy DMS:
Investing in a Modern DMS Like Flyntlok is an Investment in Your Dealership's Future
Don't let outdated software hold your business back from reaching its full potential. Schedule a free demo today and discover how Flyntlok DMS can revolutionize your dealership with its:
Flyntlok can empower you to:
Embrace the future of equipment sales with Flyntlok, the leading provider of Modern DMS solutions. Contact us today and see how we can help your dealership thrive! https://www.flyntlok.com/contact/
In the fast-paced world of heavy equipment dealerships, juggling a complex inventory, meeting demanding customer needs, and navigating intricate service and parts operations can feel overwhelming. Heavy equipment dealer management software can be your secret weapon, transforming daily chaos into operational excellence and boosting both efficiency and customer satisfaction.
From Drowning in Data to Making Informed Decisions
Many dealerships rely on manual processes or outdated systems, leading to a host of challenges:
Unlocking Efficiency and Delighting Customers
Heavy equipment dealer management software tackles these pain points head-on, offering a range of benefits that empower your dealership and delight your customers:
Key Features to Look for in Heavy Equipment Dealer Management Software
With a vast array of software options available, here are some key features to consider:
Investing in the right heavy equipment dealer management software is an investment in your dealership's future success. By streamlining operations, empowering your team, and optimizing customer service, you can achieve a significant competitive edge and create a customer experience that keeps them coming back for more.
Ready to unlock the power of heavy equipment dealer management software? Contact Flyntlok today for a personalized demo! https://www.flyntlok.com/contact/
Building a successful fleet operation goes beyond just acquiring the right equipment. Partnering with the right equipment dealer is crucial for efficient maintenance, maximized uptime, and ultimately, optimizing your fleet's performance. This guide equips you, the fleet manager, with the knowledge and strategies to find the right equipment dealer partner for your specific needs.
Understanding Your Fleet Needs
The first step is to have a clear understanding of your fleet's unique requirements. Consider factors such as:
Researching Equipment Dealers
With a clear understanding of your fleet requirements, you can begin researching potential equipment dealer partners. Here are some helpful tips:
Evaluating Dealer Expertise and Capabilities
Once you've identified a few potential partners, it's time to delve deeper into their expertise and capabilities. Here's what to assess:
Technology for Enhanced Fleet Management
Throughout your search for the right dealer partner, consider the technology they utilize. A robust Dealer Management System (DMS) can significantly enhance your fleet management experience. Here's how a DMS, like Flyntlok DMS, can benefit your partnership with a dealer:
Communication and Partnership Potential
Beyond technical expertise, consider the overall communication style and partnership potential of the equipment dealer. Look for a dealer that:
Finding the right equipment dealer partner is a crucial step in optimizing your fleet's performance and maximizing uptime. By following the steps outlined in this guide and carefully evaluating potential partners, you can secure a partnership that delivers exceptional service, expertise, and a commitment to open communication. Remember, a strong fleet manager-equipment dealer relationship is a win-win situation, ensuring your fleet runs smoothly and efficiently for years to come.
