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:

 

What customer data is most important to maintain and update in your DMS to help provide a 360 degree customer view.

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.

What features should you be looking for when considering a modern cloud based CRM for equipment dealers?

1. Ensure the ability for your CRM to capture all types of inbound leads.

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:

2. Ensure your CRM can quote and has the ability to view models, inventory, and pricing in real-time from your DMS.

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.

3. Is your CRM able to assign tasks with dates to leads or equipment?

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!

4. Capture all customer communication for a 360-degree view.

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.

5. Create Campaigns for Preventative Maintenance Plans, Extended Warranties, Annual Service Checks to existing customers.

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.

Common Mistakes When Selecting a Modern Cloud Based CRM

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:

1. Focus on functionality & ease of use over breadth of capabilities.

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.

3. Be wary of the word “integration” or “integrated CRM.”

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.

4. Avoid contracts longer than 12 months.

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.

5. Identify a true modern cloud product, and not just a pseudo-cloud product.

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!

 

How Can Flyntlok Help?

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.

Searching for a new more modern Dealer Management System for AGCO to optimize your dealership's operations? Look no further! In today's competitive agricultural landscape, having a robust Dealer Management System for AGCO is no longer a luxury, it's a necessity. Flyntlok DMS is the answer you've been waiting for.

Seamless AGCO Integration: Power Up Your AGCO Dealership with a Next-Gen Dealer Management System (DMS) 

Flyntlok DMS is specifically designed to empower AGCO dealerships. One of its biggest strengths is the seamless integration with Agco’s dealer integrations, making it the ultimate Dealer Management System for AGCO 

Real-Time Insights and Reporting: Drive Customer Satisfaction and Repeat Business with a Feature-Rich Dealer Management System for AGCO 

Exceptional customer service is key to success. Flyntlok empowers you to deliver it with real-time analytics and reports. Unlike legacy DMS platforms, Flyntlok leverages the power of the Google Cloud Platform to provide a sophisticated and modern reporting engine. This empowers you with a Dealer Management System for AGCO that offers:

The Flyntlok Advantage: A Feature-Rich Powerhouse for Your AGCO Dealership with a Cutting-Edge Dealer Management System (DMS) 

Flyntlok goes beyond basic DMS functionality. We offer a comprehensive suite of features designed to revolutionize your AGCO dealership, making it the ultimate Dealer Management System for AGCO:

Don't settle for a mediocre DMS for your AGCO dealership. Choose Flyntlok and experience the power of a truly integrated solution! Our innovative features, seamless AGCO integration, and powerful reporting tools empower you to streamline operations, boost efficiency, and achieve greater profitability. 

Schedule a free demo today and discover how Flyntlok DMS can transform your AGCO dealership. 

7 Essential Trends Shaping the Future of Equipment Dealerships.

The equipment dealership landscape is constantly evolving. From customer expectations to technological advancements, dealerships must be adaptable and embrace change to stay ahead of the curve. Here at Flyntlok, we're passionate about empowering equipment dealerships to thrive in the future. So let's explore seven essential trends shaping the future of equipment dealerships:

1. The Rise of Data-Driven Decisions: Gone are the days of gut feelings. Data is king, and dealerships leveraging data analytics will gain significant advantages. From optimizing inventory management to predicting customer needs, robust dealer management systems (DMS) like Flyntlok empower data-driven decision-making for smarter business strategies.

2. The Evolving Customer Journey: Today's customer expects a seamless omnichannel experience. This means dealerships need a strong online presence, offering detailed product information, virtual tours, and easy online ordering options. Flyntlok's cloud-based DMS integrates seamlessly with your website, streamlining the online customer journey.

3. The Importance of Customer Relationship Management (CRM): Building strong customer relationships is crucial for long-term success. A robust CRM system within your DMS, like the one offered by Flyntlok, allows for personalized communication, targeted marketing campaigns, and efficient after-sales service.

4. The Integration of Technology and Equipment: The future of equipment involves greater connectivity and automation. Equipment dealers will need to be prepared to service and support these advancements. Flyntlok's DMS can integrate with telematics data, allowing dealerships to offer proactive maintenance solutions and remote diagnostics, increasing customer satisfaction and equipment uptime.

5. The Growing Demand for Rental Options: The "ownership economy" is shifting, with many customers opting for rentals over purchases. Dealerships can cater to this trend by offering flexible rental programs through their DMS. Flyntlok allows seamless management of rental inventory, pricing, and scheduling, making it easy to capitalize on the growing rental market.

6. The Focus on Customer Self-Service: As our economy continues to shift towards more online-specific acquisition for cars, furniture, clothes, etc. this trend is also impacting equipment dealers.  More and more transactions are occurring through innovative means such as text/SMS or through customer-dedicated portals such as Flyntlok’s Sparks portal. 

Flyntlok’s native born-in-cloud architecture and Sparks portal provides your customers the ability to make requests and purchase parts without the need and hassle of calling your dealership directly.  

7. The Need for Cybersecurity Measures: As technology becomes more integrated, so do cybersecurity threats. Dealerships need robust security measures to protect customer data and financial information. Flyntlok takes data security seriously, employing industry-leading security protocols on the Google Cloud to ensure your data remains safe.

Ready to shape the future of your dealership? Contact Flyntlok today and see how our innovative DMS can help you navigate these exciting new trends.

Juggling multiple tasks and managing a complex equipment dealership can feel like a constant juggling act. Between sales, rentals, inventory management, customer service, accounting, and a myriad of other responsibilities, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. But what if there was a way to streamline these processes, free up your time, and empower your team to focus on what matters most – growing your business?

Introducing Flyntlok DMS, your one-stop solution for a more efficient and profitable equipment dealership. This powerful cloud-based Dealer Management System (DMS) seamlessly integrates all your crucial dealership operations, allowing you to say goodbye to scattered data and time-consuming manual processes.

Here's how Flyntlok DMS can revolutionize your dealership's efficiency in 5 key ways:

1. Effortless Sales & Rentals: Close More Deals, Faster

Picture this: a potential customer walks in looking to rent a piece of equipment. Traditionally, this might involve manually searching through inventory lists, generating quotes through a separate program, and tracking communication across emails and phone calls.

Flyntlok DMS eliminates this chaos. With a user-friendly interface, your sales team can:

2. Simplified Inventory Management: Never Run Out of Stock Again & Reduce Stale Parts/Inventory

Imagine constantly worrying about inventory levels or stale inventory. Flyntlok DMS puts you in complete control of your inventory with features like:

3. Enhanced Customer Relationship Management (CRM): Building Lasting Relationships

In today's competitive market, building strong customer relationships is paramount. Flyntlok DMS's integrated CRM features empower you to:

4. Improved Service and Maintenance Management: Deliver Exceptional Customer Service

Efficient service management is crucial for maximizing equipment uptime and keeping your customers happy. Flyntlok DMS helps you:

5. Data-Driven Decision Making: Insights to Empower Your Business 

Unleash the Potential of Your Dealership with Flyntlok DMS

By implementing Flyntlok DMS, you can experience a significant boost in efficiency across all facets of your dealership. Our comprehensive cloud-based DMS empowers you to:

Ready to transform your dealership?

Contact Flyntlok today to learn more about our innovative DMS solutions and schedule a free demo. Let Flyntlok help you streamline your operations, take control of your data, and empower your team to achieve new heights of success!

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