Help with Arkona System in Fixed Ops

[BobSilcox]

Attention Arkona:

You have Issues that need to be FIXED or addresses! I am not saying that every Dealership in the country does not have daily issues but your DMS system should be a workable tool that supports your day to day operations and can help you drive your business it should not be a tool that you are unsure of and need to spend time every day checking things. In another post about DMS systems their is a lot of chatter about DMS systems what they are and what they are not. I have been in the industry for a long time have used just about every system out their with a major name. As a lady said in another post Arkona is what it is and as long as you are willing to understand that you will not get frustrated with the system on a daily basis. In the other post in this forum a person is talking about having a forum where users could get together, Arkona this should be your call to arms, give it to us users that are interested in trying it help you folks get user friendly. You say you are but I find it's very difficult to get the answers to keep the D.P.'s happy at the Dealership and the manufactures satisfied with what they want and we need to supply. Data, Data, it's a tool and should not be an anchor!! Pay Attention Arkona you have users asking you for a tool to help you understand what goes on in Dealer World in Todays Markets not 10 years ago. I understand you have hired a lot of Dealer people but are their experience current in TODAYS business climate or over the last 2 to multiple years. Arkona Senior Management you need to listen to your users everybody is not happy with the same old words, well it is what it is! Be a player in the DMS market and get real. I am sorry to say that I have talked to a lot of users in my 20 groups across the country and many other Arkona users and they all have the same story!! Is it a fact that we just put up with the verbiage "It's what it is and just accept it. I THINK you have a lot of users out there that would like to have a user Forum that you guys would listen to and make necessary fixes to your system. How about making sure you have all the links to the Manufactures you work with work and stay working. How about a Quote system so we can have something like some of the other DMS systems out there. How about some customer reporting links where we can build some customer reports. How about a way to lock down service and parts pricing so it does not change! How about Op codes that can be locked down. What about a link to a POS system where those of us that want to really want to be in the QUICK SERVICE Business in quick oil changes, tires, brakes, batteries, and the TOP 20 items that our competition are doing with a POS system that is Touch screen? How about Quick Parts billing and Quick Service Billing POS systems that will either link-up to build in? Guys we just need HELP in Dealer World for those of us that want to be Competitive in our Markets Places and having a Computer System that is Quick and User friendly with Parts, Service, and the ultimate accounting office. I can't say anymore Arkona but if you want my opinion as to what is going on in the Car World today it's not what you are doing and most of the other DMS systems either let's all get in the 21 Century and do Business. Fixed Operations needs every tool we can have to help us make net profits for the Dealers so they will continue to support us!
HELP! - HELP! - HELP! And not just me the whole Arkona Community..............


------------------
Bob Silcox
Spradley-Barr

[carguy2]

You get what you pay for!

[deboss]

Dear Mr. Silcox,

Since you posted your "Vent" on several of the DealersEdge Forums it is obvious you are quite frustrated with you DMS. I am slightly curious how you found yourself in this situation. During the purchase process were these needs made known to the DMS provider? Were they promised and more importantly demostrated? If so someone was sold vaporware. The reply that you "get what you pay for" is partially correct. However with due diligence you can find some lower cost options that do what you want. I have a DMS that has been doing it for number of years. If you were involved in the purchase of your DMS you failed to do your homework. If you inherited it or had no say then hopefully you can convince your DP to look at the other options. I would suggest you take a look at the Autosoft DMS. It is not perfect but is quite stable and constantly improved and upgraded at no additional charge. I have been very happy for a number of years. They advertised at NADA last year they are now the 3rd largest DMS in the US so they must be making other dealers happy also.

Hopefully you will find relief for your frustrations. Not too sure it will be with you present provides, sounds like a major shortcoming rather then just some tweaking.

[This message has been edited by deboss (edited 12-02-2007).]

[This message has been edited by deboss (edited 12-02-2007).]

[bajaman]

For what it is worth, we have been on Arkona for quite awhile and while it is not perfect it does a good job. I wish it would have better marketing tools for service though.

[This message has been edited by bajaman (edited 12-03-2007).]

[BobSilcox]

deboss;

Tried not to Rant but just trying to get somebodys Attention at Arkona. It seems I get a lot more attention when I post here than I do when I talk to the Senior Executives at Arkona. Thanks for the Info...


------------------
Bob Silcox
Spradley-Barr

[DealerProfit]

Bob,
Take a look at some of the other threads relative to DMS companies. There is a canadian company mentioned on one the threads (can't remember the name). I do however remember poking around the system at length during the NADA convention. I went in as a skeptic (it comes natural), and came out an advocate. I was shocked that a first attempt Windows based system was so well thought out, and engineered even better.

It is what it is, and (i believe) no one at Arkona is going to spend the money to make it any better. It wasn't too many years ago that Arkona was the darling of the industry with such promise as the future giant DMS killer. Unfortunately it seems thatt the dreams of the developers have been swallowed by the accountants and the shareholders.

Lord knows I am all for profits, but it seems such a shame that a company that was embraced with open arms wouldn't follow through to completion.

[GoAutoPros]

DealerProfit

I think you and I need to hook up togehter sounds like you and I think alot alike. I too agree that this Industry needs a MAJOR Overhaul from your other post. I think that Fixed Operations is where all of the next business is coming from and all of the New Vehicle Sales. Pre-Owned is different but new is going to come thru Fixed. The manufactures want you to be a "Jiffy Lube", a retail Tire Store, A Brake Store, to a Engine and transmission Overhaul Center and everthing in between. The problem is this Industry is driven by Vehicle Sales People that have managed to aquire the purse strings! Let's put all that time and effort that most put into the Variable Operation and push it thru Fixed. Let's make it just as sexy to be a Fixed Ops Pro. as a Variable Sales Person. WE do know where the money is being made if it's managed properly. Please don't get me wrong I know we need the Vehicles Sales to drive Fixed but lets also drive those Customers thru Fixed.

------------------
GoAutoPros.Com LLC

[KevvyG]

DP,

Was that the Serti-SDS system you were mentioning you saw at NADA?? Or was it the Quorum system?