DealersEdge Professional Forums

Hey guys, I was just wondering what the differences and similarities are between the two systems, I've been on ERA-Link for almost three years, and I would consider myself still in the beginner-intermediate stage, but leaning more towards intermediate. It looks great, the only thing that I worry about is that other guys that I've spoken too in the area is that everyone has some bad habits that are hard to get rid of and could become troublesome. So what is everyone's opinion of Ignite?

We upgraded to Ignite from EraLink back in May. It's okay. The reporting is supposedly vastly improved, but I'll be the first to admit I don't take advantage of it. I use a few basic reports per week and that's it. It is a little easier on the service side than EraLink was in my opinion. Writing repair orders and finishing them out is a lot more simple and would certainly be easier for newbies to learn than memorizing executables.

On the parts side I'm not as impressed. I believe Era Ignite is leading to many errors in our counts on hand. Truthfully, it's my counter guys that are making the mistakes, but I can't honestly blame them as the new system can sometimes be cumbersome and confusing. The way number changes are listed in the parts inquiry screen is goofy and it isn't as easy to quickly identify which number is current. My BIGGEST gripe, and one I've had since Reynolds was here doing our install training--in EraLink, you could print a pick ticket from parts inquiry by typing 'p' and hitting enter. You can still print a pick ticket in Ignite, but it DOESN'T include a GM group number. I have spoken with multiple people in multiple departments at Reynolds and nobody gives a crap.

When they do the install training they'll remind you constantly that EraLink won't be around forever, so you need to quit using it altogether and start using your Era Ignite exclusively. But, there's several functions you HAVE to do in EraLink. For instance, to send an order to GM, you still have to use 7010 in EraLink. Or at least that's what our trainer told us. If you want a pick ticket with group numbers on it, you have to print it from EraLink.

Overall, there's a lot to get used to, but it's nothing terrible. The new system has its upsides and downsides, but overall I don't feel like the "upgrade" is worth what we paid for it. If you use a ton of the reporting stuff and are interested in a dashboard with your DOC and everything, it prove more useful to you. We are a small dealer and my dealer principle doesn't require me to run too many reports other than a few basic ones like I mentioned before.

I am sure there are some guys and gals on this forum who are much smarter than I am and can tell you some more technical pros and cons, but that's my two cents.

ERA for 21 years. We upgraded to IGNITE this past spring, and I don't use it. Nobody in Parts does. Couldn't anyway, since all of our user's training is expired. I know ERA-LINK inside-out and backwards and have no use for IGNITE, and I refuse to take 21 training classesjust to log in to it. Besides, as a manager 90% of what I need to use is only available on the "blue" screen anyway. I wish they would just remove it because it's a 1.5 inch sidebar on my ERA screen that just annoys me.

Perhaps I should clarify what Possum is referencing in case you haven't already heard, dropdeaddart. When you switch to Ignite, there is a crap load of training that is required to be taken. Most of it is completely useless and if certain classes aren't completed by certain dates the user is SHUT OUT of Ignite until he/she finishes the course. It's completely ridiculous. Every single employee that uses Reynolds has to do some semblance of the training, but it varies based on what their security access is.