DealersEdge Professional Forums

Matt,

We are in the middle of negotiations with ADP and R&R over our next contract. The aesy thing to do would be to re-sign with ADP just for convenience sake. I really dont think the front end cares who we go with but in the back end I think it really does matter. I want to have something that will help us be more efficient in our daily operations. My question is:

When will ADP update the core programs?

They are very old and anytime I bring this up nobody can really give me any answers. I came to this dealer after having used UCS for 10 years and the programs in ADP are for the most part dinosaurs.
My recommendation will be based on the systems ability to help us do our job more effectively. The campaign program does not work. There is no such thing as a parts kit that can be sold for a fixed price. I have yet to figure how use suggested selling from this system. When I have a truckload of new cars come in I have to write each r/o (no cloaning). The list is long on things that just dont make sense. It seems that you have to go back and forth just to find the info that you are looking for. Sorry for dumping on you but I am just trying to make the right choice.

Have you seen the WEB Suite 2006 applications? What are you using today (I.e Elite)?

We are currently on the Elite system. Web Suite 06 is the one we are looking at. It is a nicer product due to the fact you can get to other areas faster but does not address the core program shortcomings.

Matt,
On the same note, are there any goodies of info you can give us on some upcoming ARG releases?

Fixedopsmgr,

You concerns are well noted. Having been a past Service Director, the term "core" may have different meanings to many people.

For example, my concerns were, does the DMS computer system have the capabilty to perform and efficiently manage the following functions"

1.Service Labor Hour Inventory (real-time)

2.Perform Shop Loading and Appointment functions based on availble "time" to sell, rather than vehicle counts, service advisor self serving interest or at best, by guess work.

3.Provide your customers with DMS computer generated specific "promise times" or "estimated completion times" during the service reception process.
This eliminated the old "drop off at 7:00am and pick up at 5:00PM" customer dialoge.

4.DMS computer generated Technician Productivity and Efficiency performance reporting.

5.Reduce Techncian shortages, hire service advisors and techncians based on DMS informational facts.

6.Eliminates backlog of work, carryovers and loaner expense.

These particular core items, reduced my Service Department operating costs. It also allowed me to manage in an "informational based" atmosphere, rather than always being in the "crisis based" mode.

Finally, you can always sit down with your dealer every month and show how the DMS service application is an investment and not a monthly expense.

If you need more information you can contact me at slapenta@bellsouth.net

aksales...

Not sure if you are looking to understand what is in an upcoming release or recently launched new products and services. Let me try and address both.

With regards to new products and services ARG has launched approximately 18+ new items for our clients over the past 18 months, with the newest items being: Credit Check (this replaces the functionality that existed to do credit bureaus from the Sales application to the major Credit Service providers as well as manages the process if the client is using RouteOne or DealerTrack as well). We have also launched integration to RouteOne and DealerTrack. DealerCap is a program that is expanding and is of significant value to clients - reviews existing dealer forms related to the sales process and produces a detailed analysis of potential compliance issues. Pre-Owned Vehicle Analyzer (PVA) produces detailed informaiton/reports/charts regarding the used vehicle inventory mix, profitability, etc. Network Phone (IP based phone systems) that in the future will have integration to the ARG applications.

From a release standpoint, the big items we are working on is GM RIM (which is starting into Pilot and is planned to be in General Release by May), GM VIS, and GM VOMS. There are numerous items included in each upcoming release related to system fixes, functionality changes, and if interested I can get you a listing of those changes.

Hopes this helps.