ADAM computer system

[Rob Kealey]

I am interested in hearing from anyone who is or has used this system. We are considering replacing our current system and need unbiased input.
Thanks
Rob K

[gmdealer]

As they say - you get what you pay for and this is a very inexpensive system. We have had it for 1 1/2 years and it has been like a bad dream. If you have a Ford or Chrysler dealership it may be better, but beware if you have a GM franchise. The software does not have enough fields to communicate with GM. We are constantly doing work-arounds to make the system work for us. GM has taken them off the approved vendor list along with several other companies. Currently GM only has 2 vendors on their preference list - ADP and Reynolds.

[Matt Parsons]

GMDealers response is not correct when it comes to GM's preference list. Currently, GM is stating that they only have one preferred provider - R&R. The question at hand is why are they preferred? Does R&R integrate their systems better with programs like GM Access? - If you read GM's own Interchange Magazine the answer is no...If you ask industry experts (third-party consultants), they will tell that there is nothing that R&R does any better than many of the other DSP's serving GM (ADP, EDS, UCS). At a recent GM DSP meeting the Dealer IT Chairman (a GM Dealer) issued a letter to GM asking them to answer a series of questions pertaining to this sudden announcement of R&R as their preferred provider - to date (over 2 months later), GM has made no response to the questions. The only conclusion that many of us in the industry can come to is that GM has placed R&R in this preferred category due to the sole fact that R&R has offered GM a 10% stake in their company. Several of us 'other' DSP's have requested to know what it is we can do to become preferred - to date, no response from GM.

If a GM dealer has questions about approved DSP's for use within their faciltities (and there are a number that are and have been approved for many years), I would suggest that you contact Spencer Hondros - Chairman of the GM Dealer IT Council. He can be reached at Villa Marin Pontiac-Buick-GMC, on Staten island, NY.

[bets]

This is a late response to your question. We have been on Adam since 1996. We are a GM dealer. I refused to pay the prices demanded from R&R and ADP. Our Adam system is the old dos version. We have to submit our warranty and facts through GM Access, but it takes only a few hours per week and is done by my clerical staff. The system definately has it's downfalls, but for the price it does what I need it to do, which is keep everything straight and pull it all into accounting. I'm not sure how the windows version works. As for GM and their certified dsp's, I don't really care what they suggest as long as I can get results and the reports I need from Adam.

[Eric]

We are a dual Ford/Chrysler dealer and have been using ADAM since 1995. I also refused to pay the high price for any of the big DSP's. ADAM gives us the features we need and some of the ones we want. They do not have all of the bells and whistles but I find it difficult enough to get our people just to use the features that ARE available. The system is relatively simple and reliable. Tech support normally calls back within an hour and they will take care of you right away in an emergency.

Over the last six months I have been investigating the other DSP's to make sure we are doing the right thing. I can't get the sales staff at R&R or ADP to return my phone calls, yet I can talk to Dan Hamilton, the President of the company at ADAM if I want to.

ADAM is not perfect, but from what I hear from other dealers, UCS, R&R and ADP have plenty of problems themselves (for a lot more money). I estimate we have saved about $4,000 a month over the last five years, that's nearly a quarter of a million dollars! I'm thinking about buying a boat with the money (I think I'll name it ADAM).

[teltbone]

bets, gmdealer
you should contact the ADAM suport desk to reovle your issues with GM ACCESS. You can download your FACTS and Warranty(WINS) as well parts orders/return through ADAM Rapid.

[bets]

We do our Rapid and Parts over Adam now, but in order for me to do facts and wins I have to upgrade my server, which I don't want to do in light of slowing down in business. We can keep doing what we have been and I don't have to take on the additional expense until things lighten up. We also don't even use all the system's reports or capabilities, which reinforces my conviction that we certainly don't need any more!

[ADPGuy]

ADP may be large, but it has not forgotten the small dealer. One of the weakest points ADP has is it's marketing of new products. The ADAM system is in the lower price range and does lack some necessary functionality. We have a PC/Windows based small dealer package called Alliance that is designed for this Market. It is completely different software than the Elite package. It features complete DCS functionality with GM, Ford and Chrysler. It has the Full integration and functionality of the Elite set at half the price. It is expandable to 25 users and can be an in house system or housed at ADP and accessed via the Web. Also current developements between GM and R&R resulted in GM's 10% stake falling through and R&R not being their prefered provider. I would be more than happy to respond to individuals that would like a more in depth explanation of the Alliance or ADP system as it compares to Adam or any other system.

[Gerry Laughlin]

ADPGuy,
I dont think this particular thread is the place to continue this conversation, but I would definitely love to take issue with you about what ADPs weakest points are. If you are up to the task start a new thread asking what current users think about ADP and how it can be improved, lord knows no one else at ADP will ask that question. I pose this challenge only in an attempt to improve a product that I have used and loved for many years, but feel my belief in this product is starting to erode.

Thank You,
Gerry Laughlin

[Rob Kealey]

THANKS MUCH FOR YOUR INPUT!!! THIS IS VERY HELPFULL.