R&R IGNITE

[X476]

Our dealership is getting upgraded to "Ignite" next week. For those of you already on it, what things should I be asking about or wary about on the parts side. Any input is appreciated.

[Bailo1]

We switched to Ignite 2 years ago. Overall, I like it. My biggest complaint is honestly just the fact that when you print from the parts inquiry screen there is no way to have the group number included. Also, I always liked going to 2022 then sales history and seeing at a quick glance how many of a certain item had been sold/recptd/LS'd over the last year broken down month-by-month. There is no screen, as far as I can tell, that does this in Ignite. You can go to transactions/detail sales and see what you would've seen in 2024, but it's not as fast and easy as 2022 was. I've been griping about those issues since we switched and nothing has ever been done to fix them. In terms of the basic functions, everything is the same, just laid out a little differently. The reporting functions are pretty cool since they're basically in Excel form in Ignite allowing you to sort and group things easily.

Oh...almost forgot! Biggest downside--the RIDICULOUS training modules you HAVE to complete in order to use Ignite. You'll still have blue screen so if you were to get stuck and not be able to figure something out in Ignite, you'd have a lifeline. Why do you have to take their stupid training. In my experience I'm much better finding my way around new software with a little up-front in-person training then just doing things on my own. The classes are annoying and your counter guys will bi*** about them constantly...then again, so did I!

[possum]

We have it and nobody in Parts uses it, there's too many functions as a manager that you need to go back to the blue screen. Its like learning French when you don't have any French friends. I can't login anyway because at this point I would need to take 30 tests first.

[Bailo1]

Possum, if you don't mind sharing--what functions do you still need blue screen for, just curious?

[possum]

Honestly I don't remember the exact programs, but it was enough to argue with the instructor the whole way through. Mostly management stuff; specifications etc. I remember during the training we (my parts managers) all asked dozens of questions about where do you do this or that and the response was "you can't in ignite." The counter guys used it for a few weeks and gave up. The training is ridiculous and they wont exempt you. If you want to go into any service programs like 3040, 3100 or 3656 you have to take most of the services tests. Same for accounting programs and all those tests too. I got sick of it and we all quit using it, and I won't until there's no choice. From what they told us, the old ERA screens will always be there, as Ignite is only an overlay, kind of like how iTunes organizes the music and videos in your computer.
HOWEVER: The Service advisors love it. We have several newer hires that haven't used anything but ignite. More power to them, but its not for us in our Parts departments. I've been on ReyRey for 23 years and ERA has it's issues, but ignite doesn't solve them just makes them "look" spiffy.

[MIKE1010]

We went to ignite here but only for the managers. Counter still uses blue screen which is fine for me. It was more expensive to go full blown.

[Bailo1]

Honestly I don't remember the exact programs, but it was enough to argue with the instructor the whole way through. Mostly management stuff; specifications etc. I remember during the training we (my parts managers) all asked dozens of questions about where do you do this or that and the response was "you can't in ignite." The counter guys used it for a few weeks and gave up. The training is ridiculous and they wont exempt you. If you want to go into any service programs like 3040, 3100 or 3656 you have to take most of the services tests. Same for accounting programs and all those tests too. I got sick of it and we all quit using it, and I won't until there's no choice. From what they told us, the old ERA screens will always be there, as Ignite is only an overlay, kind of like how iTunes organizes the music and videos in your computer.
HOWEVER: The Service advisors love it. We have several newer hires that haven't used anything but ignite. More power to them, but its not for us in our Parts departments. I've been on ReyRey for 23 years and ERA has it's issues, but ignite doesn't solve them just makes them "look" spiffy.

Can't argue with most of what you say. Our previous owner made it mandatory for everyone to use Ignite. R&R sold him on the upgrade and since he was "making the investment" he wanted everyone to use it exclusively. I've gotten used to it and spent a large chunk of time knocking out all the stupid training courses, most of which I didn't benefit from. You're right that to change a lot of the specifications you still need blue screen. Overall, I still like it on the whole but agree it could use improvements.

[possum]

Our dealership is getting upgraded to "Ignite" next week. For those of you already on it, what things should I be asking about or wary about on the parts side. Any input is appreciated.

So how's that working for ya?

[X476]

They delayed parts going on it till next week, office personnel went on it this week and so far nobody wants to use it.