I'm IT for 6 dealers in an auto group. There are 5 main buildings on two different streets. Currently for lead management we use Higher Gear. This software is very easy and shows tons of easily changed information at a time, but it doesn't interface with ADP (as far as I know) which is our DMS system, it isn't available outside the office (we have 3 servers on site, crazy), the program looks and feels extremely old, and its heavily reliant on microsoft windows.

So I'm looking for a new CRM that helps with all of the above (or some of it) as well as staying simple enough for our salesmen to use.

So far I've noticed the following:
Dealer elite (played with tool a little)
Dealer Impact (marketing tool addon? for dealer peak)
Dealer Peak (demo completed)
Dealer Socket (demo completed)
Dealer Sight (submitted a request for contact but never got emailed back)
Izmo Cars (demo completed)
Vinsolutions (demo completed)
dealer.com (not functional enough to encompass what I need)
eleads crm (doesn't look big enough, didn't look closely)
autobase (only option besides higher gear that is server based) (scheduled)
Cobalt group (also not large enough, didn't look closely)
votenza systems (scheduled)

I've ruled out generalized CRMs like SugarCRM since it won't interface with ADP and can't be optimized for the industry.

It's getting easier to find tools now, I think I've found a large enough number to qualify as a decent overview of the industry. I emplore creators and marketers of CRMs to get their product on meta-review sites like drivingsales.com ... This website was registered by "domains by proxy" so I have no idea who runs it, but its the only resource I found with any information about multiple sales tools at once.

So beyond tracking my personal tests with each CRM for people in my position in the future I'm asking for help finding other tools and/or testimonails.

Thanks!


PS: As an added bonus, I'm looking for a internet lead management tool as well. This isn't a deal breaker though.

Minor thoughts on packages:

izmocars.com iCRM: extremely simple to use without losing functionality, training is static

vinsolutions.com Motosnap: Incredibly detailed. easy to use. live seminar training daily

dealerpeak.com : easy to use and detailed, a good mix. Some important features missing like white pages phone number lookup. "coming soon" family member linking done through marketing groups, not contacts. lots of popup windows to switch between. other small features like eticketing system very nice to use.

dealersocket.com : employee view very nice, uncluttered. editing takes a popup though which is less than ideal. Marketing is very nice, details like salesmen initiated surveys and credit apps are easy to use. Desking is available at an extra cost. no smartphone integration

elitecrm.com dealer elite: Web based, but heavily relies on Adobe Air install. No clue why, but the mouse cursor jumps across the screen instead of being fluid movement. I didn't test further. They assure me a 4th version is 2 weeks away, but I don't know what it will do differently.

mjmi.com dealer sight: lead management only? Online demo blocked by popup blocker and a distinctly 8 years ago style of UI. doesn't add up to a current tool.

I will post more thoughts with more demos completed. I will also post a detailed score-sheet at the end of my project

Thanks for reviewing our product. We would be happy to get you a list of references of other major groups that are raving fans of what we do both at the Dealership level and at the group level. The global reporting in our tool sets us further apart from the rest. Make sure to see our new service driver product, inventory manager and the ILM enhancements that are new compliments to the full CRM. Also, we are working with many of the manufacturers to integrate their internal systems with DealerSocket to help you even further and some of these relationships are exclusive to DealerSocket.

Thanks again for reviewing us and we hope to win your business.

Best,

DealerSocket team
949.900.0300
info@dealersocket.com

never updated the thread because I found out we're in a pretty sneaky contract with higher gear. Can't get out of it.

just FYI from my experience, the top 5 were Izmo, Vinsolutions, Dealersocket, Dealerpeak, and Autobase.
Not in that order, thats just the order I did demos.

Bummer about the contract. You could use DealerSocket ILM, Service, CSI, MoneyMaker... as stand alone products until the contract runs out... Just a thought to get you moving in the right direction. We are happy to help when you are ready.

Best,

DealerSocket
Automotive CRM Software | DealerSocket ®

Daily Gameplan probably has the cheapest CRM system you can find in the market right now, it's only $20 per man per month. I love it, especially since there is no contract. Haven't found anything better yet. (They're the same company that makes the Red Books.)

That's really nice! Congrats. I would love to find a good deal on an old cab and be able to refinish like that.

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How many years do you have left with Higher Gear? From what I have heard most are 39 months and they are sold to Wells Fargo so you would have to deal with them.

You listed the major CRM players in the market place today. izmo's CRM is very robust and has been around for quite some time as it was acquired from ReckonUp and they have done a lot to it and it's priced below the competitors you have listed. They also have their iConsult training to complement CRM and ILM.

I've heard mixed reports on DealerSocket some dealerships have complained about complex screens and minimal iLM functionality. Overall I think it's a decent product it just all depends on the functionality you are looking for.

Unless you want to inherit servers, I'd probably stay clear of AutoBase.

I have no interest in either of these companies I'm going to recommend, except that I've used them both recently.

Autobase is available to tie into most major DMS, is easy to use, has BDC, has lots of functionality, good interface, easy to learn and maintain and is reasonably priced.

ProMax has virtually all the bells and whistles you could need plus more...it is a very good special finance tool and includes a Red Flag component (extra cost). If you have a bdc its' very good for that too. The only downside is, all that functionality comes with a learning curve for your staff.

Both of them are priced pretty well also. Just my thoughts.

__________________
Charley Pompey, DigAps.com
Sales Results Oriented Web Sites, Merchandising & Internet Strategy for Special Finance & Buy Here Pay Here Dealers.
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