Mark Novak

As dealership networks grow, consistency becomes harder to maintain. Different locations, teams, and processes demand one clear standard applied everywhere. Scalable audits ensure alignment, accountability, and visibility across every dealership, without increasing complexity. AutoSmart standardizes audits across locations, enabling real-time insight, traceable evidence, and consistent compliance at scale. #AutoSmart #ScalableAudits #DealershipManagement #AutomotiveIndustry #AuditManagement #OperationalExcellence #ComplianceManagement #DigitalAudits

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“I saw the power of conviction that results from bringing an informed point of view, and the courage and candour required to speak the uncomfortable truths others might avoid.” Steve Schmith wrote a deep rooted commentary piece which challenges the notion of traditional vendor-dealer relationships. We all understand the value of relationship driven deals but what does it really mean and what does it look (and feel) like when you get it right? Check out his latest article here: https://lnkd.in/dDDuZcG9 #DMMExpert #AutomotiveVendors #DealerRelationships

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Why do most generic DSPs fail mid-market auto dealers? Because they weren’t built for automotive. Disconnected data and wasted spend leave dealerships flying blind. 56% of dealers report broken data across DMS systems. Download our latest white paper where we break down the hidden gaps in generic DSPs, and how fullthrottle.ai® changes the game with real-time: https://lnkd.in/eX9tyW9C #fullthrottleAI #Automotive

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Milestone Alert: 100+ vendors are now participating in Foureyes Consent Management. This isn’t just momentum — it’s alignment. For the first time, automotive vendors are coordinating around a shared standard for honoring dealer-controlled opt-outs across the tech stack. - Protects dealers from TCPA risk - Reduces duplicate outreach - Strengthens vendor-dealer trust - Zero cost to participate Consent Management isn’t another tool. It’s the coordination layer our industry has needed. If you're a vendor who wants to do right by your dealer partners — let’s talk: https://loom.ly/rxy_Ifg #automotivedata #dealerdata #consentmanagement #cdp #NADAShow #NADA2026

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With 25+ OEM certifications and experience across every tier of automotive advertising, we see the same patterns show up when we first talk with dealers. We pulled them into a running list so you can spot them faster and fix them sooner. Dealer Mistake #12: Letting aged inventory sit unseen No specific campaigns or promotions around 60, 90, 120-day units that tie to pricing strategy and creative. Stream helps dealers turn aging inventory into actionable campaigns, aligning pricing, messaging, and media so the vehicles that have been sitting the longest get seen, clicked, and sold.

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Dealerships have no shortage of data today. But without connection, your data can't deliver value. The answer? Tony Fowler's latest AutoSuccess article explores how Unified Intelligence Engines help connect dealership systems, eliminate data silos, and convert all your customer information into usable insights. 🔗 Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eJpzn2qB

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Automotive dealerships juggle high-volume parts invoices, multi-rooftop entities, complex 3-way matching (PO + invoice + receipt), and cross-border supplier payments, all while managing tight margins and variable cash flows. Manual or legacy AP creates chaos: • Scattered invoices from vendors, parts suppliers, and service providers • Header-level matching misses line-item variances → overpayments on parts or services • Multi-entity fragmentation (taxes, banks, approvals per rooftop) • Delayed cycles trap capital and miss early-payment discounts • Slow closes and audit risks from incomplete visibility The reality for dealerships: • Manual invoice processing costs $10–$15 per invoice • Cycles often stretch 14–18 days (or longer with multi-rooftop delays) • 3-way matching accuracy suffers without automation, leading to 60–70% error reduction potential when done right • Missed discounts and FX leakage erode margins in a high-volume environment Finofo modernizes this for dealership networks: • AI-powered intake & extraction for any invoice format • True line-level 3-way matching with variance flagging and tolerances • Centralized multi-entity management • Global payments with in-built FX savings • Real-time dashboards for disbursements, balances, and exception routing The payoff: • Processing costs drop to $2–$3 per invoice • Cycles shorten to 3–5 days • Better control, fraud prevention, and audit readiness • More time for strategic finance, not chasing paperwork AP in automotive dealerships isn’t just back-office. It’s a lever for margins, cash flow, and scalability. Read the full guide: https://lnkd.in/guWxVy_B Question for dealership CFOs, Controllers, and Finance leaders: What’s the biggest AP headache across your rooftops right now? #AutomotiveDealership #APAutomation #DealershipFinance #CFO #ModernFinance #AccountsPayable

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Want to know more about Multi-Touch Attribution (MTA)? This Autotrader US blog post discusses the latest trends and shows how using MTA can directly impact an auto dealership's ROI.

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Most dealership groups believe digital transformation is complete once CRM goes live. The real complexity begins after that. In multi-location networks, system fragmentation across Sales, Service, Finance, Inventory, and OEM reporting quietly creates operational risk. We’ve summarized the core patterns below. Full white paper link in comments.

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Recalls are turning into one of the strongest retention levers in fixed ops. Ryan Maher, CEO of BizzyCar, explains how early OEM data access is helping dealers turn recall outreach into lasting customer relationships. "The point here is recall is equal retention, and if I can get a customer into the store that's either never been there before, 'cause they bought their car used, at a used car lot or CarMax or whatever. If I can get that customer in and they've never been there before, it's an opportunity. Now they're in your CRM, you can market to them, right? There's a huge component that goes beyond fixing the recall." "If 70 million cars have a recall, one out of four, this is a massive part of our industry. Don't look at it as a negative, look at it as an opportunity." "It's the integration with the OEMs, and it's integration with the DMSs. And so we get the data before the dealers get it, and we see the remedy available, the part available, we see that before it hits FMCDealer, NNANet or HyundaiDealer.com, right? All these internal OEM portals, and so we are able to arm the service department and the parts department well in advance." Daily Dealer Live hosted by Sam D'Arc and Ulisse de' Martino - Thank you to our partner BizzyCar! Check them out by visiting https://cdgrecalls.com/

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🚗 A big thank you to Digital Dealer Conference & Expo for publishing our latest piece: "Fragmented Technology Systems Frustrate Auto Dealers, Leading to Lost Time and Revenue." Today’s auto dealers are navigating a maze of disconnected tools, manual processes, and long transaction times that not only frustrate customers but directly impact the bottom line. With rising tariffs and shrinking margins, efficiency isn’t optional—it’s critical. This article Paul Croshaw dives into how operational inefficiencies—especially in the sales process—are costing dealerships both time and revenue, and what can be done to solve it. Read the full article here 👉 https://lnkd.in/g6JcrPuQ #AutoIndustry #DealershipEfficiency #DigitalTransformation #ConnectedWorkflows #AutomotiveRetail #CustomerExperience

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Dealer Choice Beats OEM Compliance OEM programs love telling dealers what tools they “must” use. Then those tools drain time, frustrate employees, and quietly choke profitability. If you’re responsible for the checks, the floorplan, the CSI, and the customer experience… you deserve the right to choose tools that actually work. The villain isn’t the dealership. It’s the outdated, bolt-on, gray-raincoat tech forced into stores with no regard for workflow reality. TechWALL was built by dealers who were done being told to accept mediocrity. Control belongs in the store, not in a mandate. https://lnkd.in/eMe4XKrK

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❇️ IDS <> Forest River, Inc.® Open Recalls Integration ❇️ IDS dealers now have direct access to OEM recall data right inside their dealership management system! What this means for dealers: ✔️ Eliminate the hassle of switching between OEM portals and your DMS. ✔️ Get real-time alerts about open recalls during inventory intake and work order creation—streamlining operations and boosting transparency. ✔️ Stay compliant while building stronger customer confidence. Together, IDS and Forest River are driving the RV industry forward! 🚙

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Dealers have the information, but what’s been missing is fast, accessible intelligence. Insights Agent powered by Copilot delivers exactly that:   ✅ Real-time, AI-driven answers ✅ Insights that understand dealership terminology ✅ Proactive alerts and trend detection ✅ Faster decisions across every department ✅ More value from your existing Power BI investment   It’s a major step forward for dealership intelligence, built for real operational impact. Read the full blog to see how Insights Agent works and what it makes possible. https://lnkd.in/e7E6xkaY #InsightsAgent #Copilot #AIForDealers #DealershipIntelligence #HeavyEquipmentTech

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The strongest dealership teams share one thing in common: clarity. When everyone is working from the same data, aligned on priorities, and able to add context along the way, better decisions follow. DealerOps brings teams onto the same page by turning reporting into a shared conversation. With clear dashboards and the ability to add notes directly within reports, insights don’t get lost—and questions don’t have to wait for another meeting. Because when data is easy to understand and communication is built in, teams can move faster, collaborate better, and focus on driving results. #automotive #data #analytics #automotivereporting #GSD

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Outdated Systems Are Choking Your Dealership Problem: - Legacy DMS/CRM forcing manual data re-entries across quoting, invoicing & reporting. - Fragmented systems create blindspots: parts shortages, service delays, lost sales. - Every extra minute on manual tasks is revenue—and customer trust—slipping away. Market Reality: Dealers embracing cloud‑based platforms grow service revenue 25% faster than peers. Free Tip: 1. List your top 3 manual hand‑offs (e.g. quote → approval, stock update → invoice). 2. For each, note the average time lost per transaction. 3. Prioritize the one costing the most time—and map out a digital fix. Solution: - Consolidate Platforms: Move quoting and CRM to a single cloud suite. - Automate Handoffs: Leverage RPA or native integrations for data sync. - Real‑Time Alerts: Set triggers for low stock, quote approvals or service SLA breaches. - User Training: 1‑hour weekly workshops to boost adoption. - ROI Tracking: Compare time saved vs. license costs after 60 days. #dx #digitaltransformation #revops #future #enterprise #automotive #autoindustry #mikconsultivo

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