With the immense amount of access given to the consumer, regarding vehicle research, the dealership hours of operation no longer apply. Whether it be midweek or weekend, morning or night; car shopping can take place anytime and anywhere. This creates a large competition with local dealerships, and as competition increases the need for dependable and productive sales personnel is key. However, the only way that the dealership can handle the consumers access is to have an ability to access their CRM at work, at home, and everywhere in-between. Basically, leads don’t stop when you’re at lunch, or over the weekend. A sustainable dealership will have top personnel who essentially “go the extra mile”. For this to be possible, the dealership’s CRM must be mobile. There are multiple benefits that come with a mobile CRM, however today we will be looking at 4 specific rewards the dealership will receive.

• Immediate access to enter and/or update information. No matter where the salesperson may be, they should never be without the ability to enter information. If the sales staff are on the lot, and find themselves communicating with a customer, the last thing the customer wants to do is to walk away from the vehicle to sit at the desk. With a mobile CRM, fully integrated in app form, never again will the consumer slip away due to an uncomfortable attitude toward the dealership and the process. When everything can be done over a smart phone, the salesperson can tailor each sale to that particular customer. 

• Better focus and preparation. When the desktop of the CRM offers the detailed lead profiles, calendars, desking tools, etc., the simple fact is that the mobile version should as well. For example, if you’re away from your desk and alerts appear on the screen, they should be appearing in the palm of your hands. Too many leads have not been converted to customers because of cracks in the dealership’s systems. The ability to utilize a mobile CRM means all sales personnel and management can be away from the desk, away from the store, and still have the ability to create fluid communication with the consumer.

• More deals, less time. The dealership can cause many sales representatives to essentially overwork themselves, for the wrong reasons. When sales staff have a multitude of tasks and all must be completed at the desk, other items can fall behind and even get lost in the day. When the staff has the ability to effortlessly access the CRM on a mobile device, multiple deals can be worked on from outside the normal work area. When a sales team finds themselves on the lot, and a potential deal is alerting a salesperson, the deal can be moved forward faster and just as efficiently as if the sales representative were chained to their desk.

• 24/7 management oversight. Dealership management cannot be involved in every deal, with all happenings, every minute of every day. Having said that, management should have access to oversee what has happened. All tasks, and all items, of every staff member, at any point. Most importantly however, this should be able to be accessed no matter where management find themselves. Managers need to work outside of the dealership in many cases, and having complete transparency from a mobile device gives the departments a level of accountability. This otherwise would not be kept as high, when it takes management being in the dealership to do so.

The modern sales people must have access to the information they need, when they need it. Keeping competitive with other dealerships requires a level of change. This change comes in the form of technology, and what it can do for the complete success of the dealership. With a mobile CRM there is a level of competitive edge that will overtake those competitors whom are using old techniques and old technology. To keep current and continue a sustainable growth, dealerships must adhere to the “musts” for the dealership. A TRULY mobile CRM is a must.