ALBANY, N.Y. – July 28th, 2014 – Auto/Mate Dealership Systems (http://www.automate.com), a premier dealership management system (DMS) provider, has received a "Platinum" award in the 2014 Auto Dealer Monthly Dealers' Choice Awards. This year marks the first time that Auto/Mate was honored with a top ranking in the magazine's annual award program that recognizes the industry's best product and service providers as selected by hundreds of…

As Appeared in the June 2014 issue of Auto Dealer Monthly

Everyone knows how important the chain of command is in the military. But during battles, emergencies and other times of duress, it's not always possible to run decisions up and down the chain of command. This is why soldiers are empowered by something called the Commander's Intent. The military commander gives his leaders a clearly defined goal (the mission) and the forces needed to accomplish that goal, along…

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ALBANY, N.Y. – June 16th, 2014 – Auto/Mate Dealership Systems (http://www.automate.com) announced today the integration of its dealership management system (DMS) with SMI's DriveService and DriveSales solutions. For auto dealers using both solutions, the integration ensures that customer information updated in the DMS will be updated in SMI's customer…

This article appeared in the March 2014 issue of Auto Success magazine.

If your dealership consistently receives higher-than-average CSI scores, you may believe that a good percentage of your customers are happy and therefore loyal. But you may be wrong. Customer satisfaction and customer loyalty are two completely different…

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ALBANY, N.Y. – May 19th, 2014 – Auto/Mate Dealership Systems (http://www.automate.com) announced today that Five Star Dealerships, an auto group in Aberdeen, WA has transformed its culture to one of managerial empowerment and has increased productivity with the help of reporting and dashboard features in Auto/Mate's dealership management system (DMS).

"Any time you make a big change like…

Every year it seems that "hot topics" emerge in the automotive retail industry; this year much of the focus is on fixed ops and customer retention. Dealers spend a small fortune on websites and Internet marketing in order to capture customers; now they are realizing that an equal amount of resources and energy should be spent on servicing and keeping those customers.

If customer retention is the goal, keep in mind that true customer loyalty is achieved not by a product but by…

ALBANY, N.Y. – May 5th, 2014 – Auto/Mate Dealership Systems (www.automate.com) announced today that results from its Spring survey reveal that more than half of auto dealers have customer loyalty or rewards programs in their dealerships, and another 20 percent have plans to implement one soon or are "thinking about it." Additionally the dealers weighed in on what they believe are the top factors that contribute towards building a loyal customer…

Auto/Mate Dealership Systems is conducting a survey and is inviting auto dealer personnel to participate. Where do you get your news and information about the auto industry? We appreciate your input! Participants who complete the survey will be entered into a drawing to win a $300 Visa gift card. In the time it takes to finish your cup of coffee, you could be entered to win!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/AMDealerElite

ALBANY, N.Y. – March 3rd, 2014 – Auto/Mate Dealership Systems (http://www.automate.com) announced today that DealerSocket, a leading provider of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software to auto retailers, has completed integration with Auto/Mate's dealership management system (DMS). Dealers using both Auto/Mate and DealerSocket solutions will benefit from improved sales efficiency with real-time, bi-directional updates of customer, vehicle…

ALBANY, N.Y. – February 18th, 2014 – Auto/Mate Dealership Systems (http://www.automate.com) announced today that TimeHighway has completed integration of its service scheduling solution with Auto/mate's Automotive Management Productivity Suite (AMPS) dealership management system. Auto dealers using both Auto/Mate's DMS and TimeHighway's service scheduling solution will benefit from real-time data exchange between the two…

In my last blog, "Why Aren't Your Customers Loyal?" I discussed the connection between customer loyalty and employee happiness. My belief is that many dealers are wasting money on customer loyalty programs if they are not also focused on making their employees happy and on creating a great place to work.

I am proud of the fact that Auto/Mate was recently…

We've all seen and heard statistics regarding the connection between customer retention and a company's profitability. Here are some examples:

1) It's 6-7 times more expensive to acquire a new customer than to keep an old one - White House Office of Consumer Affairs

2) 89% of customers have stopped doing business with a company because…

ALBANY, N.Y. – January 20th, 2014 – Auto/Mate Dealership Systems (http://www.automate.com) today introduced a multi-point inspection feature for its mobile service solution, tailored to work on windows-based tablets. With multi-point inspection, service advisors can use tablets to greet the customer, conduct a vehicle inspection, identify potential maintenance items and complete the service write-up process all 'on the go.' Auto dealer fixed ops…

For Immediate Release

Visit us at Booth # 3253 at NADA Convention & Expo

Mangold Ford's Accounting Office Greatly Increases Efficiencies, Reduces Costs With Auto/Mate's DMS

ALBANY, N.Y. – January 13th, 2014 – Auto/Mate Dealership Systems (http://www.automate.com) announced today that Mangold Ford, a Ford's…

For Immediate Release

Visit us at Booth # 3253 at NADA Convention & Expo

ALBANY, N.Y. – January 6th, 2014 – Auto/Mate Dealership Systems (http://www.automate.com) announced today a 40 percent year-over-year increase in auto dealership installs in 2013, boosting the number of its auto dealer clients to more than 1,000 nationwide. The dealership management system (DMS) provider also announced…

Customer satisfaction and customer loyalty are two different things. The Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) scores that many dealerships and manufacturers rely on as a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) do not really have much to do with building loyalty. Customers can be loyal to a company and have an unsatisfactory experience, or they can have a very satisfactory experience without being loyal to the company.

I believe the CSI surveys should be phased out and replaced with…

ALBANY, N.Y. – December 16th, 2013 – Auto/Mate Dealership Systems (http://www.automate.com) announced today that its dealership management system (DMS) is integrated with two of the five modules in MOC1 Solutions' Fixed Ops SDS^TM (Service Drive Suite) technology platform. Auto/Mate has completed full integration with MOC1 Solutions' Track and Schedule products and is in the process of integrating with their three remaining modules…

ALBANY, N.Y. – December 9th, 2013 – Auto/Mate Dealership Systems (http://www.automate.com) announced today that its dealership management system (DMS) is now integrated with Innovative Aftermarket System's (IAS) suite of SmartDealerProducts for automotive dealerships. Dealers using both Auto/Mate's DMS and IAS' SmartDealerProducts solutions can now benefit from real-time information exchange between the two systems.

"A typical…

ALBANY, N.Y. – November 25th, 2013 – Auto/Mate Dealership Systems (http://www.automate.com) announced today that Superior Integrated Solutions (SIS), the industry's leading integration provider for auto dealerships, is now providing integration services to facilitate data exchange between Auto/Mate's dealership management system (DMS) and third-party systems in use by auto dealers.

"For our customers with software systems in their…

ALBANY, N.Y. – November 4th 2013 – Auto/Mate Dealership Systems (http://www.automate.com) announced today it was named one of the 2013 “Best Places to Work” in New York State’s Capital region by the Albany Business Review. This is the fourth year in a row that Auto/Mate has received the honor.

“I believe that taking care of employees and ensuring they are happy is just as important as taking care of our customers,” said Mike…