Equipment dealers have many different business processes. To properly automate that, you need an excellent Dealer Management System that supports all departments of your business. Here are 5 important (functional) requirements for your Dealer Management System:
1. Carefree finance & administration
Financial and administrative processes must be perfectly organized. This applies not only to equipment dealers, but to every company. If you choose an accounting package, then you're sure you're fine on this part, but you're missing the specific functionalities that are in a Dealer Management System. The solution? A Dealer Management System based on a package that includes finance & administration. With Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, you have a rock-solid basic solution that can be supplemented with functionality for equipment dealers. In addition, you will have localizations for your country or region and by means of updates you will always keep up with the laws and regulations.
2. Streamlined purchasing & sales.
The entire process from purchasing to selling equipment must be streamlined in a Dealer Management System. When purchasing from the manufacturer, you want to know exactly which models to choose from and which configurations are possible. You want to transfer this information quickly and error-free to your Dealer Management System, for example by means of interfacing. It must be possible to make adjustments yourself, for example customer-specific wishes, by means of a work order. And all this while maintaining a complete overview of the machine/object. When selling, you might also offer a service contract, transport must be arranged, another object can be exchanged and you send an order confirmation and invoice. Can your Dealer Management System handle all this?
"By excellently organizing and automating the service department, you work efficiently and service actually constitutes a competitive advantage that helps you retain customers."
3. Cleverly set up parts management
Parts/articles are crucial for equipment dealers. They generate turnover, contribute to good service and are an interesting component to save costs and/or improve service. In a Dealer Management System, you want to have perfect insight into your parts inventory. What stock level should you maintain? Which replacement parts can I offer? How will I stock the service vans? In case of multiple branches; am I going to order centrally or decentrally? When making these choices, you can use the help of a branch specialist; the business consultant of your Dealer Management System can explain the advantages and disadvantages of each choice and help you with the optimal parts management strategy.
4. Comprehensive rental & lease
Rental (& leasing) of equipment is very unpredictable and requires flexibility and extensive capabilities in your Dealer Management System. Often you do not know exactly when a machine/object will return and in what condition it will be. Rental also involves transport and sometimes service and inspections. The whole process from rental quote to planning to invoicing is comprehensive. But you don't want to lose deals because your system runs into limitations. That's why it's one of the most important modules in a Dealer Management System to scrutinize closely.
5. Perfectly automated service
At many equipment dealers, the service department is the most profitable department of the company. By organizing and automating it excellently, you work efficiently and service actually constitutes a competitive advantage that helps you retain customers. Automating service starts with understanding the work and planning it efficiently and well. The work orders are then passed on to the service technicians who must be able to perform their work anytime, anywhere with an easy-to-use solution. After that, you want to quickly handle the administration and send the invoice. By working with a service module, a (graphical) service planning tool and a field service solution that are fully integrated, you increase the chances of streamlined service processes.
