Revhead Ramblings: Do our cars feature too much technology

Scrolling through Twitter the other day, I saw a promoted post. It was for a phone, not a Samsung or iPhone, this was for a phone reminiscent of the early noughties technology.

No touchscreen, no internet and no camera. Simply the ability to call and text. It’s supposedly there to give us only the most basic forms of communication and to encourage more time absorbing the world and speaking to people face to face.

Back to Basics

These back to basic phones seem like a good idea in fairness, I’m guilty of spending far too much time on my phone, from social media to shopping. Technology distracts us massively and makes us less productive as a result, with our phones being stripped of unnecessary functions, could our cars be next? With each new model we’re greeted with more and more technology, from fancy lights to endless customisable displays; how much do we really need it all though?

Infotainment Screens

We were banned from using phones whilst driving because they were too distracting, yet Apple CarPlay is an option on most new cars that offers the same features we’d banned? Making a move to touchscreen infotainment systems is convenient, however when all of our cars functions are controlled via one screen, tapping through menu after menu to change the fan speed is a recipe for disaster!

Distracting Safety Systems

Obviously staring at a screen is distracting and makes us less attentive to the road, but what about the systems we don’t see? The likes of automatic braking and lane keep assist come as standard on a large proportion of cars now, these features can prevent potentially fatal accidents but are they making us worse drivers?

By knowing these systems are there, we let our guard down on the road, taking more risks and paying less attention. The issue is, these systems aren’t fool proof, they’re there to aid drivers, not do it for them.

Is No Technology The Answer?

Could completely ridding our cars of technology be the answer then? When you look at someone driving a Caterham, I doubt your first thought is ‘I bet they wish they had memory seats’ instead you’ll be green with envy as they fly past you with a grin reaching ear to ear.

Obviously not every car can be thrashed like a Caterham and as such warrant comfortable extras like heated seats and automatic wipers, but finding a balance is key, driver involvement is crucial, not only for safety reasons but also to keep the thrill of driving alive.

DMS Provider of the Year 2018 – Click Dealer

As dealerships have become more digitally savvy, back office systems for accounts and general dealership management have become the norm. The problem with that is these systems don’t share data or integrate with each other thus forcing dealers to use multiple software packages and suffer from unnecessary levels of inefficiency.

Click Dealer’s aim from the moment its DMS was born in 1999 has been to consign disparate systems to the history books and give dealers an all-encompassing one stop shop from which to run their businesses. Unlike a generic back-office system, ClickDMS can tell dealers exactly how they are performing, not just in terms of stock management but in all facets of their company.

DMS Provider of the Year 2018

The DMS Provider of the Year has created an end-to-end solution which not only improves dealership performance but also gives them access to better data and streamlined processes to save them valuable time and money.

With a full suite of insightful reports available at the push of a button Click Dealer is able to analyse dealer’s data and provide valuable insights, which have been configured from their KPIs. From stock analysis, team performance and commission calculators to FCA compliant reports, Click Dealer’s innovative system goes the whole nine yards for its dealers and more.

Whilst Click Dealer’s DMS can’t replicate every single piece of functionality from the vast array of solutions on the market, the digital dealership experts use the latest technologies available to allow third party platforms to talk to its DMS, so that dealers can manage their business in one place.

Integration is King

Whether it be chat integrations on enquires, or Xero for accounts, Click Dealer has removed the need for multiple disparate systems and double data entry. The reporting and analytical abilities within ClickDMS are vast, dealers can save time by creating one advert with multimedia options, using video and image editing facilities – then set up automatic feeds to all major portals. They can also increase their professionalism with digital invoicing, document repositories and silent salesmen functionality.

Having been carefully honed and perfected over almost 20 years in the automotive sector, ClickDMS enables dealers to be accurate with VAT analysis, understand where their money is with debtor and creditor reports, stay consistent and in control with PDI prep and after-sales processes, as well as providing the ability to manage stocking plans with ease.

As a cloud based system, ClickDMS can give busy dealers peace of mind wherever they are in the world. The system boasts ultra-tight security protocols and advanced server infrastructures, to ensure data compliance and privacy are taken care of. Not to mention permissions controls, unlimited user log-ons and personalised menu options to give varying levels of control and visibility to different tiers of staff.

The Future of ClickDMS

In 2018 and beyond Click Dealer will be upgrading ClickDMS to include: a new advanced order screen, streamlined finance presentation integrated with its showroom solution, open API integration, and the system is already HMRC compliant in preparation for its dealers to utilise VAT submissions online ahead of the important changes next April.

What The Experts Have Said

Car Dealer Magazine Founder, James Baggott said of ClickDMS: “Click Dealer were the winner of our Dealer Management System of the Year Award. They’ve got more than 15 years’ experience in the automotive software market but at its core is DMS.

“They’re the market leaders and have a one-stop platform for enabling dealers to manage their workload and they link seamlessly with leading classified platforms.

“Our survey respondents said that ClickDMS is an easy to use system, from a company that is constantly striving to be the best, a pro-active company, who are always innovating.”

Don’t get bogged down with dozens of disparate software packages! Manage your business using one system with Click Dealer, the performance partners for dealerships.

For more information on the DMS provider of the Year and ClickDMS, contact Click Dealer today on 01782 904 715, by emailing [email protected], or via our contact page.